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The renewal of the urban environment plays a key role in optimizing city structures, stimulating new growth, improving the quality of life, promoting green transformation, preserving cultural heritage, and perfecting governance across China.

Examples of residential area improvements

In Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, residents of Beiyuanercun village in Xuanwu District faced problems during the rainy season: walls were covered in mold, homes suffered from dampness due to leaks, and public spaces were scarce. However, in July 2025, local authorities launched a reconstruction project for the old community. After conducting surveys and meetings with residents, they implemented targeted improvements.

External walls were waterproofed to prevent leaks and dampness. Unused areas were converted into 20 parking spaces and two bicycle charging stations. Additionally, a community service center was built, providing services such as smart payments, home repair, cleaning, and a public canteen.

Preservation of historical appearance

In Jing'an District, Shanghai, in the Hudiwang public area, three historical buildings along the Suzhou River resemble butterflies. A cafeteria offering affordable dishes, a rest area for couriers, and a support station providing hygiene supplies for female couriers operate here. After renovation, these brick buildings retained their original appearance while gaining new amenities and services, making this area a popular spot for both residents and young people.

Development of cultural heritage

In Wenzhen District, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, a street of intangible cultural heritage recently opened to the public. Visitors can enjoy traditional tea ceremonies and Sichuan opera performances, immersing themselves in an atmosphere where historical charm meets daily hustle. Previously, many old buildings in this area were vacant and poorly maintained, and illegal constructions were common.

Zhang Nana, director of the organic urban renewal center in Wenzhen District, noted: 'Instead of resorting to large-scale demolition and reconstruction, we optimized the site layout, diversified the commercial offerings, and created a new experience for visitors while preserving its historical heritage.'

Plans for the Five-Year Plan period

Under the fifteenth five-year plan, China intends to renovate 115,000 old urban residential communities, implement comprehensive projects in 5,000 communities, and repair and modernize 300 historical and cultural districts to create higher quality living spaces.

Green and low-carbon transformation

In Baiyun District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, a 40-kilometer forest route has been opened. This area, which was previously an overgrown suburban woodland with barely discernible paths and outdated facilities, has been transformed into a safe, well-connected, and vibrant green corridor. A 65-year-old retired teacher, Li Zheng, noted that thanks to this green corridor, they now have a 'bar of natural oxygen right at their doorstep.'

During the fifteenth five-year period, China plans to upgrade 20,000 hectares of urban parks and green spaces, add 15,000 pocket parks, and build or renovate 20,000 kilometers of urban green corridors to restore ecosystems and promote green, low-carbon transformation.

Enhancing safety and resilience

In Jiulongpo District of Chongqing Municipality, on Hukai Street, underground 'minimally invasive surgery' is being conducted on urban utilities. Workers install a flexible casing coated with a special resin material inside the old pipe through a manhole. High-temperature steam is then injected into the casing, causing it to expand, tightly adhere to the inner wall of the old pipe, and rapidly harden. This creates a high-strength pipe lining without the need for large-scale excavation.

Some sewage pipelines in the city center, operating for decades, have begun showing corrosion, leaks, and improper connections. This underground renewal project aims to address the problems at the root, reducing the risk of urban flooding and sewage overflow.

As part of the fifteenth five-year period, China plans to modernize 770,000 kilometers of urban underground pipelines, including about 200,000 kilometers of gas pipelines, 175,000 kilometers of drainage pipes, 175,000 kilometers of water supply pipes, 100,000 kilometers of sewage pipes, and 120,000 kilometers of heating pipes, as part of efforts to create safer, more reliable, and resilient cities.

A new classification proposal for halophiles, a subcategory of extremophiles that thrive in high concentrations of sodium chloride, was presented by Ana Paula Schiavo. This system aims to standardize knowledge about these organisms, which demonstrate resistance to severe environmental conditions comparable to those on Mars.

Development of the Scientific Proposal

The suggestion to unify and standardize halophiles resulted from the doctoral thesis defended by the molecular scientist at the Institute of Chemistry (IQ) of USP, with financial support from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). Rubens Tadeu Duarte, a microbiologist and professor at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), classified the initiative as a bold proposal with potential to be a milestone in science, although he did not participate in the research.

Relevance to Astrobiology and Mars

Ana Paula Schiavo's methodology also has important implications for astrobiology, the field dedicated to the study of life in the Universe. Mars, for example, is speculated to have underground saltwater lakes and intermittent surface brines near the equator during the summer. An objective classification system would help improve communication between specialists in halophiles (which require hypersaline conditions) and halotolerant organisms, aiding in understanding the limits of life in the Martian environment.

Study in Analog Environment

The researcher focused her investigation in Diamantina, Minas Gerais (MG), a ferruginous region considered analogous to the Martian environment. The goal was to find species capable of simultaneously resisting ultraviolet radiation and hypersalinity, given that the surface of Mars is marked by UV radiation and high levels of harmful salts.

Criticism of Current Systems

Schiavo observed that the classification criteria for extremophiles are largely subjective and lack an objective consensus system. This absence of agreement generates multiple classifications and communication noise. According to her, existing classifications in the literature are chaotic because even what defines an extremophile is not universally accepted. Furthermore, there are no clear boundaries between categories such as thermophiles, hyperthermophiles, acidophiles, and alkaliphiles.

Problems in Salinity Categorizations

A recurring problem pointed out was the use of salinity concentration ranges to define the 'mild', 'moderate', and 'extreme' levels of halophily without justifying the limits. The researcher cited as an example that the minimum salt concentration to be considered a mild halophile is below the oceanic average, questioning how oceans, large biomes, can be classified as extreme environments.

New Statistical Classification Criterion

To solve this, Ana Paula Schiavo's research proposes using the statistical rarity of species found in nature, segmenting those adapted to hypersaline conditions by quartile metrics. The classification criterion is determined by the optimal growth of the species in increasing salinity ranges. The first division establishes the sodium chloride concentration in terrestrial oceans: below it are non-halophiles and halotolerants; above it, the second quartile is found, with slightly halophilic microbes. The third and fourth quartiles correspond, respectively, to moderately and extremely halophilic species.

Conclusions and Publication

Fabio Rodrigues praised the contribution, stating that it goes beyond historical classifications by seeking analytical criteria. Roberta Vincenzi, a postdoctoral biologist at the Oceanographic Institute (IO) of USP, also co-authored the article. Based on samples from Minas Gerais, the study seeks to standardize knowledge about microorganisms exposed to conditions similar to those on Mars. The researcher believes that if life existed on Mars, it might have survived in liquid subsurface aquifers, thanks to the high amount of salts that lower the freezing point of water. The new system generated a pre-print article titled Proposal for new halophile classification system based on Statistical Rarity definition of extremophiles, which is under review in the journal Extremophiles.