Yubei Community in Chongqing Liangjiang New Area is one of Chongqing's first pilot communities to build "15-minute community life circles." (Photo/Liangjiang New Area)
Chongqing - Chongqing rolled out its “15-minute community life circles” in 2025 to bring essential public services closer to residents, benefiting more than 3.1 million people so far, Gao Jian, Director of the Chongqing Municipal Development and Reform Commission, said at a Jan. 30 press conference during the Fourth Session of the Sixth Chongqing Municipal People’s Congress.
"15-minute community life circles" is a comprehensive community-based service system that provides residents with a variety of public services, including education, healthcare, elderly care, childcare, culture, and sports.
In China, communities are social living units consisting of people living within a specific geographic area. They serve as the basic units of urban governance and public services, catering to residents' daily production and living needs.
Meeting residents’ core service needs lies at the heart of Chongqing’s community life circles, with childcare emerging as one of the most pressing concerns. Peng Ye, a deputy to the Chongqing Municipal People’s Congress and president of the Chongqing Women’s Federation, shared a case highlighting the urgency of expanding childcare services.
Ms. Liu Guijun, who runs a nail salon in Chongqing Dianjiang, often does not return home until 9 p.m. each day, and her husband is frequently away on business. Her child, currently in third grade, faces challenges with after-school homework tutoring and dinner care. These have been constant sources of anxiety for her.
Liu’s situation is not an isolated one; it reflects the widespread childcare challenges currently faced. China is facing a declining birth rate. In response to changes in population structure and the challenges families face with childcare, China has proposed developing family-friendly cities. This includes efforts to increase the supply of childcare services and reduce the burdens of childbearing, rearing, and education for families.
Chongqing has made childcare services a key focus in developing the life circles. The city supports embedding childcare facilities in public community spaces, with "Yuhao Space" serving as a concrete example of this initiative.
Since 2024, Chongqing has integrated public service resources for women and children within communities, aiming to create comprehensive service stations, "Yuhao Space", for women and children. These stations combine childcare, education, and community canteens to meet the needs of both childcare and daily services.
On Dazhulin Street in Chongqing, children engage in outdoor sports. (Photo/Liangjiang New Area)
For example, “Yuhao Space” in Nanqiaosi Community in Chongqing’s Liangjiang New Area partners with professional education institutions to provide daily childcare at below-market rates, while low-income, severely disabled, and other disadvantaged families receive services for free.
A challenge in the development of "Yuhao Space" is achieving self-sufficiency and long-term sustainability. Chongqing’s communities have brought in third-party "commercial entities" to combine market-based operations with public welfare services, encouraging these stations to achieve profitability and ensure long-term service continuity.
Peng shared that in Zhengjie Community in Chongqing Tongliang, the "Yuhao Space" has integrated various community services, including property management, teahouses, community canteens, and supermarkets, creating a positive commercial operating cycle.
This not only ensures the provision of basic services like childcare but also covers multiple aspects of residents' everyday consumption. By 2025, this station’s revenue will exceed 1.2 million yuan (172.6 thousand U.S. dollars), with the community netting more than 100,000 yuan.
During construction, Chongqing avoided large-scale demolition and reconstruction. Instead, the city skillfully revitalized underused community spaces, transforming old property rooms, vacant activity rooms, and unused sites into dedicated areas for children's learning and play, maximizing service efficiency and minimizing costs.
As of now, 48 "Yuhao Spaces" have been built and are operational across Chongqing, benefiting over 300,000 women, children, and families. By 2025, the coverage of childcare institutions in Chongqing's urban communities is expected to exceed 47%, higher than the national average.
In Chongqing's Dazhulin Street, many residents come to the community canteen for meals. (Photo/Liangjiang New Area)