The city of Hohhot in Inner Mongolia autonomous region was included in the first 21 pilot cities and districts for urban renewal list, according to a notice issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development on Nov 6.

Since November this year, the 21 pilot cities and districts have started to explore the sustainable urban renewal models and establish urban renewal support systems and policies for the next two years.

According to the notice, the pilot work will focus on the key problems and "short boards" related to urban renewal, modify the traditional methods of urban development and construction, explore the working mechanism, implementation pattern, support policy, technical approach and management system that suits local conditions, push forward the cities' structure and function optimization and quality improvement, accumulate replicable experience so that it can be promoted nationwide, and carry out the pilot program in an orderly manner.

In addition, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development calls for the establishment of a model highlighting "government guidance, market operation and public participation," evaluation, preservation, utilization and renovation of existing buildings, an increase of fund investment, more credit support from financial institutions, the optimization of mechanisms for social capital participation, and public participation. 

The 21 pilot cities and districts include Beijing, Hebei's Tangshan city, Hohhot of Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Liaoning's Shenyang city, Jiangsu's Nanjing and Suzhou cities, Zhejiang's Ningbo city, Anhui's Chuzhou and Tongling cities, Fujian's Xiamen city, Jiangxi's Nanchang and Jingdezhen cities, Shandong's Yantai and Weifang cities, Hubei's Huangshi city, Hunan's Changsha city, Chongqing's Yuzhong and Jiulongpo districts, Sichuan's Chengdu city, Shaanxi's Xi'an city, and Yinchuan of Ningxia Hui autonomous region.