How Cities Will Be Renewed in the Next Five Years! Detailed Explanation by Four Ministries

During the '14th Five-Year' period, over 1.15 million old residential blocks will be newly renovated

In infrastructure upgrades, improvements will be made to gas, water supply, heating, roads, and other basic facilities, with support for installing elevators in buildings that meet conditions.

Environmentally, public spaces and supporting facilities will be upgraded to improve living conditions for residents.

In management, long-term governance mechanisms will be combined with renovation efforts, encouraging business services, promoting resident participation, and jointly maintaining the outcomes of urban renewal.

During the '14th Five-Year' period, approximately 7.7 million kilometers of underground urban pipelines will be constructed or renovated

'Six Networks' construction is a crucial pillar of foundational urban renewal during the '14th Five-Year' period, with underground pipeline development being a core component. During this period, approximately 7.7 million kilometers of underground networks will be built or upgraded, including: gas pipelines (about 2 million km), drainage networks (1.75 million km), water supply networks (1.75 million km), sewage networks (1 million km), and heating networks (1.2 million km). While enhancing urban safety resilience, this will also drive effective investment.

• For water supply networks: Focus will be on updating aging, damaged municipal pipes to enhance the city’s water security and reliability.

• For gas networks: Priority is on replacing outdated, hazardous pipelines to eliminate safety risks.

• For heating networks: Key actions include implementing 'heat-saving projects' to accelerate upgrades to aging pipelines and inefficient heat stations, reducing heat loss and ensuring safe operation.

RMB 9.7 billion allocated to support urban renewal projects

Central budgetary funds will provide targeted support for urban renewal through special allocations. In 2025, a dedicated urban renewal fund will be established within central fiscal planning, focusing on supporting the renovation of old residential districts and dangerous housing projects. By 2026, the funding allocation will reach RMB 9.7 billion, driving improvements in housing quality, completing public service facilities, and benefiting around 8 million households.

RMB 16 billion allocated to support underground pipeline construction and renovation

Under the 'Two Major Projects' initiative, strong support will be provided for underground pipeline construction and renovation. According to the work deployment under the 'Two Major Projects', the National Development and Reform Commission will collaborate with the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development throughLong-term Special FundActively supporting the construction and renovation of underground networks for gas, drainage, water supply, and heating. By 2026, the funding allocation will reach RMB 16 billion—an increase of RMB 2.5 billion from the previous year. This will accelerate the rectification of existing infrastructure gaps, enhance urban disaster prevention and mitigation capabilities, strengthen overall load-bearing capacity, and provide robust support for safe urban operations and high-quality development, ensuring greater peace of mind and comfort for the people.

During the '14th Five-Year' period, 50 key cities will explore replicable and scalable mechanisms for urban renewal

Starting in 2024, the Ministry of Finance will work with the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development to launch initiatives supporting pilot urban renewal activities in selected key cities. Over three consecutive years, support has been provided to Beijing, Shanghai, Changsha, Hangzhou, Chengdu, and other 50 key cities as pioneers in reform. The central government will provide fixed subsidies to each region—eastern, central, and western—to support the implementation of demonstration projects and institutional building. At the same time, local governments are encouraged to better coordinate financial use and placement, prioritize investment in both physical and human capital, and integrate investment with consumption, emphasizing 'investment in things' and 'investment in people.' During the '14th Five-Year' period, these 50 cities will follow approved implementation plans to explore replicable and scalable urban renewal mechanisms. The Ministry of Finance will strengthen guidance in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, timely summarize successful experiences, and promote them widely, further refining policies and measures.

Source: People's Government Website