QINGDAO will push for the reconstruction of urban villages and old urban areas this year in an effort to become a livable city.

    The city is due to start the reconstruction of 46 urban villages and old urban areas this year, benefiting 25,000 households. In addition, 22 reconstruction projects are scheduled to be completed this year, accommodating 8,900 households.

    Three old residential areas are to be revamped, benefiting 5,000 households.

    Reconstruction is also due to start on the city’s 70 villages, including the construction of 27,500 village apartments.

    This year, the city will also start building 27 government-subsidized housing projects to provide 9,052 cheap apartments to low-and-middle income families.

    A total of 5,250 dilapidated village apartments will also be renovated.

    Besides the housing construction and reconstruction, the city will also throw its weight behind infrastructure construction, urban landscaping and ecological construction.

    This year will see the completion of municipal works like Qingdao undersea tunnel, Huanwan Avenue, Qingdao Haiwan Bridge, Chongqing Road, Fuzhou Road, Xinjiang Road and Jinshui Road.

    The city will build and reconstruct 80 hectares of green land, planting around 17,000 trees.

    The 10 key towns in the city will see accelerated construction this year.

    (Martin Li, Cui Wu)