Urbanization should be centered on people's well-being

Editor's note: China's urbanization drive is shifting from large-scale expansion to a phase that emphasizes quality and efficiency. Wang Kai, president of China Academy of Urban Planning and Design, shared his insights on this transition in an article in the Economic Daily. Below are excerpts of the article. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

Since the start of China's reform and opening-up, the urbanization rate of its permanent population has risen to 67.89 percent in 2025. This is a historic accomplishment of the country's urban construction efforts. It is estimated that China's urbanization rate will reach around 75 percent by 2035.

While there is room for greater urbanization, the pattern of the country's urban development has shifted to one focusing on the improvement of cities' quality. This new pattern no longer depends on developing new land to generate benefits; instead, it seeks benefits through fully leveraging existing urban resources.

The development model that was formed during the period of rapid growth no longer meets the requirements of this new phase. It is therefore necessary to promote institutional innovation and deepen the reform of systems for urban construction, operation and governance, form a sustainable approach toward urban renewal, improve the quality and efficiency of urban development, and make it fairer, more sustainable and safer.

Experience shows that advancing high-quality urban renewal is not simply a matter of "demolishing the old and building the new", but a complex and systematic undertaking. For example, the people-centered philosophy should be put into concrete action, and targeted measures should be adopted to address the different needs of four key groups: children, the elderly, new residents and younger adults in cities, and people living in old urban residential compounds.

A detailed examination is needed to identify the weak spots in cities, which are usually not easy to detect. The examination should be conducted before urban renewal projects are undertaken. No renewal projects should be launched without prior examination. A mechanism should be established to ensure that both the examination and renewal projects function in a coordinated manner.

Research in diverse fields, including housing safety, community services and transportation is also necessary, because it helps identify the pressing difficulties and practical concerns of urban residents. In addition, cities need to undergo systematic assessments, covering their functions, structure, operation, spatial governance and the level of ecological security, to identify the shortcomings that lower their competitiveness, restrict their carrying capacity and hinder sustainable development.

Detailed design of urban space can help existing buildings and facilities generate greater value. The importance of careful, detailed intervention and repair of existing urban structures should be highlighted.

The traditional model of urban renewal which prioritizes construction over operation often leads to a mismatch between supply and demand, asset loss and declining vitality of projects. Therefore, it's essential to take operation into account during the entire process of an urban renewal project. Issues such as who will operate the project and how it will generate returns — should be clearly addressed when the project is at the planning stage.

Multiple parties should be encouraged to participate in such projects, so that they all contribute to the construction and governance of the projects, as well as share the benefits yielded by the projects.