In Qingdao, a coastal city in the Chinese mainland's Shandong Province, citizens have a new way to talk directly with local officials: Hangfeng Online. Launched in 2004 by the municipal government and Qingdao Media Group, this live hotline and radio program gives residents a direct line for questions, complaints and problem-solving.
Each session is simple: callers dial in with issues ranging from streetlight outages to water supply glitches. Officials respond live on air, while dedicated teams track progress behind the scenes to ensure solutions land fast. "We've built a bridge for communication," says Zhang Xiaolin, deputy director of hotline supervision at Qingdao Media Group. "Government and the public now sit on the same bench."
One standout success came in Xihai'an (West Coast) New Area, where unreliable power and water plagued a housing complex for over a year. Attention from Hangfeng Online triggered a rapid response: authorities fixed the utilities within weeks, restoring daily life for hundreds of families.
Building on this momentum, Qingdao authorities and Qingdao Daily launched People's Livelihood Online in 2009, an interactive political consultation column. The pilot event drew directors from 19 departments online and engaged up to 250,000 participants, highlighting a massive appetite for transparent, digital governance.
Fast-forward to June, when Chengyun Holding Group hosted an online forum on public transportation in Xianjiazhai. Citizens pointed out gaps after recent urban renewal. Within days, stakeholders—from transit planners to local schools—ran field studies and mapped out the No. 428 shuttle route. "My child can sleep an extra 10 minutes now," cheered one parent after the schedule was synced with school hours.
These digital hotlines aren't just tech demos—they're vital tools for safeguarding people's livelihoods and closing the gap between policy and daily life. By harnessing real-time feedback, Qingdao is pushing grassroots governance toward a more service-oriented model.
As cities worldwide seek fresh ways to tap citizen insights, Hangfeng Online and People's Livelihood Online stand out as blueprints for blending tech innovation, public participation and swift action. For young global citizens, entrepreneurs and changemakers, Qingdao's example shows how a simple call can spark real change.
Reference(s):
How Chinese live hotline to local government has empowered citizens
cgtn.com
