Caoyang Xin Cun

Caoyang Xin Cun, established in 1951, was Shanghai's first state-supported housing complex, built in an industrial area on the city's western edge. This initiative aimed to provide housing for a growing population and disperse people from overcrowded central districts. Following Caoyang Xin Cun's development, numerous other residential complexes were constructed, some with support from government bureaus or state-owned enterprises for their employees. These developments, including those at Pengpu, Zhenru, and Yichuan, often included apartment buildings, administrative offices, clinics, and nurseries, with some complexes even incorporating adjacent fields for food production. This approach to creating self-sufficient residential areas has significantly reshaped Shanghai's urban and suburban landscape.1