Huai'an City, historically positioned as the "Canal Capital," has actively explored a renewal model with local characteristics and has achieved phased results.

First, Huai'an has drawn a renewal blueprint through its planning and leadership. The city has prepared the Special Plan for Urban Renewal of Central Urban Areas (2024–2035) with high standards, and implemented differentiated management and control by zoning. In accordance with the principle of contiguous overall planning, it gives priority to the planning of 66 structural projects, with 23 renewal units and more than 400 implementation projects scientifically delineated to provide spatial guidance for refined renewal.

Second, Huai'an has carried out a city health check for an accurate diagnosis. Adhering to the long-term mechanism of "conducting a check-up every year and an evaluation every five years," the city formulated the 2025 Urban City Health Check Plan and added 10 municipal characteristic indicators and special check-ups for park and green space construction on the basis of thoroughly implementing national and provincial indicators. Through the "building-based" survey of 40 communities, 549 residential complexes, and 9,090 residential buildings, a comprehensive city health check report was formed, which provides a scientific basis for targeted rectification.

Third, Huai'an is committed to providing policy support to solve implementation problems. Focusing on key areas such as planning, construction, finance, and approval, the city systematically issued more than 10 documents, including the Implementation Opinions on Accelerating Urban Renewal Work, aiming to build a multi-dimensional policy support system. By optimizing the functional conversion of existing buildings, simplifying the approval process, and broadening the sources of funds, it provides solid institutional support for project implementation.

Fourth, Huai'an has been exploring paths through pilot demonstration projects. The city has actively explored the paths of marketization. It has cultivated four provincial-level pilot projects by introducing social capital and exploring the government-enterprise cooperation model. Its practices in the protection and activation of historical and cultural heritage and the implantation of new industries provide living examples for city-wide renewal.