The Longyou River Cultural Park in Rugao, Nantong. [Photo/WeChat account: rugaofabu]

Residents of Rugao began to feel the tangible benefits of the city's old pipeline renewal project at the end of July, as the first phase of construction neared completion.

In recent years, increasingly extreme weather events have overwhelmed aging municipal infrastructure, causing frequent flooding and disrupting daily life. In response, Rugao launched a major overhaul in April 2025 targeting flood-prone areas, including the renewal of outdated drainage systems and improvement of regional waterways.

The project added over 5,000 meters of new stormwater pipelines and nearly 1,400 meters of sewage pipelines, significantly enhancing the city's drainage and flood prevention capabilities.

Meanwhile, a larger-scale water supply network upgrade has been placed on the agenda. According to the tender plan, Rugao will invest 130 million yuan ($18.11 million) to renovate 101.6 kilometers of underground water supply pipelines across the city and upgrade pump stations and related facilities in 30 older residential communities.

The city's streets are also getting a makeover. In recent years, Rugao has completed renovations of pedestrian walkways on 16 roads, updating a total of 6.5 kilometers of sidewalks, adding 8.2 kilometers of tactile paving for the visually impaired, and improving 35 accessible ramps. The upgraded sidewalks now offer 50 percent more walking space, enhancing safety and accessibility for all residents.

These infrastructure improvements reflect Rugao's commitment to building a more resilient, livable, and people-centered urban environment.