Hey there, urban enthusiasts! 🏙️ Big news from China: the China Development Bank (CDB), one of the country's major policy banks, is throwing some serious cash into transforming urban villages across the nation! 💰✨ So what's the deal? As of this Thursday, the CDB has pumped a whopping 61.4 billion yuan (that's about $8.65 billion!) into 271 renovation projects in 33 cities—including big names like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Wuhan. That's a lot of cities and a lot of moolah! 🤑 These projects aren't just about fancy new buildings; they're making a real difference in people's lives. We're talking about benefiting around 360,000 households and supporting the construction of 695,000 new housing units for folks displaced by urban transformation. Talk about leveling up! 🎮🏠 In case you're keeping score, the first batch of these special loans was rolled out on January 30 this year, amounting to 9.08 billion yuan. And since then, the CDB hasn't looked back! 🚀 But why all the buzz about urban village renovations? Well, back in December last year, at the central economic work conference (think of it as China's economic planning Avengers), they set some top priorities for 2024. High on the list? Advancing affordable housing, boosting public infrastructure for both everyday life and emergencies, and giving urban villages a much-needed makeover. 🏗️🌆 Urban villages are like the hidden gems of China's cities—full of culture and history but often in need of a facelift. With this massive injection of funds, we're looking at revitalized communities and better living conditions for hundreds of thousands of people. It's like Extreme Makeover: City Edition! 🛠️💪 So, whether you're a future traveler eyeing China's bustling cities or just someone who loves a good success story, this development is something to cheer about! 🎉 Stay tuned for more updates on how these urban transformations unfold. Who knows? Maybe the next big skyline will be in a city you hadn't even heard of! 🌇✨
Reference(s):
China Development Bank ups support for urban village renovation
cgtn.com