President Xi Jinping called for advancing high-quality urban renewal on Wednesday during an inspection trip to Shanghai.

In Huangpu district, Xi visited a residential community, where four buildings originally built in the 1950s have been renovated and upgraded, significantly improving residents' living conditions.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, looks closely at the living conditions at the home of a resident in Huangpu District, Shanghai, east China, July 15, 2026. (Photo: Xinhua)

At the service center of the residential community, Xi listened to briefings on how Shanghai has been improving old houses without indoor toilets, putting an end to the age-old chamber pots issue in historic downtown neighborhoods, and carrying out community renewal projects. He then went on to ask the staff for detailed information about these efforts.

He also dropped by the home of Zhu Guoli, a retired local resident, to get a closer look at local living conditions.

"I was so excited – I never expected Xi would come to my home," said 71-year-old Zhu Guoli, her face beaming with emotion as she recalled the scene of welcoming President Xi. "He was very kind and friendly. He asked me, 'How old are you? How many people live in your household?' When he heard that my husband had a fracture, he asked with concern how my husband was doing."

"Xi said that my home was kept very neat and tidy," Zhu recalled.

She explained to Xi that before the renovation, her family had to share the kitchen and bathroom with nine neighboring households. Queues for the toilet were common, so her family always kept a chamber pot at home.

After the renovation, every household now has its own private kitchen and bathroom, making life much more convenient. The new home's flush toilet, range hood, gas stove, and water heater were all installed by the government, meaning residents needed to bring nothing more than their personal belongings.

"President Xi was glad to hear that," Zhu added. "He said he hopes we can make the most of retirement and lead even better family lives."

(Part of the story translated from Shanghai Observer)