Fangzhuang district is accelerating its urban renewal efforts. On May 6, it was announced that the "Beijing Fengtai District Fangzhuang Area FT00-0506, 0507 Block Regulatory Detailed Plan (Block Level) (2022-2035)" has received official approval. The Fangzhuang Area Block Plan proposes an overall spatial structure of "one ring, four centers, two belts, and multiple clusters," focusing on residential improvements, facility upgrades, industrial enhancement, and environmental optimization to create a high-quality livable neighborhood.

Fangzhuang was Beijing's first large-scale residential area to be "planned and constructed as a complete district." After more than 40 years of development, Fangzhuang now faces challenges including aging infrastructure, low utilization of public spaces, and insufficient high-quality services. Urban renewal is urgently needed to revitalize the area and improve residents' quality of life.

The spatial structure of "one ring, four centers, two belts, and multiple clusters" aims to create more balanced regional functions, better service coverage, and clearer spatial organization. The "one ring" refers to a life service loop connecting public services, commercial facilities, pedestrian pathways, and landscape nodes along roads like Fangqun Road and Qunxing Road. The "four centers" will serve commercial, cultural, healthcare, and comprehensive functions. The "two belts" will create a riverside leisure landscape belt along the South City Moat and an urban vitality service belt along Fanggu Road. The "multiple clusters" consist of eight designated life service groups equipped with diverse functions.

This spatial structure is not merely about dividing functional zones but integrating living, services, consumption, leisure, elderly care, and cultural activities to transform Fangzhuang from a traditional large residential area into a composite, high-quality, and vibrant urban district. The planning team emphasized that urban renewal will be the key approach to building a high-quality livable neighborhood.

The recent upgrade of Fangzhuang Market has turned it from an outdated, single-function "food market" into a comfortable, multi-service "life circle," gaining popularity on social media and receiving positive feedback from residents and merchants. Notably, a nearly 30-year-old outdoor bicycle repair stall was preserved during the renovation, with the repairman gaining an open rest area, demonstrating how urban renewal can retain local character.

Fangzhuang is a representative mature residential area in Beijing with a strong commercial service foundation and vibrant community life. In response to changing consumer demands and aging commercial facilities, the block plan proposes upgrading business formats, refreshing environments, and integrating spaces around key commercial areas such as Pufang Road commercial complexes and Fangzhuang Shopping Center. Additionally, new pocket plazas and micro-sports nodes will be added to blend shopping, leisure, sports, and social activities seamlessly, reviving the district's commercial vitality.

For older residential areas, industrial development is no longer about expansion but about better serving residents, supporting district operations, and enhancing public services. Based on local commercial foundations, population structure, and service needs, the plan proposes building an industrial system led by commercial services, complemented by cultural-educational integration and healthcare features. By incorporating cultural enhancement, integrated medical care, and AI empowerment, educational, health, elderly care, and smart services will be embedded into daily life, extending industrial chains and strengthening local enterprises.

The plan designates eight life service clusters to address public welfare concerns, establishing community living rooms that, together with the "four centers," form a high-quality service network. Public services are a direct concern in urban renewal. The plan promotes balanced distribution of elderly care, childcare, culture, sports, medical, and community services through a multi-level public service system, meeting residents' needs for convenient, diverse, and nearby amenities.

For instance, the former idle restaurant at Building 26, Fangqunyuan Fourth District, has been transformed into the Fangzhuang Culture and Art Center, also known as "One Fang Bookstore." Offering reading, coffee, exhibitions, and theater, it has quickly become a new cultural landmark, serving over 160,000 visitors. More projects are being implemented in Fangzhuang to address service gaps and rejuvenate the neighborhood.

Urban renewal in older districts must go beyond planning documents to ensure project implementation, resource coordination, and sustainability. Notably, Fangzhuang has simultaneously developed both block plans and renewal special plans, linking spatial arrangements with project execution. A "urban renewal and industrial space map" along with a dynamic project database provides clear guidance for diverse stakeholders to participate in renewal efforts. For example, the Fangzhuang Market renovation utilized a "government guidance + property owner implementation + merchant participation + social capital investment" model, leveraging over 70% social capital investment.