Party-mass service centers turn into 'living rooms for all'

Shared city community

In Shanghai, Party-mass service centers have transcended their role as mere service points, becoming hubs for social cohesion and grassroots governance.

At the Tianping center, a wishing card area allows residents to express "small wishes", which are often fulfilled by anonymous donors, spreading goodwill throughout the community. A disabled elderly man, for example, hoped to get a cover for his mobility scooter, and another individual with limited mobility wished for a bedside commode chair.

During the Sept 3 military parade, over 100 residents gathered in front of a big screen at the riverside center to watch the live broadcast. "Some in the reading space joined as well when the national anthem played, demonstrating heartfelt patriotism in this shared public space," said Xia.

The Tianping center has integrated resources from nearby businesses, incorporating 150 establishments, such as noodle shops, bakeries, pastry stores, and barbershops, into a public service environment. This initiative offers discounts to seniors, low-income individuals, and people with disabilities, while also boosting the business of the small local shops.

Shi Hui, a teacher at the Shanghai Art and Design Academy, who used to view Party-mass service centers as activity venues for Party members, changed her mind after walking into a facility for the first time recently.

"Now I understand that they are for everyone, offering libraries and canteens at the best locations within the buildings. The transformation of the Xuhui riverside itself from an industrial belt in the past to a living belt today is a vivid expression of building a people-centered city as well," she said.