In the mountainous city of Chongqing, where terrain constantly rises and falls, walking to meet daily living needs within 15 minutes was traditionally considered a luxury. However, Chen Deying, an 80-year-old resident of Yubei Community in Guanyinqiao Subdistrict, now enjoys precisely this lifestyle. Within a 15-minute walk from her home, a wet market, community canteen, and health station are all available, as the city accelerates the development of a "15-minute high-quality living service circle."
"The health station is right at my doorstep. For minor ailments, I can even request a doctor's home visit. During my daily walks, I conveniently get my blood pressure checked, and I have lunch at the community canteen on my way back. It's extremely convenient," Chen Deying said.
Confronted with limited urban space and increasingly diverse public demands, the Chongqing Municipal Party Committee and Government adhere to the principle that "in Chinese modernization, people's livelihoods are paramount." They are leveraging the "15-minute high-quality living service circle" as a key initiative to address the most immediate and practical needs of the population, transforming these living circles into "happiness circles" right at residents' doorsteps.
The 15-minute measure is not merely about time or distance; it serves as a benchmark for officials at all levels in Chongqing to establish and practice correct views on political achievements.
In developing these service circles, Chongqing avoids simply expanding scale or constructing facilities indiscriminately. Instead, it maintains a people-centered approach, integrating public consultation throughout the entire process and ensuring no issue is overlooked due to its perceived insignificance.
In Yubei Community, local officials have created a list of resident needs through methods such as household surveys, community meetings, and online solicitations, making "addressing what is lacking" their work focus. "We found strong resident demand for public services including health and wellness, culture, arts, and employment," said Yang Xin, the Community Party Secretary. By 2025, the community plans to repurpose a vacant cold storage facility spanning over 3,300 square meters in a prime location into a neighborhood service center. This center will incorporate a pocket park, community canteen, health management services, and repair and homecare services, among other functions.
Addressing challenges such as funding and talent required for the sustainable operation of various public services within the circles, Chongqing is moving beyond sole government provision. It encourages and guides social forces to participate in building the service circles, exploring a "community partner" governance model.
In Qiaobei Community, Huaxinjie Subdistrict, Liangjiang New Area, a community enterprise has been established. It collaborates with business entities to run a senior canteen, recruits skilled community members to handle cleaning, repairs, and property management services, and attracts individual entrepreneurs to set up living service centers near rail transit stations. "The community provides premium space near the rail transit station with favorable rental policies. I not only operate the living service center but also actively participate in community governance, working with everyone to brainstorm ideas for community improvement," said Zhou Xiaoping, a "community partner."
The Shiyou Road Subdistrict in Yuzhong District has implemented a six-tier evaluation system for "community partners" and introduced measures for the management and use of partner revenue feedback funds. These regulations clarify partner benefits, the use of feedback funds, and requirements for professional audits to ensure sustainable, modestly profitable operations.
During the construction of these service circles, significant variations in resources, population density, and economic levels across different areas preclude a one-size-fits-all approach. The Chongqing Municipal Party Committee and Government have therefore established detailed implementation rules, including planning guidelines, service catalogs, and construction guides. They have divided the central urban area into 915 distinct "circles," guiding officials to tailor solutions accordingly. For instance, circles with larger elderly populations, such as those in Chaotianmen Subdistrict, Yuzhong District, are seeing additions like canteens, medical facilities, and elderly care service points. Conversely, circles with more young people, like those in Shapingba Subdistrict, Shapingba District, are gaining youth entrepreneurship spaces, child-friendly neighborhood parks, and city study rooms.
The essence of political achievement lies in serving the people. The Chongqing Municipal Party Committee emphasizes achieving results for the people through practical work, aiming to enhance livelihood efforts with higher standards and quality to continuously increase the public's sense of fulfillment, happiness, security, and recognition.
According to plans, Chongqing's service circles will see new developments this year: the coverage rate of affordable childcare service points in urban communities will reach 55%, 26 new "Yu Hao Space" comprehensive service centers for women and children will be established, the coverage of senior canteens across all subdistricts citywide will reach 95%, and a full-lifecycle digital management platform for the "15-minute high-quality living service circles" will be completed.