Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai

Xiangzhou District's exploration into social governance and practice of innovative service mode as an experimental zone was approved by the Ministry of Civil Affairs on Aug 14.

Xiangzhou was named a third-batch National Community Governance & Service Innovation Experimental Zone in 2015. Ever since, the district in Zhuhai has spent 500 million yuan ($78 million) operating more than 200 projects, 31 of which have produced models worthy of replication.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs sent an expert panel to inspect results and praised the advancements made by Xiangzhu. It is encouraged to make more successful examples that can be followed throughout the nation.

An expert panel visits Xiangzhou to hear local residents' experience with participating in community self-governance.

Drawing experience from Hong Kong and Macao, Xiangzhou has turned unused plots into many community parks that suit the local conditions. Meihua City Garden is among the 120 parks that have been made from the transformations, which cover 288 hectares at a total cost of 250 million yuan. 13 additional parks are currently still being built.

A long-term self-management mechanism has been established to complement the maintenance system in charge of the authorized Sate-owned enterprises. Volunteer residents are encouraged to have a big role in the daily management of the park. This is a requirement as part of the new-type grassroots governance system advocated across the district. 

The neighborhood committee of Fushi Community in Qianshan sub-district was recognized for its new-type grassroots governance.

The project was promoted in CCTV as a model hailed instructive in ecological civilization construction, and it won the 2015 China Habitat Environment Model Award in 2015.

According to officials, Xiangzhou has also opened 1,511 positions for social workers after examining 126 communities' management requirements. There is a complete set of assessment methods to evaluate, incentivize, or punish. 

Nancun Community representatives vote to decide solutions to community affairs.[Photo provided to xiangzhouonline.com]