In recent years, North China's Shanxi province has been striving to promote high-quality urban and rural development by improving its housing security system, carrying out urban renewal, enhancing city management, and standardizing the construction of rural housing.

By the end of November 2024, the province had commenced or raised funds for 44,800 affordable houses in urban areas, exceeding the annual target. The coverage of the housing provident fund system had been expanding, with loans totaling 3.58 billion yuan ($490.87 million) disbursed to 10,800 flexible employees, providing robust support for new urban residents and young people looking to have their own homes.

The province launched renovations on 1,985 old urban residential areas, completed renovations on 7,755 dilapidated rural houses, and cultivated a workforce of 49,000 rural construction craftsmen.

Meanwhile, Shanxi has been intensifying efforts to preserve its urban history and culture, focusing on the preservation and utilization of traditional villages to promote the high-quality integration of culture and tourism.

The concentrated protection and utilization of traditional villages have been consistently advanced, with six cities and counties, including Jincheng, Pingding, and Pingyao, selected as national demonstration areas.

Furthermore, Shanxi has been continuously improving the living environment in towns and counties. It has coordinated the management of urban and rural household waste by establishing an integrated model for waste management and strengthened the operational foundation of towns and counties.

In addition, the development of "pocket parks" and "small green spaces" has been advanced to enhance county park facilities and improve the quality of life for local residents.