High-quality apartments for young talent

SONGJIANG District is building 10,000 high-quality apartments over the next three to five years for young people working in the G60 High-Tech Corridor, a cross-regional development program agreed between the district and eight cities in the Yangtze River Delta area.

The district has built three residential quarters for youth professionals — Rongcheng Xinyeyuan, Guanyu Ruiwo and Moke talent apartments. It is estimated the district will raise funds for a total of 3,300 suites of talent apartments this year.

Chen Yuqing, one of the first tenants in Rongcheng Xinyeyuan, has been there for just over six months. He enjoys the scenery in the area and often takes a walk along a river near his apartment. It takes him five minutes by bike to reach shopping malls, supermarkets and food markets within a onekilometer radius.

Wang Jia, another tenant, graduated from Shanghai Normal University and is now a Chinese teacher at Litahui School. She moved into her two-bedroom flat in March this year. Before that she had been sharing an apartment elsewhere for two years.

“I enjoy the good living environment of the talent apartment. Besides, I no more worry about any increase of rent,” she said.

According to government policy, young professionals residing in talent apartments can enjoy subsidies according to points calculated based on criteria such as their education background, professional title, working years and awards.

“One-bedroom apartments are most popular. Many people pay only 400 to 800 yuan (US$58-116) a month after some of their rents are offset by subsidies,” said a Songjiang human resource and social security bureau official. “The same apartments in nearby residential areas cost around 2,700 yuan.”

In Rongcheng Xinyeyuan, tenants have facilities such as an unmanned supermarket, fitness center, reading room and café.

Apartments come with televisions, washing machines, heaters and refrigerators.