Thousands of delegates have gathered in Beijing over the past week to discuss national policy. So how do those decisions actually reach the front doors of ordinary Chinese citizens? CGTN Africa's Peninah Karibe travelled with reporter Feng Yilei to the historic Caochang Hutong in Beijing. There, she found that the blueprint for a 'Garden City' isn't just handed down—it's negotiated on small wooden stools. Here is her report.
Residents: "Let's not make it too flashy. Could you design something that doesn't interfere with the residents' lives? We must ensure they don't block our back windows."
Peninah: "It looks like a neighborhood squabble, but it's actually a high-stakes consultation. It's called the 'Courtyard Meeting.' And today, the agenda is green. Transforming these ancient, two-meter-wide alleys into a 'Garden City' is the goal—but every flower pot is a point of negotiation. Here, divergent views are treated as a resource, not a roadblock."
PENINAH KARIBE "In many parts of the world, including where I am from in Africa, leadership can feel very distant from the people. Why is it worth the authorities' time to sit on a small stool and argue over things like flower pots?"
LI ZHENG, Party Secretary and Director of the Caochang Community Residents' Committee "In the process of promoting grassroots governance and implementing projects, the people are the main subjects and an indispensable force. To ensure success, we must listen extensively to their feedback."
FENG YILEI Beijing "Peninah, what's the main difference you see here compared to how people formed their communities in your home town?"
PENINAH KARIBE Beijing "The difference is the proximity to power. In many places, urban planning is a distant, top-down process. But here, the person who draws the map is sitting right next to the person who has to live with it. It's an incredibly direct link."
That link is maintained by people like Li Caixian—a community representative who treats democracy as a practical tool for better living.
LI CAIXIAN, Community Representative "When we gather at the meetings to deliberate, our goal is to improve the living environment and ensure everyone feels prepared for a happier life. Over these years, our work has brought about significant changes. For instance, the roads used to be in very poor condition, but they have all been renovated now."
For resident Zhu Maojin, whose home was visited by President Xi Jinping in 2019, this process is about trust. He says that visit validated a simple truth: the people know their streets best and their opinions matter.
ZHU MAOJIN, Community Member "After President Xi visited, he affirmed this approach and proposed the principle that residents discuss and decide their own affairs. This was a huge encouragement to us and the members of the assembly. Since then, the work of the assembly has been carried out even more effectively than before."
Expert designers now use this feedback to innovate, ensuring heritage isn't sacrificed for modernity.
LI JINPING, Horticulturist for Qianmen Sub-district "Through this consultation, we can incorporate resident feedback directly into our designs. In essence, the design is being created specifically for the residents."
As these ancient courtyards prepare for a new bloom, the lesson here is clear: when residents are the masters of their own space, the results come from the very heart of the community. Peninah Karibe, CGTN, Beijing, China.
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-03-11/VHJhbnNjcmlwdDg5NTYx/index.html
