Hohhot's government-subsidized housing popular among youth

Hohhot unveiled the demonstration zone for its Youth Community, the first government-subsidized housing project in Inner Mongolia, on Aug 29. The exquisite design of the project's apartment has been praised by the youth.

Government-subsidized housing refers to apartments developed with government policy support, with regulated floor space and capped sales prices. These homes are allocated to eligible working families struggling to find housing and managed under government arrangements, with the aim of easing housing challenges for low- and middle-income urban households.

"The kitchen counter is just the right size for my mini oven and coffee machine!" said Wang Meng, a 26-year-old girl working in Hohhot, after touring the demonstration zone.

Though compact, the apartment features a refined design and efficient use of space. Kitchens are fitted with cabinets above the counters and leave room below for a small refrigerator. Bedrooms come with wall-mounted desks to save floor space. Community amenities include a basketball court, outdoor seating, and a youth activity center designed for studying, co-working, and socializing.

A corner of the community's youth activity center. [Photo/Hohhot Convergence Media]

The apartments are delivered fully furnished, with an average sales price of 5,600 yuan ($785) per square meter. Standing in front of the pricing board, Liu Yue, a 27-year-old nurse, calculated her costs and said, "A down payment for an apartment is 35,000 yuan and a monthly mortgage is just over 800 yuan. The monthly mortgage is cheaper than renting an apartment. I used to think I couldn't afford to buy an apartment, but now it is a realizable goal." Liu plans to revisit the apartment later with her parents.

Residents can apply to buy an apartment through the "Hohhot Youth Community" WeChat account or the "Qingcheng Government-subsidized Housing" WeChat applet.