In the maze of Shanghai’s historic lanes, modernity once clashed with daily life. Built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many homes lacked indoor plumbing, forcing residents to carry 'night soil buckets' to shared facilities. By September 2025, a targeted citywide campaign effectively ended this practice, transforming everyday life for 14,082 households.
From Buckets to Bathrooms: The Roots of the Challenge
Shanghai’s aging lanes were designed for a different era, prioritizing quick housing solutions over long-term needs like water supply and drainage. Overcrowding, complex property rights, and high renovation costs meant that basic sanitary upgrades were stalled for decades.
Micro-Renovation: Precision Meets Preservation
Instead of large-scale demolition, authorities adopted 'micro-renovation'—small, precise interventions that respect historic architecture. The 'one policy for one district, one plan for one project, one file for one household' model ensures tailored solutions. Internal reinforcements, invisible infrastructure upgrades, and modern materials boost insulation and comfort while preserving red brick walls, sloped roofs, and wooden windows.
Residents at the Heart of Renewal
Community voices guide every step: opinions collected at public events shape targeted plans, and residents supervise quality during construction. In Chuansha New Town, for example, integrated sanitary units combining toilets, washbasins, and showers resolved sewage network gaps, raising the bar for livability.
A Blueprint for People-Centered Smart Cities
As Shanghai celebrates World Cities Day, its lane renewal showcases the 2025 theme 'Transformative Development for Building People-Centered Smart Cities.' This people-first approach offers a replicable Chinese mainland model for upgrading historic neighborhoods worldwide, proving that urban modernization can honor the past while improving daily life.
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How Shanghai follows a 'people-centered city' approach to lane renewal
cgtn.com
