Shanghai ramps up urban renewal to boost living quality

Shanghai is intensifying efforts to improve living conditions and upgrade urban spaces through a slew of urban renewal initiatives, according to Pei Xiao, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.

By the end of 2025, the city aims to complete the renovation of all scattered old residential buildings and basically finish upgrading houses with small beams and thin slabs, Pei said.

More affordable rental housing units will be constructed and supplied, while facilities along the waterfront areas of the Huangpu River, Suzhou Creek and their tributaries will also be enhanced, he added.

The urban renewal push comes after Shanghai made strides in 2024 to upgrade urban infrastructure and public services.

Along the Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek, a number of new waterfront spaces, buildings and service facilities such as the Shanghai Expo Culture Park opened to the public last year as scheduled.

Six large cruise ships and eight ferry terminals commenced operations, while over 550 cultural, tourism, sports and commercial events were hosted along the waters, attracting 318 million visits.

Across the city, 35 post offices, 164 banks, 30 kilometers of sidewalks and 1,393 public toilets were renovated to improve barrier-free accessibility. In the rural areas, 251 kilometers of dilapidated roads and 61 km of riverside roads with safety hazards underwent upgrades.

On the housing front, Shanghai renovated 136,000 square meters of scattered old residential buildings benefiting 4,697 households in 2024. It also renovated 311,000 square meters of separate flats and launched 21 urban village redevelopment projects.

Shanghai also continued boosting affordable housing supply, completing construction of 72,000 affordable rental units and adding 30,300 beds for workers engaged in Shanghai's development.

As of now, 120,000 square meters of scattered old buildings across three districts and 36 plots involving over 4,000 households await renovation under a tight schedule, said Pei.

"We will leverage experiences from renovating old residential areas to formulate solid implementation plans and determine optimal renovation models to ensure timely completion," he added.

Shanghai also aims to complete the targeted 310,000 square meter dilapidated house renovation while allowing residents to enjoy an on-site upgrade as old buildings make way for new ones.

A total of 25 urban village renovation projects involving 12,000 households are slated to launch as well, he added.