Residents of a renovated community in Shanghai happily received Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, who came to the neighborhood to see firsthand urban grassroots work on Wednesday afternoon.
Xi toured the residential community in Huangpu District where many buildings constructed nearly 70 years ago have been extensively renovated and upgraded in recent years.
Xi went to the community service center to learn in detail about the renovation of the neighborhoods. He also stopped by the Party-residents service station, where he talked with residents' representatives, neighborhood officials, and community workers.
"We were excited beyond ourselves. At the sight the General Secretary walking in, we couldn't stop applauding. The General Secretary came all the way to check things at our grassroots, my neighbors and I were all very excited," said Xia Lingxia, Secretary of the Party Working Committee of Bansongyuan Road Subdistrict.
The Shimin Xincun residential area in the Bansongyuan Road Subdistrict, where Xi visited, had four old buildings originally built back in 1957, but over the decades got too old with structural safety hazards and lacked modern sanitation facilities.
"This living quarter of ours used to be worn out and dilapidated. The bathrooms and kitchens were all shared. If we wanted to take a shower, we had to carry a bucket of water out to the street and had a rinse there," said resident Yan Zhixian.
The community was one of many residential areas that benefited from a comprehensive renovation project which was launched in Huangpu District in October 2022 to modernize outdated buildings.
The large-scale initiative involved over 350 households and combined relocation, demolition and reconstruction efforts to address housing safety issues and ensure each home have its own private kitchen and bathroom.
It also included the installation of elevators, new independent balconies, pocket gardens, underground parking lots, and other amenities, all aimed to significantly improve people's living conditions. The project was completed in March this year, with 178 households having already moved back.
"Now every household has its own bathroom with shower facilities. So we feel very satisfied and happy from the bottom of our hearts," said local resident Huang Liping.
"The General Secretary spotted the new laundry racks as soon as he walked in the neighborhood. He knows Shanghai well. In the past, our laundry racks were just bamboo poles sticking out of the windows, which looked like tens of thousands of flags out there. But the renovation project installed racks for every household, truly meeting the people's demand," said Xia.
During the inspection tour, Xi stressed the need to fully embrace the people-centered philosophy of urban development.
Urban renewal initiatives should be carried out in a thorough, meticulous and effective manner to continuously enhance the people's sense of fulfillment, happiness and security, Xi said.
"He really cares about us ordinary people. He feels and knows all the small details of our daily life — the little things that matter. He knows we need to get rid of chamber pots and old stoves, and he knows that the 'vegetable basket' - what we eat and how we live - is what we are concerned about the most. It's these everyday issues that matter to people, and he truly gets it," said Yan.
"He always has us ordinary people in his heart. He believes that the Party and government exercise power for the people, that is to solve real problems for the people and improve people's livelihoods. We can truly feel the warmth and the tangible benefits the Party and government bring to us. It's real and solid, and we all feel it from the bottom of our hearts," said Huang.
Xia said the General Secretary's visit has inspired local officials to work even harder to bring more tangible benefits to residents.
"The General Secretary always keeps the people in his heart, so he cares very much about the urgent concerns and pressing needs of ordinary people. These may seem like trifles, but for our residents, they are major issues that affect their daily life. I believe we should work even harder to implement Party policies and ensure they are carried out effectively. Through our efforts, we should better embody the care of the Party and government, and bring our people a stronger sense of fulfillment and happiness," said Xia.
Community residents recall Xi's visit
