By tf-lawyer.com On October 17, the “People’s City: Civilized Style” themed event was held at the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center, marking the fifth anniversary of the People’s City concept. At the event, representatives from the community shared their experiences and stories about collaborative efforts to cultivate urban civility, showcasing the ordinary citizens’ contributions to building a People’s City. The city also honored citizen spokespersons with commemorative certificates and invited various representatives of spiritual civilization to launch a citywide heat map for the “People’s City Civilized Style” activities.
Li Jianjun, the first secretary of the Party branch at the Ma Qiao Huaren Youchao “New Era City Builders and Managers Home,” spoke about how he and over 3,000 “family members” from diverse backgrounds are creating a fulfilling life while contributing to urban development. He emphasized the transition from simply having housing to enjoying a livable environment, made possible through the initiatives at the community center. Wei Lin, director of the Songjiang Martyrs’ Cemetery, recounted her team’s five-year journey to reconnect 38 martyrs with their families, deepening the understanding of revolutionary spirit and promoting red culture. Additionally, Li Jie from the Huangpu District Health Promotion Center shared how she integrated health promotion concepts into her wedding, advocating for a civilized and healthy lifestyle in an innovative way.
Li Jianjun described the Ma Qiao Town community home as a multi-ethnic space that currently accommodates over 3,000 residents from 22 different nationalities, all of whom regard him as a “father figure.” This facility offers various rental housing options, along with amenities like shared kitchens, public baths, laundry rooms, reading areas, and fitness zones. It also provides a range of services—including online access to resources, policy consultations, health services, and family activities—to enhance residents’ living conditions.
Across Shanghai, more of these community homes are emerging, emphasizing a shift from single apartments to shared spaces. Over recent years, the city has ramped up efforts to increase affordable rental housing, addressing the needs of grassroots workers for decent living conditions.
Liu Shilin, director of the Urban Science Research Institute at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, stated that balancing production, living conditions, and ecology is central to the planning, construction, and governance of the People’s City. He emphasized that both economic development and ecological protection must be prioritized without compromising each other, which is vital for improving urbanization quality.
He noted that initiatives like the “One River, One River” project have transformed former industrial areas and dilapidated neighborhoods into vibrant living spaces and innovation hubs, setting a benchmark for urban renewal and cultural preservation in China. Additionally, technological advances such as the “Big Zero Bay” project are designed to boost innovation capabilities and enhance the competitiveness of emerging industries, providing fresh momentum for the continued, quality, and sustainable development of the People’s City and addressing the long-standing contradictions between production and ecology.
Liu believes the focus on creating livable, resilient, and smart cities will be key to Shanghai’s development as a People’s City. He encourages looking ahead to further deepen reforms and pursue a model of modernization uniquely tailored to China, with an emphasis on higher living standards, enhanced safety, and a more comprehensive governance structure in the future.
As time goes by, one thing remains clear for Shanghai: its commitment to prioritizing the people. The city will continue to allocate its best resources to serve the community, crafting a new chapter that reflects the spirit of “The People’s City is built by the people, for the people.”
