Beijing works on satisfying nearby consumer needs

Wang Mu, 28, a stay-at-home mom with a four-year-old son, said she has seen a big improvement in the availability of shopping, healthcare and leisure activities near her home in the past few years.

"Life is becoming easier as more convenience stores have opened in the neighborhood and a range of delivery services are more available," she said.

A resident of Shuangjing in Beijing's Chaoyang district, she previously needed to go more than a kilometer to shop in a big supermarket. "It was very awkward in that since the distance is a long way to walk but too close to take a car," she said. "Plus, if I want to go there, I need to go by car. The cost of parking is sometimes even higher than what I bought."