Chongqing Redefines Community Living in Urban Renovation

Chongqing - In Chongqing's city centre, a quiet urban renovation is transforming communities into vibrant hubs of social connection and convenience. 

At the heart of this change lies Zhongshutuo Community. Facing limited public spaces and dwindling resident engagement, local officials partnered with local organizations like Chuanye Brand Company to revitalize underutilized areas. In exchange for access to community spaces, these partners commit to organizing regular cultural events and contributing a portion of their revenue to neighborhood improvements. 

The results speak for themselves - from pop-up night markets to children's activity zones, participation rates have soared, particularly among younger demographics. Zhongshutuo, once an overlooked pocket park, now hosts moonlight concerts that regularly draw crowds of residents and people from outside the community. A resident, Cheng, who grew up in Zhongshutuo Community, says that on weekends, when he has free time, he takes friends to the neighborhood coffee shop for coffee and chats, sharing stories that have taken place there. He feels Zhongshutuo still holds the same charm but has become more welcoming.

Nearby, Lailu Temple Community has taken a different approach by converting administrative spaces into public amenities. A 300-square-meter civic gym operates free of charge each morning, while a community reading room provides quiet study spaces for students. "These shared spaces enhance residents' communication and help newcomers quickly find their place," explains Community Director Li Qian, noting how book clubs and fitness groups have become organic support networks in the rapidly developing area.

Li Jingshan of Lailu Community Service Company, which operates the municipal gym, notes that the facility also serves as a training hub for veterans. By offering free certification programs that qualify veterans as nationally certified fitness trainers, this initiative helps them gain vocational skills. "While also helping veterans achieve employment and entrepreneurship goals, these efforts simultaneously elevate the gym's service quality."

For older residents, practical solutions are making daily life easier. Qiaobei Community addressed the absence of nearby markets by converting an abandoned subway station space into a compact grocery hub operated by local vendor "Third Sister" Zhou. Her direct-from-farm sales model offers both freshness and affordability to elderly shoppers like Grandma Zhang, who no longer needs to commute 40 minutes for groceries.

By leveraging public-private partnerships and converting bureaucratic spaces into social infrastructure, Chongqing has created a replicable model for urban living that balances nostalgia with modernity and convenience with community.