The community of Xinhua, starting from the Fahua Buddhist temple which was completed in AD 970 and is now near the south gate of Fahua Campus, Shanghai Jiaotong University, is named after the renowned “garden road”, Xinhua Road (literally New China Road). The historical and humanistic community is filled with villas, cultural institutions and residences of famous figures. At the same time, a century’s history doesn’t exempt it from many features shared by historical communities, such as high ratio of built-up area, limited available spaces, considerable proportion of old buildings, dense and aged population, well-developed basic amenities but lack of facilities precisely targeting at particular local needs.

In 2019, thanks to the massive supports of the government of Changning District, Xinhua Community became one of the first pilots in Shanghai to initiate the action of 15-minute Community Life Circle which reflect characteristics in practical approach, natural and cultural features, quality of spaces and community governance. A number of demonstrative and highlighted projects have thus been completed.

Pleasant Xinhua is staged in Xinhua Community itself and focuses on urban regeneration projects, community service facilities, improvement of old neighborhoods and public environment. Based on these elements, public art projects, exhibitions and activities where residents can negotiate, plan and appraise community-building invite citizens to a thorough experience of Xinhua Community and public dialogue about the kind of community life we need in this post-covid era.

Pleasant Xinhua offers five sections of exhibition addressing living, working, relaxing, studying and elderly care and two special projects – Everyone’s Street and Public Art - Cell.