In support of China' government efforts to establish "open communities," universities in Beijing have opened their gates to connect the inner roads of their campuses to public highways.

This move is in line with a city guideline issued by the State Council which aims to establish a more efficient transport system across the country, The Beijing Evening News reported the China Daily.

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Essentially, the project directs universities to "rearrange" the boundaries of their campus roads and contribute to the transformation of their respective area's' road system.                

So far, Renmin University of China, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing Institute of Technology, China University of Political Science and Law and Beihang University have joined in this pilot initiative to create China's open communities.

Based on the State Council's guideline, walled residential communities and administrative unit compounds are required to share their roads for public use with the goal of optimizing the "city transportation network and use of land."

The pioneering initiative, however, has triggered a heated debate among China's netizens who fear that their property rights and safety might be compromised if they open their communities to the public.  

Responding to this concern, the Central government explained that old communities will be asked to gradually" open to the public, adding that the initiative is not a "one size, fits all" solution. 

The government also committed to ensure the residents' best interests as they start to open up their gated communities.,

The Sanlihe area in Xicheng District in Beijing, where several administrative unit compounds including the Ministry of Finance are located, became the first model of China's s "open communities." 

TagsChina Open Communities, china, China Universities