Passersby would be forgiven for thinking the 24-story Zhaofeng Building on downtown Shanghai's Changning Road is a new apartment complex, with its shining paint and tidy entrance adorned with festive greetings.

However, the building was actually built in 1993.

In November, a project to renovate the building's exterior, spearheaded entirely by the residents themselves and lasting for half a year, was completed, leaving the more than 200 residents, young and old, with a safe and completely new living environment.

"All the 95 households in the building collectively raised 1 million yuan ($137,000) for the renovation, showcasing a remarkable display of community initiative and cooperation. The community-driven efforts in achieving a common goal have also fostered a sense of unity and pride among the residents," said 41-year-old resident Liu Guanglei.

"The community initiative to renovate the building was spontaneously generated from within the resident community, and derived from people's pursuit of a better life in the new times. People want a pleasant environment not only within their homes but also the entire surroundings in their everyday life," he said.

Residents recalled that safety concerns regarding falling tiles from the building's facade began several years ago and became more frequent in 2020. The building's exterior of mosaic tiles was considered by some to be a symbol of style.

All the households in the building — with at least one individual representing each household — are members of a WeChat group for daily communication and information sharing. After some residents shared a case of falling tiles from a building's exterior that had taken people's lives, they became aware that they could not ignore such safety hazards anymore.