"I've lived here for 38 years; the property management fee hasn't missed a single year."

On the ground in Jing'an

A young ex-serviceman-turned-property manager is quietly reshaping life in several ageing Shanghai communities. Xuan Tianxiang (轩天祥), a "post-00" project manager for Country Garden Services (碧桂园服务), has spent the past year onboarding four old residential compounds in Jing'an — places where retirees dominate and monthly management fees run as low as 0.8 yuan per square metre. Residents praise faster repairs and friendlier outreach; one longtime resident, Mr. Liu, told reporters he has paid property fees every year for 38 years without fail. But can digital tools and goodwill make up for razor-thin margins and years of unpaid dues?

Digital tools meet old neighbourhoods

Xuan combines patience with technology. He reportedly uses an AI- and IoT-enabled workflow to route repair requests instantly, track work orders and coordinate teams across nearly 2,000 households in one compound. Practical upgrades — from NFC and card-based charging for e-bikes to a “digital cabin” that helps elders summon ride-hailing services — are proving effective in reducing friction for older residents. It has been reported that Country Garden Services has accelerated investments in data-driven operations and AI to boost efficiency in such labour-intensive, low-margin portfolios.

Structural tensions and broader context

The story is local but emblematic. China’s private property-management industry is increasingly a front line for municipal digital governance and eldercare services: companies adopt smart systems to deliver “last‑mile” solutions even as they confront unpaid fees, low tariffs and high service demand. For Western readers used to debates about sanctions and semiconductor supply chains, it is worth noting that much of China’s current tech momentum is domestic — focused on making neighbourhoods more livable with AI and sensors rather than on export markets. Residents and managers hope for continued improvements in 2026, but a key question remains: will technology and better service models be enough to resolve the sector’s deep-seated financial tensions?