Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, April 22, Title: Urban renewal: Micro-renovation rejuvenates great vitality

Xinhua News Agency reporters Qi Zhongxi, Wang Youling, Li Qianwei

Old streets and alleys "counterattack" vibrant communities, industrial factories transformed into cultural parks, and idle vacant land became street gardens... In recent years, various places have promoted urban renewal with "embroidery skills", which not only improved the living environment, but also stimulated the vitality of the city.

Walking on the Thousand-year-old Yingfu Bridge in the center of Lanwan 1917 Cultural and Tourism Block in Wuxi, Jiangsu, a new ancient charm blows over. Intangible cultural heritage flower halls, Internet celebrity coffees, and time-honored snack shops are all over the block, becoming a place for citizens and tourists to linger.

"The location we want to find most is convenient transportation and reflects the historical and cultural heritage." Liu Ruowa, the head of Wu Yunhuadao, said that the cultural and creative atmosphere of the neighborhood and the small and beautiful architectural form are particularly in line with the positioning of the flower hall.

The Lanwan 1917 Cultural Tourism Block is one of the Wuxi Blue Series Park Update Projects. From the "industrial rust belt" to the "urban show belt", the renovation of the Blue Series Park will "renovate" the industrial relics born in different eras of the 20th century, creating comprehensive industrial parks, digital cultural industry clusters and leisure and cultural commercial districts, so as to revitalize the old factory areas.

The relevant person in charge of the Wuxi Municipal Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau said that in the protection, the mark that carries the urban cultural context can find the soil for inheritance and growth in modern cities, and show the renewal paradigm of "integration of ancient and modern times, symbiosis of industry and city".

In Mengzhuwan Street, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan, some idle houses in Peihua Road Community have been micro-renovated and renovated into Jinyouli Creative Park. Songjin Customization Hall, Tea Art Store, Flower Shop... Several young people have moved into the Creative Park with new business formats, bringing more traffic and vitality. Recently, the newly renovated community canteen next to the Creative Park has also opened for business.

"Not only the elderly, but some young people nearby also come to eat often. The canteen also holds some charity activities, such as recently carrying out cooking training for caregivers of children with autism." Yang Fei, the head of the community canteen, told reporters.

Zhao Liangkai, the manager of Yami Pet Baking Training School, who entered the Creative Park in February this year, said that the renovation and transformation have improved the community environment. In this space with courtyard, you can feel the full smell of fireworks. Sometimes you will go to the neighboring community canteen to have a meal, which can form a good interaction with the community.

In many cities, old communities, old neighborhoods, and old factories have gradually become a place that is livable, business-friendly and travel-friendly. In 2024, my country implemented more than 60,000 urban renewal projects, and completed an investment of about 2.9 trillion yuan.

The renovation of old communities in Taping area in Jiangbei District, Chongqing insists on "side inspection and reform", "flying lines" to the ground, eliminate hidden dangers, and divert rain and sewage, promotes the renovation of residential buildings, construction of small and micro activity squares, and the construction of community canteens. More than 20 "one-meter" paradises and pocket parks have been built, 20 sets of sports facilities have been installed, and a 1-kilometer-long youth fashion cultural and creative street has been created, attracting 100 innovative stores such as coffee crafts and photography experience.

"The renovation of old communities is not about 'skin-washing and changing faces' and 'technical superposition', but rather, it is about transcending the building itself, leading the old with the new, promoting the new with the old, and achieving great changes through micro-renovation, and creating a new popular life scene." Xue Feng, chief architect of China Construction Design Research Institute Co., Ltd., said.

The Liangma River in Chaoyang District, Beijing is called the "Internet celebrity river", and the 18-kilometer waterfront greenway connects "1 river, 2 lakes, 24 bridges and 18 scenery". Citizens who have lived by the Liangma River for decades used to take a detour due to poor environment, but now they are rushing to the river to "get together" just to enjoy the "poetry and distant places" at their doorstep.

Recently, a new highlight has been added by the riverside - the renovated and upgraded "Liangma Xiaoyuan" has been unveiled to the public. This space full of stories was once a sanitation courtyard. After the space was replaced, it became a "Little Ma Courtyard" in late autumn 2024. Not long ago, Chaoyang Cultural Tourism Group transformed it again, and the space of Linmaizidian Street turned into the "most beautiful street corner", and the "dopamine" shop enriched the emotional value of tourists.

Urban renewal is not only a spatial transformation, but also a reconstruction of social relations; it must not only be transformed well, but also operated and maintained well, so as to continuously benefit the people. From old factories to new business districts, from street corners and alleys to waterfront greenways, urban renewal writes new stories of urban development. Those urban spaces worn out by time have grown more vigorous vitality in renewal and transformation, creativity and warmth.