Jiangyin has been named the only county-level city in Jiangsu Province to receive dedicated financial support for urban renewal, according to a recent joint announcement from the provincial finance and housing authorities for the 2026 fiscal year.
This achievement builds on years of groundwork laid since 2020, when Jiangyin established an urban renewal headquarters and issued implementation guidelines. Alongside Xinyi, it was recognized as one of just two national pilot cities for urban physical examination, conducting continuous assessments and drafting renewal plans that culminated in the 2026-2028 implementation strategy.
To support these efforts, Jiangyin has introduced 35 targeted policies covering land use, funding, and approvals, providing a robust institutional framework for reshaping industrial spaces and restoring ecological shorelines. Since 2021, the city has consolidated or revitalized over 40,200 mu of inefficient land and built 12 specialized industrial parks, a model that earned it sole county-level recognition in Jiangsu's manufacturing strength initiative.
The resulting land optimization has also driven ecological improvements, including deliberate reductions in port shoreline, now home to finless porpoises and migratory birds, signaling a transformed urban landscape.
Looking ahead over the next three years, Jiangyin plans to implement 92 projects in 2026 with an additional 122 in reserve, drawing from a comprehensive pool of 214 initiatives aligned with national strategic goals. Key priorities include advancing six major renewal zones, such as the Chengjiang old town and Zhouzhuang waterway districts, each with defined scopes and investment plans to guide project execution.
Flagship projects will focus on full-fledged communities, youth hubs, heritage street revitalization, and historical preservation, including the Grain Machinery Factory community and the Beidajie cultural district, to elevate public services and urban vitality. The city also aims to pioneer an integrated inspection system combining periodic evaluations and routine monitoring, while streamlining approvals and fostering broader community participation.
For Jiangyin, a birthplace of the Sunan model with high land intensity yet robust manufacturing roots, this funding marks both a challenge and an opportunity. As many cities grapple with aging infrastructure and old districts, Jiangyin's selection offers a template for similar industrial counties nationwide, leveraging renewal to drive transformation and boost urban capacity.
By pursuing five exemplary benchmarks—ranging from all-age-friendly communities to heritage conservation and sustainable mechanism innovation—the city hopes to forge a replicable urban renewal model, sharing the "Jiangyin experience" with industrial strongholds, historical towns, and waterfront regions province-wide and beyond.