Neighbors who used to quarrel shake hands on an agreement in Zhuji county-level city, Shaoxing. [Photo/Tide News]

The "Silence Studio" in Zhuji, Zhejiang province, has been using the principles of the "Fengqiao model" to address noise disputes in residential communities.

Fengqiao model was created by residents in Zhuji's Fengqiao town during the 1960s. It is known for its approach of relying on the people to resolve disputes at the community level.

In April, a dispute arose between two neighbors. The upstairs neighbor's early-morning cleaning and chair-dragging disrupted her downstairs. Despite attempts to resolve the issue themselves, both sides remained at odds and sought help from officer Tu Hanyu.

Recognizing the potential for escalation, Tu turned to the Silence Studio. He called for the help of sound engineer Xu Haidong and lawyer Chen Wei.

As an extension of Fengqiao model's community-based governance, the studio highlights how tailored and localized solutions can address modern challenges, offering a replicable model for noise dispute resolution.

On Dec 13, the team and the neighbors convened at the studio, where Chen explained the laws and regulations surrounding noise disputes, and Xu offered structural insights on reducing noise levels.

The Silence Studio helps install pads to a chair in Zhuji. [Photo/Tide News]

After an hour of mediation, the neighbors reached an agreement. The upstairs neighbor would shift her cleaning to afternoons and put pads on the bottom of the furniture. The downstairs acknowledged the importance of compromise.

Since its launch in August, the Silence Studio has resolved over 80 noise-related complaints and mediated 35 complex cases, achieving a 95 percent success rate. Noise-related complaints in the jurisdiction have dropped by 21.4 percent monthly.