My city, my say: The 15-minute fix

How much of daily life can fit within a five-minute walk? On Yongtaizhuang West Road in Beijing, Qinghe E Community Center brings fresh food, breakfast, haircuts and other everyday services closer to home. It offers a glimpse into Beijing’s “15-minute community life circle” — and how it connects with a broader approach to urban governance. The city’s 12345 hotline records residents’ requests and complaints; recurring issues can then reveal where common needs and service gaps exist. The idea is to move from responding to problems as they arise toward addressing some of them before the next call comes in.