From livable to enjoyable living—a “harmonious resonance” between people and the city—Zeshi Consulting helps bring the affordable rental housing project for industrial workers in Panxi Park, Huaining County, to fruition.

Preface

In July 2021, the General Office of the State Council issued the “Opinions on Accelerating the Development of Affordable Rental Housing,” aiming to alleviate the structural shortage of housing supply in the rental market and promote the grand goal of ensuring that all people have access to decent housing through diversified supply channels and multi-stakeholder participation. The governments of Yunnan Province and Yuxi City have placed the accelerated development of affordable rental housing and the resolution of housing issues for new residents and young people high on their agendas, and have separately introduced specific policies to ensure that the benefits of these policies reach every citizen.

This article takes the affordable rental housing project for industrial workers in Panxi Park, Huaining County, Yuxi City, Yunnan Province, as its starting point to explore how to effectively implement affordable rental housing projects under the guidance of national and local policies, thereby addressing the temporary housing difficulties faced by migrant workers and introduced talents in industrial parks, and providing references and lessons for the planning and implementation of similar projects.
I. A Livable City—Starting from Desirability for Living
“A city should not only have height but also warmth.” Only when a city makes people feel warm everywhere, at all times, will they be willing to come and stay. The housing issue is both a matter of people’s livelihood and a development issue; it affects the immediate interests of countless households, is closely tied to people’s peaceful and prosperous lives, impacts the overall economic and social development, and is crucial for social harmony and stability.

Huanning County, a brilliant gem located in the eastern part of Yuxi City, Yunnan Province, sits at the heart of the “Three Lakes” ecological urban cluster—comprising Fuxian Lake, Xingyun Lake, and Qilu Lake—and serves as a key hub along the Kunming-Hekou economic corridor. This region boasts not only uniquely blessed natural landscapes but also plays an indispensable role in regional economic development. With rapid urbanization and swift socio-economic growth, Huanning County’s urban footprint continues to expand, making it a powerful magnet for attracting talent and migrant workers from other areas—especially drawing young laborers from surrounding rural regions.
However, as the employed population continues to grow, housing has gradually become a bottleneck restricting urban development. To fully support major infrastructure projects, accelerate urbanization, and promote industrial development, Huaining County is facing unprecedented challenges in housing security. Young people—whose energy fuels urban vitality and serves as the cornerstone of future development—have their housing needs addressed not only for the sake of sustaining the city’s dynamism but also as a crucial measure of the city’s warmth and inclusiveness.
Against this backdrop, the implementation of the affordable rental housing project for industrial workers in the Panxi Industrial Park in Huaning County has become particularly urgent. This project not only represents a proactive response to national and local housing security policies but also provides strong support for Huaning County’s urban development strategy. By offering a stable and comfortable living environment, the project will effectively alleviate housing pressures faced by migrant workers and young talents, fostering their stability and retention, and injecting continuous momentum into the city’s prosperity and sustained economic growth.
II. Scientific planning to facilitate talent aggregation
As the contractor for the preliminary consulting services of this project, the Yunnan team of “Zeshi Consulting” conducted scientific and coordinated planning, aiming at the harmonious development of economy and society. Focusing on the project’s specific needs, they conducted an in-depth analysis of Huaining County’s current situation and future development trends, comprehensively taking into account various factors such as urban planning, industrial layout, and population mobility. Starting from aspects including the project’s legal compliance, eligibility criteria for financing entities, reliability of repayment sources, and risk control measures, they meticulously planned the project’s entire lifecycle, ensuring that the project design closely aligns with the local economic and social development needs and contributing professional expertise to Huaining County’s new-type urbanization and socio-economic development.
This project encompasses a variety of construction components, including above-ground main building works, underground infrastructure, and outdoor ancillary facilities. Its core objective is to effectively address the temporary housing challenges faced by migrant workers and introduced talents both within and outside the industrial park, thereby providing this group of people with a stable and reliable living environment.
To ensure the smooth advancement of the project, the Yunnan team of “Zeshi Consulting” delved deeply into the actual needs of the project construction and maintained close communication with all relevant parties. They worked closely with the Yunnan Branch, the Yuxi City Branch, and the Jiangchuan District Sub-branch—the three-tier financial institutions at the provincial, state, and county levels—of the Agricultural Development Bank of China, guaranteeing timely funding support. This effectively addressed the funding challenges encountered during the early stages of project implementation, providing a solid foundation for the project’s steady and orderly progress. Ultimately, the project secured 125 million yuan in support from the Agricultural Development Bank, strongly facilitating its successful implementation.
3. Promote the integration of people and cities to build a happy city.
Affordable rental housing goes far beyond simply providing basic living space. It is not only an important means of enhancing a city’s attractiveness and promoting social harmony, but also a concrete manifestation of ensuring that every urban resident can feel the warmth of home and the care of the city.

The implementation of the affordable rental housing project in Panxi Park, Huaining County, not only profoundly addresses talent’s aspirations for a high-quality living environment but also fosters harmonious resonance between the city and its talented individuals. By improving the living conditions of employees from companies located in the park, this initiative effectively alleviates the supply-demand imbalance in affordable rental housing while providing enterprises with a solid backing. As a result, industrial workers can enjoy both “peace of mind in their homes” and “rentals that meet their expectations,” simultaneously resonating with the city’s development and enhancing their sense of participation and identification with urban growth. From another perspective, this initiative further helps retain and nurture talent, ensuring stable housing for professionals in key sectors such as the citrus industry and education in Panxi Town. This, in turn, brings innovation and vitality to the city, promotes industrial upgrading and development, and achieves comprehensive advancement—from improved living conditions to regional development—thus jointly writing a new chapter of happiness and prosperity for Huaining.
Looking ahead, we will continue to uphold the principle that “houses are for living in, not for speculation,” and actively participate in the planning and design of affordable rental housing, thereby contributing our professional expertise to the economic and social development of Huanning County and beyond.

Contributed by Liu Mengyuan, Edited by Wei Juan
First Draft, First Proofreading / Wu Diya

Second Review, Second Proofreading / Zhong Xiaodan

Editor-in-Charge/Zeng Huaqian

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute any investment advice.