Innovative practices implemented in living circle construction

The 15-minute living circle on Xingguan Road in Guiyang's Nanminng district is based on characteristics from Qingyun Market. [Photo/guiyang.gov.cn]

In recent years, Guiyang City and Gui'an New Area in Southwest China's Guizhou province have built 140 15-minute living circles, effectively improving the lives of local residents and enhancing the city's development appeal. This practice has provided a practical reference for community governance in large and medium-sized cities.

A 15-minute living circle is designated to offer residents basic services in regards to healthcare, elderly care, education, cultural activities, commerce, sanitation, housing, transportation, and disaster prevention and control. Based on each community's characteristics, the living circle can develop differentiated features in greening, reading spaces, child care, cultural inheritance, smart infrastructure, sports and fitness.

During the 2021-2022 period, Guiyang and Gui'an built 99 such living circles, and in 2023, another 478 15-minute living circle projects were launched, with 404 of them finished.

The elderly eat at a community canteen in a 15-minute living circle in Wudang district. [Photo/guiyang.gov.cn]

In terms of living circle construction, the government has solicited opinions from the public via the internet, visits, and questionnaires. A total of 1.91 million people have participated in the questionnaires, and 14,604 opinions have been collected.

Grassroots organizations, social institutions and volunteers have been encouraged to take part in the planning, construction, management, and operation of these 15-minute living circles, thus ensuring the effective utilization of the provided facilities and the long-term management of the living circles.

All the counties and districts in Guiyang City and Gui'an New Area have been suggested to develop 15-minute living circles based on their own actual conditions. For example, Guanshanhu district built a living circle near a business complex, providing business operators and consumers with free child care and training services.