China tries to steer 'urban village' residents to areas with housing glut

Guangzhou district becomes test case for redevelopment-linked vouchers

20240313N Guangzhou

Residents of urban villages like this one in Guangzhou are being given vouchers to use in buying a new home. (Photo by Takashi Kawakami)

TAKASHI KAWAKAMI, Nikkei staff writer

GUANGZHOU -- China's effort to redevelop the so-called urban villages of its major cities and resettle residents using vouchers is attracting attention as a way to fill unsold homes in other areas, though not all residents are eager to move.

Urban villages -- chengzhongcun, literally "village within a city," in Chinese -- are clusters of older housing and shops that are the remains of communities overrun by urbanization.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored ContentThis content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.