QINGDAO announced this year’s plan to improve livelihoods Thursday, including plans to build more schools and medical institutions in residential communities, upgrading houses in rural areas and increasing affordable housing.

    There are plans to build 10 primary and middle schools in new residential communities this year, one each in Shinan, Shibei, Lichang and Laoshan districts and six in Sifang District. The new primary schools, which will follow high-quality construction and facility standards, will provide more seats for pupils living in these areas.

    Three hospitals would open at the same time this year. These would include the extension of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital costing 467 million yuan (US$70.5m) and occupying 61,000 square meters with 572 beds and parking for 450 cars, while the relocation of the Women and Children’s Hospital costing 539 million yuan for the first phase will have 600 beds and space for 419 cars. The first phase of the extension of the Central Hospital will cost 425 million yuan, with 880 beds and space for 400 cars.

    The city will also upgrade 46 urban villages and old town areas this year and 23,000 residents will move to new locations.

    There are also plans to build 48,000 affordable apartments, including 27,000 in Jiaonan, Jiaozhou, Jimo, Pingdu and Laixi and 21,000 in Sifang, Lichang, Laoshan, Huangdao and Chengyang districts.

    Work has already started on more than 20,000 affordable apartments, including 5,000 low-rent apartments, 5,000 government-subsidized apartments and 10,000 limited-price apartments. The city also plans to spend 450 million yuan on low-rent apartments this year.