In Changning, enterprises receive help solving problems, support for growth, a strong sense of belonging after settling in, and confidence to operate. The first session of the "Discover Business Environment Around Us" series takes readers to Xinhua Central Activity Zone in Xinhua Road Subdistrict. We explore how this plane tree-lined historic block has gathered about 5,000 enterprises through distinctive spaces, industrial ecosystems, thoughtful services and co-governance platforms. It has forged a unique path where historical heritage coexists with industrial growth, and urban vitality blends with business operational efficiency.

Many people first know Xinhua Road Subdistrict from Xingfu Road, Columbia Circle, the plane tree district and historic villas. Yet few know the subdistrict has built a business service environment and industrial office experience connecting past and present, integrating industries, embracing diversity and bonding with communities. It developed Xinhua Central Activity Zone, combining historic blocks, fashion parks, vibrant neighborhoods and business offices, following a differentiated operation strategy of "one unique theme for each building, one distinctive brand for each park."

Chen Yingni, business service specialist of Xinhua Road Subdistrict, introduced that there are 56 buildings and industrial parks within its jurisdiction. Instead of applying a one-size-fits-all investment promotion template, the subdistrict customizes industrial positioning for each property, enabling different spaces to develop their own characteristic industrial chains. Take Columbia Circle as an example. It is a benchmark cultural and creative park. Leveraging the unique charm of its historic buildings, it focuses on first-store economy and night-time economy, drawing top brands and creative organizations including Bananain, Bathfeel, KOI and IDEO to settle in.

Bathfeel settled its first national store in Changning in 2025 as it was deeply attracted by the laid-back vibe of the park. The brand themed the store "A Free Bathroom for One," creating an experiential space. Visitors can naturally slow down once they walk in and perceive their bodies through sight, smell and touch. The park's unrushed lifestyle aligns perfectly with the brand's long-standing philosophy that "the body is the self." Thanks to this match, the brand not only launched its first national store at Columbia Circle but also registered its enterprise in Xinhua Road Subdistrict.

"To be honest, the store's performance is far better than we initially expected. It has become one of the top-performing stores in the park," said Wu Miaomiao, communications director of Bathfeel. What surprises the team even more is that this store is far more than a retail space; it serves as the brand's core consumer research hub. Many details hard to obtain online can be captured through customers' product trials here. Real feedback helps the team optimize product specifications and formula designs. The store now carries many offline-exclusive products. Most new fragrance items undergo small-scale market tests here before full online release across all digital channels.

"For us, every park and every building has a clear industrial positioning. When enterprises come to Xinhua, they are not merely looking for office space; they are joining an industrial community that fits their development," Chen shared. 

In recent years, thanks to its differentiated property layout, Xinhua Road Subdistrict has continuously attracted well-known companies including BlackLake Technology, New Oriental, Luckin Coffee, China Railway Construction Engineering Group and Yuwell Medical. The regional industrial capacity keeps expanding, and economic momentum remains energized. Since the start of this year, the subdistrict has further advanced the construction of the "Happiness Economy" industrial belt along Xingfu Road, boosting deep integration of culture, tourism, commerce and industry. The small road now hosts multiple functions including consumption experience, cultural display and industrial linkage.

Building An Industrial Ecosystem: Acting As a Chain Connector to Expand Enterprises' Business Networks

As these distinctive spaces generate agglomeration effects, Xinhua Road Subdistrict acts as a chain connector and ecosystem builder, uniting market players scattered across different buildings into a mutually supportive industrial community.

"With unique spaces in place, our next step is to connect upstream and downstream industrial chains. Relying on signature brands of Xinhua Central Activity Zone, we regularly host ecosystem salons and business forums to bring leading enterprises and small-and-medium firms together," Chen said.

In the fashion and consumption sector, the subdistrict took the lead to establish the Xinhua Fashion & Consumption Industry Alliance, connecting diverse market players to achieve win-win industrial cooperation. For the coffee industry, a federation of coffee trade unions was set up. Led by Luckin Coffee, it empowers the whole coffee industrial chain through professional skill competitions and other activities. Through these boundary-breaking matchmaking events that tear down "park walls," more and more enterprises stop operating in isolation and discover business opportunities within the block.

"What we need most is chances to meet upstream and downstream partners. In Xinhua, this community is ready-made," confessed Shi Liang, co-founder of UPIoT. Registered in Xinhua in 2014, UPIoT is a tech firm specializing in IoT connectivity and management services. Catering to Chinese enterprises' overseas expansion and domestic connectivity demands, it provides cross-region, cross-carrier network access and unified connection management services with global network resources and self-developed connectivity management platforms. With the industrial resource matching platform built by the subdistrict, UPIoT has established business ties with Luckin Coffee and CHAGEE, unlocking more potential cooperation opportunities.

