“Light Up / City Built” Series, Part 2: A Comprehensive Overview of National Urban Renewal Initiatives—Current Status, Investment, Benefits, and Paths to Breakthroughs

Today, we’ll take a light‑hearted, easy‑to‑read approach

to quickly understand the national urban renewal initiative’s plans,

investments, projects, benefits, pain points, and pathways to breakthroughs,

laying the groundwork for our upcoming series on lighting‑related initiatives.

Part One

National Urban Renewal: Unprecedented in Scale

Since the nationwide urban renewal campaign was fully launched, the vast majority of prefecture‑level and above cities have issued implementation plans and established mechanisms for coordinated advancement. Many cities have even set up dedicated urban renewal bureaus or centers to oversee project execution.

In terms of overall scale: The number of projects remains consistently high, with massive investment volumes. By the end of 2024, more than 60,000 urban renewal projects had been completed nationwide, with annual investments totaling approximately RMB 2.9 trillion. Over 410 cities have formed renewal leadership groups, and more than 20 have established specialized renewal bureaus, while provincial‑level oversight and performance evaluations are now fully underway. During the 15th Five‑Year Plan period, total investment is projected to reach RMB 15–20 trillion.

By type of renewal: Projects cover eight major areas—old residential communities, neighborhood and industrial district redevelopment, urban village transformation, infrastructure upgrades, historic preservation, and smart, low‑carbon development—aiming to create modern urban spaces that are safer, more livable, smarter, greener, and culturally rich by 2030.

From the perspective of public benefit: Diversified outreach is the primary focus, with old community renovation serving as a key driver of improved livelihoods. More than 160,000 communities nationwide, benefiting hundreds of millions of households, have seen significant improvements. Backstreets, waterfront areas, and commercial districts are prioritized for aesthetic enhancement, while smart streetlights, pipeline upgrades, energy‑efficient lighting, and convenient parking solutions are being rolled out to address critical infrastructure gaps.

By implementation model: The approach has evolved from “small‑scale, point‑by‑point renovations” toward district‑wide coordination and contiguous development, emphasizing integrated planning, functional upgrades, and simultaneous activation of diverse business formats.

Part Two

Comprehensive Benefits Are Emerging: More Than Just “Good Looks”—It’s Also “Practical”

After several rounds of progress, the comprehensive benefits of urban renewal are becoming increasingly evident:

Public welfare benefits: Living conditions have markedly improved, with critical deficiencies in roads, lighting, parking, security, and green spaces rapidly addressed, significantly boosting residents’ sense of safety and well‑being.

Economic benefits: Effective expansion of productive investment has stimulated an entire industrial chain—including design, construction, building materials, lighting, and operations—and, through nighttime illumination and neighborhood revitalization, directly boosted the night‑time economy, cultural tourism, and commercial vitality.

Governance benefits: Renewal drives better governance; smart streetlights, unified management platforms, and refined operational practices are gradually taking root, shifting urban governance from “extensive” to “precise.”

Ecological and cultural benefits: Strict control of light pollution and promotion of energy‑saving, low‑carbon lighting; historic neighborhoods and old buildings retain their original character during renewal, enhancing both the city’s aesthetic appeal and its collective memory.

Part Three

Real‑World Pain Points: Obstacles That Cannot Be Avoided During Implementation

Beyond the impressive results, both industry players and government authorities face several common challenges:

1. Funding balance remains difficult: Many projects are highly public‑oriented with limited direct returns, placing considerable fiscal pressure on governments. Relying solely on public funding proves unsustainable, while private investors remain cautious due to unclear financial prospects.

2. Approval and coordination hurdles persist: In older urban areas, complex property rights, numerous planning constraints, and multiple stakeholders complicate the process—from project initiation and planning through construction and final acceptance—resulting in lengthy procedures and slow progress.

3. Emphasis on construction over operation: Too many projects are handed over once completed, leaving behind insufficient post‑completion maintenance and operational support. Market‑driven revenues from nighttime lighting, advertising, parking, and data services often go untapped, leading to inadequate funding and staffing for ongoing upkeep.

4. Inconsistent standards and oversight: Some projects prioritize appearances over substance, with lighting and other facilities lacking unified standards. Issues such as excessive light pollution, energy consumption violations, and inadequate long‑term maintenance frequently arise, highlighting the need for comprehensive lifecycle management.

Part Four

A Policy Combo: Tackling These Bottlenecks Head‑On

To address these challenges, a clear strategy has emerged at both central and local levels:

1. Financing: Diversified Funding Sources

Central subsidies, local budgets, special urban renewal bonds, and ultra‑long‑term treasury bonds work in concert; policy banks increase credit support, encouraging combinations of special bonds and market‑based financing; bundling “public‑benefit projects” with commercially viable ones is encouraged; and revenue generated from advertising, parking, night tours, and commercial operations can be reinvested into infrastructure development.

2. Models: Long‑Term Mechanisms

Strong promotion of EPC+O, integrated investment‑construction‑operation models, concessions, and EMC energy‑efficiency services—shifting the paradigm from engineering‑centric to operations‑focused, moving away from one‑off projects toward full‑lifecycle management.

3. Approvals: Simplification and Acceleration

Measures such as streamlined approval processes for minor updates, flexible planning controls, and joint acceptance protocols help reduce costs associated with project implementation. Transitional policies for existing land use and approvals further lower barriers to redevelopment.

4. Oversight: Standardized Closed‑Loop Management

Establishing a mechanism linking urban health checks with renewal efforts, strengthening project registration, cost control, tendering regulations, and full‑process auditing to prevent hidden debts and emphasize performance‑oriented outcomes.

Part Five

The Lighting Industry: Riding the Golden Wave of Urban Renewal

For the lighting sector, urban renewal is not a fleeting trend but a long‑term strategic growth opportunity.

From ensuring safe street lighting for everyday life to creating vibrant nighttime scenes; from low‑carbon, energy‑efficient retrofits to smart streetlights, multi‑pole integration, and unified network management—lighting has long ceased to be a mere supporting element. Instead, it has become essential infrastructure and a powerful value‑adding tool within the urban renewal framework.

The curtain has risen on urban renewal, and the value of light and shadow is becoming ever more apparent.

Using light as a medium and the city as the canvas; illuminating new beginnings, shaping the future of the city.

About the Author

Qian Zongming, Secretary General of the Jiangsu Provincial Lighting Society and Executive Dean of the Jiangsu Lighting Research and Design Institute

Has long been engaged in MBA teaching, as well as theoretical research and practical applications in lighting economics and the night‑tourism economy.

This article originates from the Jiangsu Provincial Lighting Society, authored by Qian Zongming.