Yuxi breathes new life into old localities

In Yuxi, Yunnan province, walls separating aging residential compounds are giving way to shared spaces, as urban renewal projects improve living conditions and foster closer ties among residents of different ethnic groups.

Lianjiang community in Eshan Yi autonomous county is one example. Once divided by walls, former factory housing compounds are now connected by roads and shared facilities. Renovations that began in 2019 have put 32,000 square meters of previously unused land to better use.

Established in February 2021 following the upgrades, the community encompasses 58 residential compounds and is home to more than 11,000 residents, including people from the Han, Yi, Hani and Hui ethnic groups.

Luo Jiafu, Party chief of the community, said practical services and regular activities help residents interact while respecting their different customs.

At the community's Yi embroidery room, artisans teach women from different ethnic groups, creating opportunities for them to exchange skills and build relationships. Some participants have used what they learned to find jobs or start businesses.

Festive gatherings also take dietary customs into account. Luo said the community uses vegetarian fillings during zongzi-making activities for Dragon Boat Festival out of respect for Hui residents. Zongzi are sticky rice dumplings wrapped in leaves.

"The key is to respect the customs of each ethnic group," Luo said, adding that no disputes arising from ethnic tensions or disrespect for other ethnic groups had been reported since the community was established.

The community also provides services to meet residents' daily needs. Its canteen offers affordable meals close to home, with residents aged 60 and above able to buy a meal consisting of two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes for 8 yuan ($1.2), Luo said. Social workers and volunteers also visit older people living alone and provide support for children in need.

Employment assistance offers another way for residents to benefit from community services. A housekeeping company provides training at a venue supplied by the community and recruits qualified participants. Staff members also help connect unemployed residents with local employers, including clothing workshops.

Shared spaces encourage everyday interaction. Eleven pavilions built during the renovations provide places for older residents to chat and for neighbors to discuss community affairs. A morning market offers free stalls where residents can sell homegrown produce and handmade goods.

The community has also improved its response to neighborhood problems. Community workers collect residents' requests and help address complaints involving issues such as water leaks and noise. According to community figures, 96 disputes have been resolved, helping prevent routine disagreements from straining relations among neighbors.

Across Yuxi, similar initiatives are combining housing improvements with better public services and closer social ties. The city launched its old neighborhood renovation program in December 2019 and had upgraded 1,321 residential compounds by the end of 2025.

Across 53 areas, 656 compounds have undergone coordinated renovations, with 78,000 sq m of temporary structures removed and more than 150,000 people benefiting, according to city authorities.

In Manha community, Xinping county, 586 households comprising 2,196 people from five villages live together in a community that includes 14 ethnic minority groups. Homes were allocated randomly, breaking up the previous pattern of residents living separately according to their villages of origin and creating opportunities to build new neighborhood ties.

Yuxi has also introduced guidelines to encourage residents to play a more active role in neighborhood affairs. Residents' committees, homeowners' committees and property management companies jointly discuss issues such as renovation, parking and public services.

Drawing on feedback from channels including the 12345 government service hotline, the city has identified 214 residential compounds for targeted action on property management problems this year, with a separate plan for each compound.

Yuxi is extending the approach through housing redevelopment, resettlement projects and the reuse of former industrial sites. In Xinping, 27 communities have signed an agreement to cooperate on local industries, cultural exchanges and community governance.

Under a plan issued earlier this year, Yuxi aims to establish 105 demonstration communities by 2028 while continuing related initiatives across all 294 communities in the city.