Ren Wei from Pengpu Xincun Sub-district: “Four Special” Firstly Proposed, Happy Pengpu Starts a New Journey

Guest

Ren Wei

Interview Background

Over the years, Pengpu Xincun Sub-district has been cultivating a deep sense of benefiting people, not only exploring the “Pengpu model” for renovating non-complete old residential buildings, but also committed to building a “Happy Pengpu” that is favorable for living, working, doing business, learning, and traveling.

Host:

Hello everyone and Secretary Ren. Welcome to today’s online interview.

Ren Wei:

Hello, host. Hello, everyone.

Host:

Pengpu Xincun is one of the first batch of Workers’ New Villages in Shanghai, which records the glory and pride of several generations of model workers and advanced workers. After more than 60 years of wind and rain, the once enviable Workers’ New Village has turned into old public housing plagued by various issues such as shared kitchens and bathrooms, long-term disrepair, and leaking roofs. The residents have a strong desire for the renovation of the old housing. How did the sub-district respond to their expectations?

Ren Wei:

Starting from 2005, Pengpu Xincun Sub-district, with the courage and responsibility of “daring to act and try”, has explored the “Pengpu model” for renovating non-complete old residential buildings. We have gone from “extended expansion” to “additional floor expansion” to “demolition and reconstruction”, transforming not only individual buildings but entire residential communities. We have also reconstructed shared kitchens and bathrooms into high-rise buildings with elevators and improved living facilities.

Ren Wei:

The Pengsan Residential Community, which was renovated through five phases, was demolished and reconstructed in four phases except for the extended expansion of Phase I. It has created many historical records and new miracles in the city: Phase II is the first complete renovation project in the city; Phase IV is the first complete renovation project of high-rise buildings with elevators in the city; Phase V achieved a 100% signing and relocation rate. In March 2022, residents of Phase V of the renovation of Pengsan Residential Community moved back according to the plan, enjoying the benefits of “independent households”, “elevators for going upstairs”, “garages for parking”, and “supporting facilities in the vicinity” in their “happy homes”.

Host:

On October 7, 2020, the contract for the most challenging and complex Pengyi Community Renovation Project with the largest number of households in the entire city came into effect during the first week. Could you please introduce it to us?

Ren Wei:

Sure! At that time, it broke the city’s signing record. The existing 40 dilapidated multi-floor old buildings will be transformed into a comprehensive living community at the same location. The transformation involves constructing 17 high-rise residential buildings ranging from 8 to 19 floors with elevators, two-floor underground garages accommodating nearly 1,700 parking spaces, and multiple high-quality supporting facilities for public services.

Ren Wei:

Over the course of 18 years, Pengpu Xincun Sub-district has successfully transformed a total of 102 buildings, benefiting 4,907 households. With a down-to-earth approach, the sub-district has diligently practiced the spirit of “working to the most, fighting to the most, enduring to the most, dedicating to the most”. We have achieved the strategic goal of “eliminating non-complete old residential buildings throughout the sub-district”.

Host:

Pengpu Xincun Sub-district is a typical aging community. To ensure that 45% of the elderly population in the community does not have to worry about “how to have three meals a day”, what has the sub-district done?

Ren Wei:

The sub-district has successively established and operated five community canteens, thus establishing a well-structured and widely covered community meal assistance service system for the elderly. After ensuring that the elderly can be content and comfortable to have meals, the sub-district has started piloting the creation of “healthy canteens”, further safeguarding the residents’ “health on taste buds”.

