This photo taken with a mobile phone shows people watching a sand table model of a real estate project in east China's Shanghai, May 28, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

For a long period of time, owning a home has been a common aspiration among Chinese citizens who rushed to towns and cities during the country's urbanization drive. However, this aspiration is increasingly evolving as people are now placing more focus on the quality of their living conditions.

For the first time, the phrase "quality homes" was featured in the government work report unveiled during this year's "two sessions." From aspiring to have a home to pursuing a quality home to live in, this change reflects both the people's ever-improving sense of happiness and the adjustment of supply and demand in China's real estate market.

"To meet people's demand for high-quality housing, we will improve the standards and regulations on building quality homes that are safe, comfortable, eco-friendly, and smart," the report noted. Once it was made public, topics about quality homes have sparked extensive discussions among lawmakers, political advisors and the public.

What defines a quality home 

While the standards of a quality home may vary across different eras, the concept transcends mere shelter, focusing more on the quality of life.

China's housing market has made substantial strides with the per-capita housing floor area in urban areas having exceeded 40 square meters, Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development Ni Hong said at a press conference on the sidelines of the "two sessions."

Residents' expectations for a quality home now include higher ceilings, better ventilation, better access to sunshine, enhanced soundproofing, cleaner indoor air, and optimal humidity and temperature control, the minister added.

With these features, quality homes are set to address Chinese residents' long-standing concerns such as noise pollution, leaks and cracks, especially for those living in decades-old apartments, according to Ni.

For national political advisor Zhang Guanghan, a quality home means living in a space that harmonizes tradition and modernity.

As a senior planner from the China Academy of Urban Planning & Design, Zhang attaches more attention to the conservation of old city areas and traditional residential buildings. In his view, quality homes should retain historical and cultural values while being equipped with modern facilities.