Full coverage: G20 Hangzhou Summit

The G20 Summit will be held in Hangzhou in one month and all of the facilities are already prepared. Still, the local government has done more, including the renovation of local communities. 

An old well reminds us of the magnificence of this place. It used to be an imperial palace, more than 800 years ago, during the Song Dynasty.

To protect the history of this place, any large-scale reconstruction deeper than 1.5 meters on the ground is prohibited. But over the years, the city has grown big, making challenges for both the local government and residents.

“More than 10,000 people live in the former royal residential area, which has fallen into disrepair. Relocating the people here would cost the government 10 to 35 billion yuan. But another solution was found, seizing the opportunity of urban renovation and reconstruction before G20 Summit,” Hu Nan said.

In 2015, renovation in Hangzhou began, after President Xi Jinping announced it would host the 2016 G20 Summit.

CPC secretary of Hangzhou city Zhao Yide said, “We’ve accomplished renovation on over 9 million square meters of old communities, factories and slums. We’ve also reconstructed water supply, gas, electricity, and telecommunication systems. We realized that it’s far more than the preparation work for the G20 Summit, but actually for the benefit of our people.”

Li Yaqin, 93, a resident of Mantou Mountain community, said the renovation of her place made her feel comfortable—and happy, of course.

“I’ve lived here for over 40 years. It’s renovated with wooden floors. In the past, it was an open, muddy ground, no kitchen, no toilet, nothing. Now I have a flushing toilet, that’s the most important and convenient facility,” Li said.

Renovation of this residential compound was divided into three phases. Phase two and three will start after the G20 Summit and will be completed by the end of 2017.