Neighborhood Qi'nan (汽南) gallery

This shequ 社区 of inner Beijing (Xicheng District) used to host a danwei 单位bringing together migrant factory workers from North East China. As the ageing of the resident population raised specific social issues while the danwei 单位administration system and its social welfare declined, the shequ was forced to organise. Elderly care was handled in continuity with old socialist forms of social care, with a strong visual presence of the State and a comprehensive individual care: health care, food as well as leisure activities are all taken care of by the community and available on the spot. This traditional way of organizing was updated with presence of market activities and the involvement of private companies, allowing the shequ 社区 to be officially labelled a « social innovation model » by public propaganda.

The pictures were taken in september 2016 by Marie Bellot. For a more detailed presentation of this fieldwork trip, chack her report in« crossed views » (in French).