On May 27, Tang Caifeng, Secretary of the Party Committee and director of Lingshi Alley Community, Qixinggang Sub-district of Yuzhong District and delegate to the 6th Chongqing Municipal Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), displayed three photos to reveal the significant changes in this old residential community.

Tang Caifeng demonstrates photos of Lingshi Alley before and after the reconstruction. (Photo provided to iChongqing)

"It is mentioned in the 6th CPC Chongqing Municipal Congress report that urban renewal is the strongest impetus to Chongqing's development. I have a lot to say on the reconstruction," said Tang.

In recent years, Chongqing, a city situated in mountains and has a long history was given new impetus to development during the implementation of urban renewal. This famous city and old residential communities in it have all gained vitality, making the city itself fresh while offering a better environment for residents. The reconstruction project of the Lingshi Alley Community is one of the examples of urban renewal in Chongqing.

Integrate local cultures

"Here, you can see the gate of No. 9 yard. The previous scene was not attractive enough. So, we added the micro landscape of Huangge Tree in the reconstruction. The roots of Huangge Tree are covering and twining around the wall, which is typical in Chongqing and has attracted many residents and tourists to visit here," said Tang Caifeng.

The exterior view of the  Lingshi Alley. (Photo provided to iChongqing)

"This photo shows the changes of No. 7 yard in Lingshi Alley. In the past, it was crowded and in a jumble. But now, it is decorated with plants and also neat." Lingshi Alley has a bright and new look.

The interior view of the  Lingshi Alley. (Photo provided to iChongqing)

According to Tang Caifeng, the Lingshi Alley Community is located between Tongyuanmen Walls Ruins Park and Mountain City Trails. It also connects the two well-known scenic areas in Chongqing. However, residential buildings in this region were almost built in the 1970s and 1980s. Various problems and issues occur with time passing by and the lack of maintenance. The problems, such as disordered wires, wet ground, poor light, and broken parterres, are typical to old residential communities.

In recent years, several batches of reconstructions were carried out by Qixinggang Sub-district in this region. In 2021, the upgrading and renewal project was conducted on old residential buildings in Lingshi Alley and Gulou Alley.

"We have taken different measures to demonstrate the Culture of the War of Resistance and Bayu Culture and create the micro landscape of Huangge Tree to make old residential communities lively and full of cultures," added Tang Caifeng.

She said that many Huangge Trees are growing in Lingshi Alley. The roots of the trees grow from stones or the bottom of walls and climb up to cover the wall, forming a unique scenery in Chongqing. Hence, the community adopted this feature in the reconstruction to establish many landscapes of Huangge Tree in the alley. A Huangge Tree park was also built. The old community, decorated with these trees, reflects the history of the old Chongqing.

Renewal of old communities

"In the future, the community will keep developing special features and unique culture of old streets and alleys to provide a better and more convenient environment for residents and a tourism environment with natural and urban sceneries for tourists," said Tang. Nowadays, Lingshi Alley has become one of the special old communities receiving reconstruction in the Yuzhong District.

The change of Lingshi Alley Community is the epitome of old community reconstruction in Chongqing under the in-depth implementation of urban renewal.

The brand new Lingshi Alley. (Photo provided to iChongqing)

In 2018, Chongqing first started pilot projects to promote the reconstruction of old communities in urban areas. In 2021, the reconstruction of old communities in urban areas became a key issue concerning people's livelihood. The major project in the "I do practical things for the masses of people" activity for promotion.

According to statistics from the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, a total of 2,673 old communities were reconstructed, covering an area of 60.85 million square meters and benefiting 680,000 households and millions of people from the starting of the pilot project in 2018 to December 2021.

In reconstructing old communities, Chongqing also emphasizes the inheritance of history and culture. With the integration of fashionable and ecological elements, old urban areas gain new vigor and vitality. Also, the newly designed and established old streets, alleys and cultural and creative parks, and other popular sites further promote the development of cultural and tourism industries.

According to the planning, Chongqing will continue to carry out reconstruction projects for old communities that will cover an area of about 100 million square meters and insist on providing heartfelt services for people during the 14th Five-Year Plan period.