Where to begin
In recent years, the Lintong District of Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, has consistently upheld the principle of "serving the people with compassion and care." Civil affairs work has been positioned as a key lever to enhance public welfare and solidify the Party's grassroots foundation. By integrating these efforts into the broader development strategy, the district has focused on precisely targeted measures and a spirit of reform-driven innovation to fortify the safety net for those in need. The ultimate goal is to convert the practical outcomes of civil affairs transformation into tangible gains in the sense of fulfillment, happiness, and security for the people.
Integration and systemization
The district has shifted its social assistance model from passive reliance to proactive, targeted support. By pooling resources and building collective strength, Lintong has introduced a district-level reform plan for social assistance, complete with detailed implementation guidelines. This involves deeply integrating livelihood policies from multiple departments, including healthcare, human resources and social security, agriculture, rural affairs, and housing. It also opens channels for charitable organizations, socially responsible enterprises, and volunteer teams to participate in assistance efforts. A comprehensive "assessment, consolidation, referral, and service" chain-based mechanism has been established, creating a multi-stakeholder, integrated, and efficient closed-loop social assistance system.
Lintong has implemented a tiered, classified, and closed-loop relief model. For the 6,010 households comprising 11,974 low-income individuals, the district has crafted personalized support plans. Four long-term mechanisms have been set up: dynamic adjustments, proactive emergency response, anti-poverty monitoring, and regular consultations. The entire process of verifying, approving, assisting, and exiting recipients is managed under standardized protocols, ensuring that all eligible individuals are covered, those in need receive aid, and those no longer eligible are removed, preventing omissions or errors.
The district combines technological empowerment with on-the-ground assessments, building a dual-track assistance system that leverages "big data cross-referencing plus hands-on foot patrols." A total of 294 emergency rapid-response teams have been formed to conduct regular patrols and investigations. Relying on a three-tier dynamic monitoring platform for low-income populations at the provincial, municipal, and district levels, the system performs real-time cross-referencing of core data, such as social insurance contributions, property registrations, and medical expenses. This allows for early identification of vulnerable groups, precise assessment of their needs, and swift intervention, shifting the focus of assistance from reactive to proactive delivery.
To create a comprehensive relief network, Lintong has introduced an innovative service model combining "mobile patrols with fixed posts." Information campaigns are run on public buses and at bus stops, and nine temporary assistance points have been set up for individuals in distress. Through a video surveillance platform, the district conducts 24-hour online patrols of key areas, such as train stations and main roads, enabling timely guidance, support, and placement for those facing temporary hardship.
Diversification and quality upgrade
The district is advancing the evolution of elderly care from basic survival to a more fulfilling and dignified life. Lintong coordinates the integrated development of urban and rural elderly services, focusing on addressing infrastructure gaps. Following the standard of "one facility per district, one center per town, and one station per community," the district relies on repurposing idle public assets to build new or upgrade existing elderly care facilities on a phased basis. Currently, the district has established 47 community day-care stations, 13 subdistrict-level comprehensive elderly care centers, and completed upgrades to 19 community-based stations.
Centered on creating a "15-minute elderly care living circle," Lintong promotes the coordinated development of home-based, community-based, and institutional care. A standardized public nursing home has been opened at the district level, and four national pilot projects for embedded community-based elderly care have been launched. The proportion of nursing beds in the district's elderly care institutions has reached 61.47%, forming a comprehensive system that integrates home-based services, community day-care, and long-term institutional care, covering the entire area.
Leveraging its regional cultural tourism and ecological resources, the district, under government leadership and with social participation, has deepened the integration of "medical care, health maintenance, and tourism living." It has cultivated high-quality, distinctive elderly care brands, such as the Health and Wellness Center at the Foot of Lishan Mountain and the Hongde Cave-Style Tourism Living Home. This has resulted in the creation of one national-level and two provincial-level tourism and health maintenance bases, enhancing the district's unique image in the elderly care sector.
To address the demand for nearby elderly care, Lintong has focused on providing warm, accessible services in the community. Innovative models for elderly dining services have been introduced, with the establishment of several chain-based meal assistance points, such as the Smart Community Canteen and the Lijia Silver Age Living Hall, effectively solving the meal challenge for the elderly.