Ren Wei:

Since the pilot creation of “healthy canteens”, the Pengsan Community Canteen has implemented strict measures such as reducing sugar, salt, and oil in meals. The canteen employs cooking methods like stewing, boiling, steaming, simmering, stir-frying, and plain-frying to ensure that the elderly can eat healthily. It has also implemented portion control for dishes and scientifically planned meals to ensure a balanced and nutritious diet. The canteen also offers customized services for residents who need special meals for chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, or nutritious meals for post-operative recovery. Besides, the canteen labels each dish with a traffic light color tag, introduces intelligent nutrition analysis screens and sets up health corners and health bookshelves. These considerate services not only ensure that the elderly dine well but also dine healthily. Last year, Pengsan Community Canteen was successfully recognized as one of the “Top Ten Healthy Canteens among Shanghai Elderly Service Institutions in 2022”, making it the only community canteen in Jing’an District included in the “Top Ten” list.

Host:

Since 2020, Pengpu Xincun Sub-district has fully initiated the installation of elevators in existing multi-floor residential buildings. How is the progress so far?

Ren Wei:

Currently, a total of 371 buildings in nine residential communities within the sub-district have undergone standardized evaluation for elevator installation. We have successfully signed contracts for the installation of 382 elevators, with 197 of them already under construction and nearly 100 already in operation. This has effectively addressed the difficulty faced by elderly residents in going downstairs and continuously enhanced the sense of achievement and happiness among the community residents.

Ren Wei:

In March of this year, the “Elevator Management Center” of the sub-district was officially launched at the Community Neighborhood Center (1515 Lane, Linfen Road). Through displaying models of buildings with installed elevators and organizing regular open day events, residents can have a more intuitive understanding of elevator installation cases of various house types and relevant installation policies. In May of this year, the sub-district was selected as a pilot unit for the “15-Minute Convenient Life Circle” demonstration community of 2023 in Shanghai. In the future, the sub-district will continue to enrich the business formats, address facility gaps, improve service levels, and guide standardized operations, aiming to create a desirable and happy home for everyone.

Host:

In Pengpu Xincun Sub-district, “visiting a park without leaving the residential quarter” is a daily routine for many residents. Please tell us more about it.

Ren Wei:

Pengpu Four Seasons Park, located within the sub-district, is not only a five-star park but also the largest comprehensive residential quarter park in the central urban area of Shanghai. It has greatly improved the ecological environment quality of the region. The park stretches approximately 1.1 kilometers from north to south and about 80 meters from east to west. It covers a planned area of 9.32 hectares, with an actual area of 8.56 hectares, traversing four residential quarters including 1564 Lane of Linfen Road, Third Gongkang Village, and Fourth Gongkang Village (Phase I and II). The park has a green coverage rate of over 70% and is divided into four seasonal zones from south to north—spring, summer, autumn, and winter. It introduces new and excellent plant species with seasonal distinction, creating a year-round landscape effect. The park also features a square pathway, children’s playground, rest pavilion, pet-friendly area, wisteria-covered corridor, and sports and fitness facilities, catering to the activity needs of visitors of different ages.

Ren Wei:

Strolling through the park, one may find it hard to imagine that this area was once a “heavily violated” zone with illegal construction. In 2017, practicing the key concept of seeking happiness for residents, Pengpu Xincun Sub-district implemented the “five breaches, four musts” regional environmental improvement measures in this area. Subsequently, Pengpu Four Seasons Park was included in the “Beautiful Neighborhood” project construction of Jing’an District, undergoing a transformation into a high-quality public space that residents adore, characterized by “clear waters nearby, three-season flowers, and year-round greenery”.

Ren Wei:

Pengpu Xincun Sub-district will always uphold the “Four Special” spirit of Pengpu, the “People’s Heart as Our Own” sentiment of Pengpu, and the “Daring to Lead” responsibility of Pengpu. Taking the people’s yearning for a better life and a brighter future as our goal, we will comprehensively promote various aspects of economic and social development, striving to create a “Happy Pengpu” that is favorable for living, working, doing business, learning, and traveling. We will make every effort to build Pengpu Xincun Sub-district into a shining example of Chinese-style modernization in the north of Jing’an through vibrant practical endeavors.

Host:

Thank you for your sharing! That’s all for today’s online interview. See you next time!

Ren Wei:

Bye!