China unveils blueprint to improve life in its cities

The move comes after Beijing promised to build liveable, sustainable and resilient cities in the next phase of its urban development

A man is reflected in a puddle as he walks past the CCTV building in Central Business District of Beijing, China Aug 13, 2025. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

China unveiled a policy blueprint on Thursday aimed at creating cities by 2035 with a greater focus on quality of life, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

The move comes after Beijing in July promised to build liveable, sustainable and resilient cities in the next phase of its urban development, as the authorities shift their focus from rapid growth to stable development.

The pivot comes after breakneck urban growth that once super-charged the world's second largest economy.

That red-hot growth led to the rise of "ghost cities", where homes were built but no-one bought them, rampant property speculation in other cities, and a nationwide binge on debt to fire up investment and development.

The blueprint released by Xinhua said that urban development was shifting from large-scale expansion to focusing on improving the quality and efficiency of existing resources.

By 2030 significant progress will have been made in the construction of "modern people's cities", where quality of life will be "significantly improved", Xinhua said.

"By 2035 modern people's cities will be established," it added.

Features will include the development of green and "smart" houses, more elderly and child-friendly care services, and high-quality medical resources, the report said.

There will also be a focus on shared green spaces, and controlling emerging pollutants such as microplastics, as well as urban disaster prevention and response plans, it said.