Taizhou named China's happiest city as people-centered policies deliver results

Elderly people dine at a community canteen in Taizhou, Jiangsu province. [Photo/Taizhou Daily]

Taizhou was recently named one of China's Happiest Cities for 2025, marking the sixth time the city has made the list, as sustained investment in jobs, social security and public services continues to improve quality of life.

Since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), Taizhou has prioritized employment and income growth, rolling out targeted support policies and creating nearly 984,000 jobs over five years. By the end of November, companies had seen their costs reduced by 2.22 billion yuan, while 19.93 billion yuan ($2.84 billion) in low-interest loans supported job stability. Urban employment increased by about 396,000, and nearly 120,000 people were supported in starting businesses.

The city has expanded social security coverage, with basic medical insurance now covering 4.45 million people and participation rates surpassing 98.5 percent. Inpatient reimbursement rates remain at around 85 percent for employees and 70 percent for residents. Long-term care insurance has benefited nearly 40,000 people, easing family care costs by 667 million yuan.

Public services have also improved. Taizhou has built a wide network of elderly care facilities and community services, completed home adaptations for nearly 19,000 households, and helped about 90,000 seniors learn to use smartphones for everyday services. Social assistance standards were raised, benefiting low-income groups, while digital platforms have made applications faster and easier.

Investment in education and healthcare has continued, with more schools built, additional school places created, and medical resources extending further into communities. Together, these measures have translated development gains into a stronger sense of well-being for residents.