Shanghai's new real estate measures are boosting market enthusiasm by lowering purchasing barriers and increasing loan support, helping enhance buyer confidence and encouraging many to take advantage of investment opportunities.
The latest in a series of supportive policies were rolled out across the city on Aug 25, aiming to further stimulate the property sector, with the removal of purchase restrictions on suburban homes being one of the most eye-catching.
This allowed eligible residents to purchase an unlimited number of homes in the city's outer suburbs.
At one property agency in Shanghai, agents said the new policy has prompted an increase in the number of potential buyers.
"The weekend was a peak time. The number of inquiries and inspections all jumped. For example, in our store, they both increased by between 20 and 30 percent," said Dou Jishen, manager of the Shanghai Lianjia Hongqiao Flagship Store.
A total of six new measures were included in the newly-launched policies, such as allowing the use of the housing provident fund for down payments and flexible interest rates for mortgage loans, with these also helping activate the market.
The daily sales of pre-owned apartments across Shanghai reached over 1,100 on Saturday, hitting a two-month high, pointing to the effectiveness of the new measures.
Given this positive response, industry insiders believe more policies will be launched in the future to give a further boost to the housing sector.
"This round of policy adjustments is gradual. It aims to avoid market speculation. I believe the government will collect market feedback and make adjustments in the future," said Caroline Jin, director of residential for real estate services firm Cushman and Wakefield's east China division.
Shanghai's new real estate measures boost market enthusiasm
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
