Those visiting Cangxia New Town in Fuzhou, Fujian province for the first time must be impressed by the beautiful environment and well-arranged residential buildings. It is hard to imagine that it's a resettlement community built more than 20 years ago.

In the early 1990s, a popular saying at the time described Fuzhou as a "paper-pasted city", reflecting its harsh living environment. Cangxia was a typical old residential community at that time where most residents lived in cramped, dilapidated wooden houses.

"Previously, our family of three had to share a wooden shack smaller than 9 square meters, and we weren't alone. Lots of families endured similar conditions," said local resident Tang Qingwang.

"There were many safety hazards in such houses. What worried us most were heavy rainfall and fires," he added.

The changes began on July 2, 2000, when a then senior official of the province, who is currently a top leader of China, led a team to conduct an inspection in Cangxia.

Having learned about the situation, he told resident representatives at the meeting: "Please convey to the public that the government will ensure that things benefiting the people are done well."

Seven days later, the Cangxia reconstruction project was officially launched. After one year, 42 new residential buildings had been constructed, providing new homes for nearly 10,000 residents across 3,441 households.

Among them, Tang and his family members moved into a 60-sq-m apartment.

"When I saw the safe, bright and cozy new home, I couldn't hold back my tears. After decades in that rundown shack, I never dreamed I could have such a wonderful apartment," Tang said.

Official data showed the community's living area per capita increased by 52.2 percent to 13.7 sq m after the renovation project, while its total residential area expanded from 158,600 sq m to 208,800 sq m.

The community didn't stop improving there. In 2021, a new renovation project was launched to optimize infrastructure facilities, increase green coverage and improve public services.

"Our community has a high proportion of elderly residents and children," said the community's Party secretary Wang Lulu, adding that there was a strong demand for more accessible features, service facilities and a better environment.

Through the project, a total of 46 open spaces spanning 24,900 sq m have been transformed into public service spaces, including an elderly canteen, a smart parking lot, and a childcare facility, according to Wang.

"During the past 20 years or so, I have seen both the community and our lives getting better every day. That makes me feel very glad and proud," Tang said.

In 2023, the renovation project earned the China Human Settlements and Environment Award, presented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.

From a rundown neighborhood to a modern community, Cangxia New Town epitomizes Fuzhou's urban construction achievements, showcasing its commitment to a livable city, local officials said. Adhering to the people-centered philosophy of development, the city has made sustained efforts to enhance people's living conditions and improve their livelihoods.

Since 2000, Fuzhou's urban area has implemented 835 renovation projects in neighborhood clusters, demolishing 83.7 million sq m of old buildings, benefiting about 410,000 households and more than 1.2 million residents.

The projects went beyond housing, addressing residents' needs by constructing parks, roads, hospitals and schools, while also improving waterways and alleviating traffic congestion.

They are aimed at achieving an overall upgrade of the area, said an official from the city's housing and urban-rural development bureau.

Between 2000-25, the per capita housing area in Fuzhou surged from less than 10 sq m to 51.6 sq m, according to the bureau.