Such collaborative scenarios keep unfolding in Xinhua Central Activity Zone. Entrepreneurs from different sectors exchange resources at industrial matchmaking events. Industrial chains that once seemed disconnected naturally link up during meetings under plane trees. Here, the subdistrict serves as the leader of the industrial ecosystem, enabling settled enterprises to find partners within this open business network.

A Warm Neighborhood: Bringing Services Downstairs and Quality Life Close at Hand

With distinctive venues ready and industrial networks well-connected, Xinhua Road Subdistrict extends business services right to enterprises' doorsteps. It has built a proactive service system, so staff can reach service coordinators without leaving their buildings.

At present, Xinhua Road Subdistrict has established a "1+1+16+X" business service matrix: It launched the nearly 300-square-meter "Xinyu Lounge" at Shanghai A.F.A, alongside 16 "Xinyu Service Stations" in local buildings. Employees can reach service hubs within a few minutes' walk from their offices. In the future, a nearly 1,000-square-meter Party-mass service space will be built at Baodi Xinhua. Key enterprises in the area are assigned dedicated service coordinators. They provide full-cycle support covering business registration, policy application and talent household registration, accompanying enterprises through every stage of growth.

At the block level, centered on the "Happiness Economy" IP, Xinhua Road Subdistrict has built Xingfu Road into a dynamic scenic space with beautiful views at every step. Three zones converge here: a marriage registration ceremonial zone, the Xingfuli consumption zone and Huashan Green Space living zone. Residents can head to nearby cafes and restaurants right after receiving marriage certificates. Foot traffic, commercial vitality and everyday life blend naturally. Employees of local enterprises can feel the warmth of the neighborhood right outside their offices.

As a representative enterprise rooted in Xinhua for years, Luckin Coffee's development here vividly reflects the subdistrict's thoughtful business services. In 2025, alongside Changning District's "Happiness Economy" initiative and the launch of the Xingfu Road marriage registration office, Luckin Coffee renovated its Xingfu Road store and opened Shanghai's first love-themed shop with fully upgraded storefront and interior design.

"The communication channel between government and enterprises is very smooth. We can fully express our ideas and suggestions. Such pragmatic services give us full confidence to keep growing steadily here," said Bi Hongcheng, General Manager of Luckin Coffee (Shanghai) Co, Ltd. Various operational challenges can be resolved quickly. The subdistrict creates abundant opportunities for government-enterprise exchanges and business matchmaking. The phoenix-tree-lined neighborhood greatly improves employees' work and life experience. Luckin now runs more than 1,900 stores across Shanghai, and the love-themed shop on Xingfu Road stands out as a unique node in this vast network.

Platform and Co-governance: Helping Enterprises Stay and Thrive

Services have evolved from "responding to enterprise requests" to "joint participation and co-construction." Xinhua Road Subdistrict has built multi-party empowerment and co-governance platforms, turning enterprises from service recipients into co-builders of the business environment, realizing mutual success and shared growth between businesses and the block. 

Relying on Xinhua Road Subdistrict Chamber of Commerce, the subdistrict developed exchange platforms including a young entrepreneurs alliance and women entrepreneurs salons. It partners with nearby universities such as Tsinghua School of Economics and Management, SAIF, Antai College of Economics and Management and Donghua University to boost cross-sector collaboration and efficient coordination between upstream and downstream industrial players. Meanwhile, discussion platforms including "Xinyu Partners" and "Kaitian Afternoon Tea" have been set up. Enterprise representatives gather regularly to discuss business environment development. Enterprises are no longer passive beneficiaries; they can directly participate in rule-making, scenario design and resource allocation.

During signature events such as the "Benefit Enterprises・Xindong" Business Service Month and entrepreneur sports tournaments, traditional seminars are replaced with immersive activities including on-site study tours, sports competitions and resource matching. Entrepreneurs from different sectors experience urban renewal charm inside historic buildings, team up in basketball games and cooperate in badminton doubles. Stiff business talks break the ice in a relaxed atmosphere, and many cooperation intentions emerge from casual chats beside the courts.

"Distinctive spaces, sound industrial ecosystems and heartfelt services. That is Xinhua's 'One Street, One Brand' concept. Every street and every building has its own unique traits," Chen Yingni said.