China's real estate market demonstrated robust recovery during the first half of 2025, fueled by stimulus policies implemented nationwide, according to Beijing Municipal Commission of Housing and Rural and Urban Construction on Monday.
All first-tier cities recorded significant jumps in new home sales. The tech hub of Shenzhen led with a 42 percent year on year surge to secure 21,846 transactions, while the financial hub of Shanghai reported average daily sales of approximately 10,000 square meters, representing a 38 percent year-on-year increase. Beijing recorded 20,900 new home transactions through online signings, increasing by 11.9 percent year on year, and Guangzhou saw 32,861 units sold, representing a growth of 17 percent year on year.
In June, new home sales in Guangzhou reached its peak of this year, with 6,796 units sold.
The second-hand home market also posted robust sales growth in the six-month period.
Beijing's 87,500 resale transactions reflected an 18.6 percent increase, the highest level in three years, while Shanghai recorded the sales of 116,000 units, up 24 percent year on year, representing its best performance in the first half of the year since 2022.
From January to June, Guangzhou documented 56,613 pre-owned home transactions, covering over 5,690,000 square meters, increasing by 12.98 percent and 13.31 percent year on year respectively.
Shenzhen's second-hand home market completed 35,106 transactions, rising 30.7 percent year on year in the six-month period.
This rebound follows 340 local revitalization measures including optimizing the housing provident fund policy, providing home purchase subsidies and adjusting land supply.
China's property market rebounds across major cities in January-June
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
