Shanghai’s urban renewal projects involving historical structures and old communities have become models for neighboring cities in the Yangtze River Delta region to drive urban development.

The China Urban Renewal Yangtze River Delta Region Summit was held in Huangpu District yesterday for city government officials, experts and urban planners to share their experiences in best urban face-lift practices.

Hosted by the Huangpu government and the China Real Estate Chamber of Commerce, the summit showcased a number of projects across the Yangtze delta region, including many successful renovation projects in Shanghai.

Aiming to become the “global sitting room of Shanghai,” Huangpu hosts many prominent urban renewal examples such as the Bund, Xintiandi, Yuyuan Garden and Sinan Mansions, Huangpu Party secretary Gao Yun said.

A new round of face-lift drive has been launched in Huangpu. These include the renovation of the former home of the Shanghai Municipal Council and the city government near the Bund, the Chengxingli residential community and the Qiaojia Road Neighborhood in the city’s old town.

The nearly century-old former city government building is being preserved and renovated into offices, cultural and public space as well as commercial property. It will open to the public in 2023.

The Chengxingli neighborhood, a shikumen, or stone-gate community, on Beijing Road W, offers a new model for renovations in old neighborhoods. The project relocated some residents while renovating the living space of those who choose to remain. Relocated families free up space for each remaining household. This space will be used for new kitchen and toilet facilities.

Theater cluster

“Huangpu aims to take the lead to work out an urban renewal standard and conclude innovative measures to drive the urban renovation for the Yangtze delta and the whole country,” Gao said in a keynote speech. The district pledged to provide “Huangpu experiences” and “Huangpu models” on urban renewal elsewhere.

Also at the summit, the district government signed a cooperation agreement with Jiangyin City in neighboring Jiangsu Province, and Liandu District of Lishui City in Zhejiang Province, to drive regional urban development.

Huangpu and Jiangyin will jointly develop a theater cluster near People’s Square named “Show Life,” which will feature more than 15,000 art performances per year.

Huangpu will also work together with Liandu District in Lishui to drive major infrastructure constructions in the Zhejiang city while protecting the ecological environment, according to the agreement.

The 2019 China Urban Renewal White Book was released at the summit, which includes best urban renewal practices in Shanghai and other Chinese cities, along with the latest policies and theories.

The China Real Estate Chamber of Commerce also released China’s first appraisal standard for renovations of old residential communities.