The renovation of old residential areas is not only a key approach to improve people’s living standards and well-being, but also an important engine to boost domestic demand and strengthen social cohesion. During the “14th Five-Year Plan” period, a total of 280,000 old residential areas have been renovated across the country, benefiting over 120 million residents. The “Opinions on Continuously Promoting Urban Renewal Actions” (hereinafter referred to as the “Opinions”) was issued recently, further clarifying the key contents and directions for the renovation of old residential areas in various regions.

Great attention would be paid to the safety and facilities and living environment would be improved. There are general problems such as aging infrastructure and structural safety hazards in old residential areas. It is pointed out in the “Opinions” that safety should be put on the top of the agenda and multi-dimensional renovations should be carried out to steadily advance the “corridor revolution”. Firstly, a safety barrier for facilities and public spaces would be set out. A comprehensive inspection of potential safety hazard points should be conducted, renovation strategy would be tailored, renovation parts, plans, and construction standards based on the specific conditions of each community would be formulated,  aging and malfunctioning pipelines would be updated and renovated, those parts inside buildings including the pedestrian corridors, exhaust flues, ventilation shafts and so on would be rectified. As for the exteriors residential building, safety renovations would be carried out to eliminate safety hazards around residents. Secondly, the installation of elevators in buildings would be vigorously promoted. Feasibility assessments for elevator installation are to be made and scientific and reasonable installation plans are to be drawn. The principle of installing tailored elevator for each residential unit is adopted, whose installation charge comes from the following sources, the government subsidy, residents contribution and social capital, to support the installation of elevators in buildings that meet the conditions, and to solve the problem that elderly residents have problem in mounting the stairs in old residential areas. A flat-floor entry method for elevator installation would completely address the problem of last meter of barrier-free passage.

To improve public service facilities and build an all-age friendly community. It is clearly stated in the “Opinions” that the environment of the community and its surrounding areas should be renovated to further promote the “environmental revolution”. Firstly, to improve the overall environmental appearance. To comprehensively carry out environmental sanitation, greening and landscape improvement, road facility renovation, and illegal construction demolition in the community and its surrounding areas, and to establish a linked mechanism covering the community, the residential area, property management company, and urban management department to effectively advance the living environment of old residential areas and enhance community cohesion and a sense of belonging. Secondly, more supporting infrastructure would be taken into account. Based on the real requirements, supporting facilities would be added, including parking, charging, garbage classification, fire protection, communication and so on. Facilities suitable for the elderly and children are to be renovated or set up, including barrier-free facilities, security, sports and fitness, and property management rooms, etc., to effectively solve practical problems such as parking and charging difficulties faced by residents. Thirdly, various public service are to be made. The coordinated renovation of nearby communities and surrounding areas are to be promoted, public service facilities would be rationally set up, such as elderly care, child care, meal assistance, and home services. Efforts would be made to boost the renovation and construction of community comprehensive service centers, improve the “elderly and children” service in old residential areas, bringing out convenience and comfort for them.

To preserve the traditional style and activate the value of cultural heritage. General Secretary Xi emphasized during his visit to Minzhu Village Community in Jiulongpo District, Chongqing that the renovation of old residential areas should not only preserve historical memory and distinctive features, but also address the practical concerns of residents. Based on the requirements of the Opinion, the renovation of old residential areas should not merely focus on the physical space renewal, but also on creating a living environment with profound cultural heritage and distinctive regional characteristics. Firstly, traditional landscape features would be protected. In aspects such as the renovation of building facades and landscape design, traditional landscapes and street patterns would be preserved and restored as much as possible. Materials, colors, and decorative elements consistent with the historical style of the community would be adopted to create a community landscape with regional characteristics, thus rejuvenating old residential areas while inheriting the historical context of the city and maintaining the nostalgia of residents for their hometown. Secondly, the value of cultural heritage would be explored. A comprehensive review of buildings and relics with historical and cultural value, as well as intangible cultural heritages such as folk customs and traditional crafts within the community would be taken care of. Their cultural value and positioning should be clearly defined, and comprehensive protection, repair, and renovation plans should be formulated. The renovation of old residential areas and the protection of urban-rural historical and cultural heritage should be implemented in a coordinated manner to continuously improve the living environment, facilities, service functions, and cultural value of old residential areas.

To establish a long-term effective management mechanism to achieve sustainable governance. To vigorously promote the “management revolution” so as to improve long-term effective management mechanisms such as quality supervision, resident participation, and maintenance and management, and achieve simultaneous upgrades in physical “hardware” and governance “software” to maintain the fruits of the renovation of old residential areas. Firstly, the supervision of renovation quality and safety should be focused on. All parties involved in the construction should be fully aware of the responsibility for the quality and safety of the project, and they should keep sharp eyes on on-site management to effectively prevent safety accidents. A quality and safety supervision system should be established and implemented to supervise the entire process from design, procurement, construction to acceptance. Design and construction plans should be reasonably formulated and construction should be carried out strictly in accordance with standards to minimize the impact on residents’ lives. Secondly, efforts should be made to encourage resident participation. A working mechanism led by the Party and involving multiple parties would be established, and communication and discussion platforms would be set up to give residents an active role in the entire process from plan formulation, construction supervision to effect evaluation. Resident self-governance organizations shall be encouraged and guided to negotiate and determine the management model, regulations and rules of procedure for the community so as to jointly maintain the renovation results. Moreover, new ideas for the renovation of dilapidated houses shall be explored and renovations carried out by residents would be encouraged. Thirdly, a post-renovation maintenance and management mechanism is to be set up. Efforts should be made to allow more property management, effectively solve the problem of missing property management in old residential areas through models such as red property management and administrative street property management. Furthermore, market-oriented property service enterprises might be introduced to improve the quality and efficiency of community management services. Refined and long-term management can be achieved relying on smart property management platforms. Efforts are made to improve and perfect special maintenance funds policy for residential buildings to promote the establishment of a complete system for the collection, management, and use of public funds for the safety management of existing buildings to provide financial support for the subsequent maintenance of community facilities and equipment and continuously ensure the results of the renovation of old residential areas.

The government work report in 2025 proposed to continuously promote the renovation of old urban residential areas, clearly including all urban old residential areas built before 2000 in the renovation scope, and carry out suitable and tailored renovation. The issue of the “Opinions” strongly supports the renovation and improvement of old residential areas in various regions. In the process of implementing the “Opinions”, the outcome of urban physical examinations should be made full use and give full play to the leading role of planning, improve the policy system, ensure financial input, improve the organization and implementation mechanism, and guide multiple parties to participate together, so as to ensure a smooth and satisfactory renovation and improvement of old urban residential areas, which would continuously lead to people’s sense of gain, happiness and security.