Experience sharing of urban renewal: Yinchuan, Ningxia

Under the protection of Helan Mountain and the nourishment of the Yellow River, Yinchuan, known as the "Stuffed Jiangnan" and "the Land of Fish and Rice", has the urban characteristics of the integration of traditional culture and modern civilization in the northwest and the beauty of the south of the Yangtze River. In 2021, Yinchuan became one of the first 21 pilot cities for urban renewal in China, with the goal of improving the living environment, making up for the shortcomings of the city, improving the quality of the city, and treating urban diseases.

1) Systematic control of congestion and solving travel troubles.

From 2010 to 2021, Yinchuan's permanent population increased from 1,993,100 to 2,882,000, an increase of about 44.6%, and the number of automobiles increased from 395,000 to 1.17 million, an increase of 196.2%. In the face of the impact of changes in the new market conditions on the travel of the masses, Yinchuan put forward the demand management strategy, system improvement strategy and traffic supply strategy of systematic traffic congestion, implemented 8 engineering measures and 2 management measures, and planned to implement the transformation of the "traffic congestion 6+N" project to form a reasonable traffic congestion control plan.

Up to now, Yinchuan has added about 50 kilometers of municipal roads and 80 kilometers of slow-moving greenways, and the traffic congestion index of urban roads has been reduced by 20%, and the road network density has reached 5.8 kilometers per square kilometer.

2) Solve the dilemma and transform the old community.

Founded in the seventies and eighties of the last century, Tanglai area,contains 3 communities, 20 communities, 209 buildings, 10,283 households and 25,723 people, which is a microcosm of old Yinchuan. Poor waterproof and thermal insulation performance, blocked water and water pipes, and damaged road surfaces in public areas...... In the past, there was a "common problem" of old communities in the Tanglai area.

In the face of this situation, Yinchuaninnovatively implemented the "three-in-three" working method of combining small and large, chaotic and integrated, and integrated blocks and pieces, so as to realize the co-construction and sharing of service facilities, public space and property management, establish a grid governance team, give full play to the strength of grassroots party organizations, and unite the work force. By revitalizing the existing resources in the community and its surroundings, 380 parking spaces are reasonably planned, 40 motor vehicle charging piles are built, 245 electric bicycle charging piles are built, and 1 community activity center is renovated.

At the same time, Yinchuan advocates adapting measures to local conditions, changing "living" to "business" to promote the new vitality of the business format, taking the alley as an extension of the community culture, and creating an overall "suit" from the aspects of architectural style, natural landscape, and cultural landscape. In view of the fact that some residents have changed the windows and doors of their houses and carried out production and business activities, Yinchuan has regained the "memory of Tang Lai" and created a characteristic block of Xingren Lane, renovated the existing buildings and streets, and implanted the industrial style and national tide culture that is compatible with Tang Lai culture, and the block has taken on a new look. 

By the end of 2022, Yinchuan has invested 2.9 billion yuan to renovate 919 old residential areas, 12,648,600 square meters, 65,000 shantytowns, 13 million square meters, and benefited 540,000 people. In 2023, the city's 61 renovated old residential areas have been basically completed.

3) A new landmark of cultural tourism to stimulate the vitality of consumption.

On September 26, 2023, the new landmark of Yinchuan Cultural City, Phoenix Fantasy City, with "Phoenix" as the core theme and Yinchuan culture as the backing, officially opened.

Phoenix Fantasy City is composed of 56 buildings imitating the Ming and Qing dynasties, covering an area of 280 acres, with a total planned construction area of 179,200 square meters and about 1,700 supporting parking spaces. In the first phase of the upgrading and renovation of Yinchuan Cultural City, Phoenix Fantasy City is divided into seven sections, including Yingfeng Square, Phoenix Square, and Wine Culture Square.  

Before the renovation, Yinchuan Cultural City lacked a prominent cultural temperament and in-depth experience scene atmosphere, so Yinchuan adopted the idea of integrated bidding for design, investment and operation, and deeply integrated cultural tourism with modern bars, performing arts, and catering in a market-oriented operation through self-raising and loan application, so as to create diversified night leisure methods such as "night food", "night shopping" and "night tour", bringing tourists an immersive experience. Since the official operation of Yinchuan Cultural City, Phoenix Fantasy City, the average daily passenger flow has reached 25,000 people, and the peak period has exceeded 33,000 people.

Yinchuan deeply takes the citizens' expectations for happiness and livability in their hearts, and embodies them in their actions, accelerates the implementation of practical projects, and ensures that the urban renewal answer sheet with "temperature" and "texture" is handed in as scheduled.

 Phoenix Fantasy City. [Photo/Chinajsb]

The Tanglai area. [Photo/Chinajsb]

Source: <https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/6ZdT50iOLVkVVh9CZXI_oQ>

Edited and Translated by Guan Tao