A Zhangqiao resident cleans pots and pans at an outdoor sink in the community.Gao Erqiang/china Daily
At some points, the alleys between the houses are so narrow and curved that people are unable squeeze pass each other.
Housewife Zhang Minhua hates the rats that infest her home. "They swarm over food that is left unattended on the dining table, and several of my leather purses have been bitten by them," she said.
The biggest headache for Chen Ziming, director of the Zhangqiao neighborhood committee, is that "the human waste from the flush toilets is drained directly into the gutters, and ends up getting baked by the sun, which makes the area very smelly".
Despite their poor living conditions, most residents failed to find new homes elsewhere. According to Chen, 175 of the 2,100 families in the shantytown live on minimum subsistence allowances, and more than 200 residents have disabilities.
Old dreams, new homes
The residents have been awaiting relocation for a long time, but the shantytown has been left untouched because the undesirable location means property developers have no interest in the place, according to Chen.
"It's along the creek, so it is unsuitable for high-rise housing projects. It was only recently that the government decided to play a leading role in the redevelopment program to improve the residents' living conditions," he said, adding that the area will be utilized as an extension of an arterial road and shrubs will be planted to block views of the creek.
Wang Meijuan, 57, who lives with her husband, son and mother-in-law in Zhangqiao, said her father-in-law had been eager to move to a new home in his twilight years, but he didn't live long enough to see that happen. He died two years ago at age 83. Soon, the rest of the family will see their dream of a new home finally come true.
"My 33-year-old son has been in relationships with two girls, but when they talked about marriage, they both refused to live in Zhangqiao and broke up with him," Wang said. "A new home might help him to find a spouse."
Lyu said the government is already preparing the necessary funding. Each family will receive compensation, based on the size of their house, and will be able to buy a new home wherever they want. The local government has recommended several residential communities where the new residents will enjoy relocation privileges, but these communities are usually located in suburban districts, far from the center.
The compensation plan is still being mulled over, Lyu said.
Many residents said they weren't worried about being relocated to areas far from the city center, but they hoped there would be adequate amenities, including grocery stores and hospitals, near their new homes.
Zhang Suoqiao is an exception. The strong emotional connection he has with the district means he is one of the few residents who isn't desperate to leave.
"When I was a child, my wife-to-be lived opposite me in this neighborhood. She was born here and I was raised here from the age of 3," the 71-year-old said.
"It's such a terrific location. Just 2 km ahead, you can see the Oriental Pearl TV Tower across the Huangpu River."
