Shanghai neighborhood upgraded to feature individual amenities

After decades of shared bathrooms and the daily chore of emptying chamber pots, residents of a Shanghai neighbourhood are finally enjoying modern comfort

and convenience following a comprehensive community upgrade which includes private kitchens and bathrooms.

These apartments in Shimin Xincun Village were built in 1957 a time when housing was rapidly constructed for Shanghai's booming industrial workforce

- prioritising basic shelter over private amenities.

Resident Zhu Guoli said, "Ten families shared one toilet. I'd never go there. I used a chamber pot at home and emptied it every morning. But there was nowhere to take a shower."

After recent renovations, residents can now enjoy modernised living conditions thanks to Shanghai's "one household, one policy" approach

tailoring renovations to the needs of each family rather than cookie-cutter upgrades.

Zhang Wei, director of Communist Party of China branch of Shimin Xincun Village said, "Some wanted a separated dry-and-wet area for their bathrooms.

Some wanted a bigger bathroom and were willing to give up some living space. Every household has different needs. So we tailor the design to each family."

Zhu shows a reporter her renovated home.

Xiao Jianbo, deputy head, Department of Engineering at Shanghai Nanfang Group Real Estate Management said, "Her house was originally the one next to the current one.

Room 103. We changed her house to a position closer to the building exit."

In 2022 Shanghai issued guidance to accelerate the renewal Of old residential buildings, setting out a decade-long effort

to speed up the renovation of aging housing that lacked private kitchens and bathrooms.

Today Shanghai has brought an end to the chamber-pot era making a significant milestone in the city's urban renewal. Homes now have access to elevators, air conditioning as well

as kitchens and bathrooms.