Old way of life

In its early years, Pengpu No 1 Village was a residential area where only role models and outstanding workers could live. However, as time went by, life at the residential compound became poor, squeezed and outdated.

"Paint peeled off the walls. Stairs and much of the public space were in disrepair. It was worse on rainy days, as the ground flooded almost immediately. Roofs leaked and many of our rooms would be flooded," said Bao.

Many residents stacked their belongings in the corridors as the space in the rooms was limited. "The corridors were always overflowing with wash basins, old books, cardboard boxes and bicycles, and it was hard to squeeze by and walk through," he said.

The worst part of life there was that the three families on the same floor had to share a bathroom and a cooking space.

"There once lived a total of 14 people in the three rooms, and we had to line up to use the toilet in the morning. It was a total disaster and triggered quarrels quite often," he said.

Xin Tieniu, a 74-year-old resident who had lived in a 20-sq-m room in Pengpu No 1 Village with his family for more than two decades, said he'd often want to move away but soaring housing prices left him with little chance.

"Living quality used to be really poor, not to mention there being no sense of well-being," he said.