City enforcement

To eradicate the problems in the capital's suburb in August, the Beijing government launched a three-year, 20-billion-yuan action plan focusing on 97 projects.

However, having since consulted with 17 commissions and bureaus, the aim is now to work on more than 100 projects.

Cai Qi, Party secretary of Beijing, said the city's urban planners should look at ways of implementing Tiantongyuan's original functions to improve living standards and provide better, happier homes.

The plan is part of a citywide campaign to build the capital into a world-class city in accordance with the Beijing Overall Urban Development Plan published in October 2017. It will run until 2030.

Li Ding, associate professor at the School of Sociology and Population Studies at Renmin University of China, has studied Huilongguan for more than five years.

He said the upgrade is badly needed, so the action plan should have been formulated earlier. Moreover, as the lack of major infrastructure is not an issue residents can tackle, the local government must assume the responsibility.

"Most Huilongguan residents are highly educated, so their demand for educational and cultural facilities is much higher," Li said.

Since renovation work began at a 19-hectare sports and cultural park in Huilongguan, Li has noticed changes in the community.

"Some old sports facilities have been demolished and the park has been divided into four zones to provide a modern facility," he said.

According to the Beijing Municipal Development and Reform Commission, there are plans to build six kindergartens as well as three primary and two secondary schools to satisfy residents' needs.