Shanghai's final 10,000+ households have bid farewell to "chamber pot" living! The city's persistent three-decade effort to upgrade older residential buildings lacking sanitation facilities has reached a heartwarming conclusion in this megacity. In late September, two "thin-beam slab" buildings in Caoxi San Village, Xuhui District were completed after demolition and reconstruction, achieving 100% resident approval. "We finally have homes with private bathrooms, kitchens, and balconies, plus improved neighborhood amenities," said elderly residents from the old town. Comparative photos show the transformation: pre-renovation communal kitchens (archive photo) versus post-reconstruction private kitchen and bathroom facilities (October 23 photo).
A city needs both stature and warmth. In Yangpu District's Kongjiang Road Lane 1039, the Zhang family—four generations totaling nine people—once crowded into an 18.4-square-meter room with a chamber pot placed near their floor bedding. This dawn ritual of "chamber pot carrying" persisted for decades in the alleyways. From solving specific sanitation challenges to embodying the "People's City" philosophy, this sustained effort exemplifies urban governance prioritizing residents' needs.
What makes urban renewal in megacities particularly challenging? Central districts face spatial constraints and extreme density while balancing heritage preservation with quality-of-life improvements. Shanghai has pioneered models like "selective relocation + protective renovation," performing "acupuncture-style" upgrades in tight spaces. At a heritage block on Huangpu's Guizhou Road, construction teams described laying pipes in stairwells under 60cm wide as "millimeter-by-millimeter progress."
Urban governance wisdom shines through in both grand promises and meticulous execution—from dozens of measuring-tape visits to reassure an 82-year-old widow about her kitchen pathway, to tearful gratitude over new bathroom fixtures. The transformation from basic shelter to quality living revitalizes historic neighborhoods through countless small-scale upgrades.
The city's approach balances scale and detail, construction and management, past and present. Hongkou's Ruikang Lane offers flexible options for relocating or remaining residents. Huangpu's Changle Village prioritizes elderly needs with safety handrails and optimized bathroom layouts. On Jinxian Road Lane 138, two historic stable buildings were adaptively reused while creating new community spaces.
Ongoing urban renewal achievements include: 9,000+ elevator installations in multi-story residences, 40+ million square meters of revitalized older neighborhoods, 100+ kilometers of redeveloped Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek waterfronts (transforming "industrial rust belts" into "vibrant life belts"), and accessible 15-minute community service circles.
As the last wooden chamber pot retires, Shanghai's thirty-year practice demonstrates: true urban modernization isn't measured in skyscraper heights, but in the warmth of residents' quality of life.
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