Nanjing: Tackling the “urban malady” of parking scarcity, with 10 pilot zones already yielding tangible results.

As urban areas continue to expand and the public’s interests and demands grow increasingly diverse, “difficulty in finding parking” has become a common challenge in urban governance. In recent years, the municipal government has consistently prioritized addressing this issue as a key component of city‑wide governance, designating it as a major annual initiative to improve people’s livelihoods both last year and this year. Efforts are being made to tackle this pressing urban problem—of widespread social concern and keen public interest—and to create a smoother, more efficient travel environment.

The reporter learned that the Municipal Transportation Bureau, in collaboration with the six central districts, has identified 10 representative areas—primarily in the old city’s core, commercial districts, and around key facilities such as schools, hospitals, and scenic spots—where parking supply and demand are particularly acute. By implementing a range of measures—including constructing new parking facilities, introducing time‑shifted shared parking, and enforcing parking regulations—the bureau aims, over the next three years, to achieve a basic balance between parking supply and demand for local residents, effectively manage vehicle‑travel demand in these areas, and significantly alleviate parking shortages in priority zones like schools, commercial centers, hospitals, and older residential neighborhoods, thereby markedly improving traffic order.

To date, the 10 pilot zones have built 24 new public parking facilities with a total of 5,262 parking spaces, marked one on-street parking zone with 151 spaces, opened three parking services offering 900 spaces, implemented time‑shared sharing at six locations with 462 spaces, provided nighttime limited‑time on‑street parking for residents at one site with 60 spaces, eliminated 379 on‑street parking spaces, and removed 64 illegally installed on‑street parking spots.

This afternoon, a reporter visited the construction site of the underground parking lot at Nanjing Xuanwu Foreign Language School. Wang Jing, general manager of Nanjing Zhongnan Parking Lot Construction Co., Ltd., told the reporter: “Our parking project involves excavating the existing underground space beneath the school’s former playground. Once completed, it will provide a total of 420 parking spaces: the first basement level will have 53 self‑driving spaces, while the second basement level will house a mechanical parking system with 367 spaces. The parking facility is open to the public, helping to alleviate parking difficulties for both the school and nearby residents. In addition, we’ve set up a parent‑waiting area within the garage, allowing students to enter and exit the school via the underground parking during drop‑off and pick‑up times, thereby easing traffic congestion on the streets. Parking fees are set in accordance with the rates approved by the Price Administration Bureau; currently, in the Zhujiang Road area, the rate is 10 yuan per hour.”

Rendering of the completed underground parking garage at Nanjing Xuanwu Foreign Language School

In addition to schools, farmers’ markets and older residential neighborhoods are also high‑traffic areas with substantial demand for parking spaces. At the Lanyuan Farmers’ Market parking lot in Xuanwu District, a reporter observed a multi‑level parking garage that is already in operation. Zhang Youshun, the manager of the Lanyuan Farmers’ Market parking lot, said in an interview: “In the past, parking here was chaotic—there were virtually no driveways. Our lot has 64 spaces, which largely meets the market’s parking needs and helps ease some of the parking pressure on nearby residents. Moreover, our rates are quite affordable, typically about 20% below the prices approved by the price regulatory authorities.”

Lanyuan Agricultural Trade Market Parking Lot, Xuanwu District

Walking into the Sifang Xincun residential community in Qinhuai District, the reporter found spacious roads and a clean, well‑kept environment—results of the community’s comprehensive environmental improvement. Alongside this overhaul, the parking situation has also improved. Jin Hanfeng, director of the Comprehensive Business Department at Bai Fang Company, part of the Qinhuai District State‑Owned Assets Group, told the reporter: “Sifang Xincun is a fairly large community, home to more than 5,200 households. Previously, the roads were riddled with potholes, parking was chaotic, and there were only 608 marked parking spaces. During the comprehensive renovation, we sought residents’ consent to widen and upgrade certain roads. As a result, the number of parking spaces has increased to 1,754, which now largely meets the community’s parking needs.”

Sifang New Village before the comprehensive environmental improvement project

Sifang New Village after comprehensive environmental improvement