Ordos city in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region has allocated over 70 percent of its fiscal expenditure to improving livelihoods, making public well-being a priority.

The funding has expanded access to childcare, education, healthcare, and elderly care; improved housing and living environments; and created more local jobs, allowing more residents to share in the benefits of development.

More support for families and elderly residents

Ordos now hosts 214 childcare institutions offering 10,653 places, with 82.3 percent of capacity in affordable childcare services. Nine banner-level and district-level jurisdictions have partnered with renowned schools, including the Affiliated High School of Peking University and Shaanxi Normal University, to expand access to quality education.

To improve elderly care, the city has established 180 senior dining halls and community meal-service points. It also operates 45 elderly care institutions with more than 7,000 beds. Since the beginning of 2026, the city has invested more than 14 million yuan ($2.1 million) to build, renovate, and upgrade 35 community elderly care facilities.

Healthcare access has also improved through partnerships with major hospitals in Beijing and Tianjin, bringing specialist medical resources closer to residents. Meanwhile, 97 percent of primary-level medical institutions meet national service capacity standards, and medical alliances cover all counties and county-level areas.

In the first half of 2026, Ordos distributed 101.52 million yuan in social assistance funds to 38,500 people in need.

Better housing and richer community life

By the end of August, the city had allocated 33,540 of its 37,361 public rental housing units. It plans to secure 4,873 additional affordable rental housing units in 2026, with a focus on young people and new urban residents. Qualified professionals can also receive rent-free talent apartments for up to three years or rental subsidies of up to 72,000 yuan.

Urban renewal projects have upgraded roads, utility networks, parking, and lighting in older residential communities. The city's built-up areas now have a green space rate of 41.05 percent.

The city has also expanded community services by installing 987 elevators in older residential buildings.

More jobs and higher incomes close to home

Ordos is developing five major agricultural and livestock industries — grain, cashmere, mutton sheep, beef cattle, and dairy — each with a target scale of 10 billion yuan. By strengthening industrial chains and cooperation among leading enterprises, cooperatives, and farmers and herders, the city aims to help rural residents earn wages and share in business profits. It plans to facilitate local employment for 79,000 farmers and herders in 2026.

A four-tier public employment service network, supported by 10 flexible-work markets and 30 employment service stations, helps residents find job opportunities closer to home. Skills training programs are also being aligned with local industry demand.