A city of belonging

Every morning at 8 am, 24-year-old Yin Wenliang leaves his apartment in Chengdu's Gebizi Community, hops on his electric bike, and rides about 10 minutes to work.

Originally from Neijiang in Sichuan, Yin has spent the past six years in Chengdu, first as a university student and now as a young professional. He rents a 29-square-meter apartment in Gebizi for about 1,500 yuan ($217.03) a month, utilities included — an affordable option for someone just starting out.

But for Yin, the appeal of living here goes beyond rent.

After work, he often heads to the community's 24-hour gym, where he runs on the treadmill with mountain views on clear days. He then grabs dinner at the canteen, where the food is varied and reasonably priced. When he wants a quieter moment, he visits the Chengdu Library branch within the neighborhood.

"Gebizi is not just a place to sleep — it reflects the kind of life young people want in Chengdu," he said.

Developed by Chengdu Rail Transit Group, Gebizi is part of a government-supported rental housing initiative aimed at easing the pressure on young newcomers.

More than 80 percent of residents are under 30, and over 90 percent are from outside Chengdu. Many are part of a growing group known as "rongpiao" — or "drifters in Chengdu" — who come in search of opportunity and a sense of belonging.

"In the Sichuan dialect, 'gebizi' means 'neighbor'," explained Zhu Keyan, who oversees the community's operations.

While Gebizi represents newly built housing, other efforts in Chengdu focus on giving older neighborhoods a second life and making the city more youth-friendly.