Li, the professor, is a regular visitor, and he and his wife often bring their 3-year-old daughter to participate in the activities. He has also established a discussion group in Huilongguan in the hope of using people's input to build a better area.

"Everyone has an idea of the kind of life they want to live, and to live in a better community is everyone's dream," he said.

In an interview with 21st Century Business Herald, Tian Zaiwei, CEO of Shuntiantong Co, the company overseeing Tiantongyuan's redevelopment, said the neighborhood covers the same area as many medium-sized cities overseas. That means there is still a long way to go, because construction and improvement of a city can often take decades or even 100 years.

After 20 years, Tiantongyuan has slowly filled its developmental gaps, and despite the lack of infrastructure, the congestion and dense population, it remains an area that many people consider when looking to buy property.