At dawn, while the city is still wrapped in silence, the "Jinsong Qile Residence" on Bakesh Yang East Road in the East Third Ring gradually lights up. Riders dressed in their gear head out one after another to take orders and begin their busy day. This bright orange two-story building at the entrance is a city service worker home specially created by Jinsong Street in Chaoyang District for delivery and courier workers, offering 232 beds to give these city strivers a stable, affordable, and warm residence in the pricey East Third Ring area.
"'Find me if you have any difficulties' brings peace of mind"
In April this year, Xiao Wang, a young man in his early 20s from Sichuan, left home for the first time to make his way in Beijing. New to the big city, he was anxious: worried about high rents, afraid of falling into rental traps, and scared of struggling alone. After hearing about the "Jinsong Qile Residence," which had just opened on April 28, he decided to give it a try 鈥?and found unexpected warmth there.
Xiao Wang still remembers the nervousness of walking into the apartment lobby for the first time, stuttering to the manager Cai Huangjin that it was his first time working in Beijing and that money was tight. To his surprise, Cai's response was: if funds were short, he could skip the rent for now, as the residence offered a "stay first, pay later" policy, allowing him to pay back gradually once he earned more. Manager Cai also led Xiao Wang to the warm service station in the lobby, showing him free snacks like fried dough twists, bread, and cookies, telling him these treats were all complimentary, available whenever he felt hungry. "If they run out, just tell me, and I'll restock anytime. In summer, you can even get free popsicles here. Don't worry, come to me if you need anything!" Cai's words put Xiao Wang at ease.
His fellow rider roommates were also especially kind to Xiao Wang, freely sharing their delivery tips, planning optimal routes, and explaining the ropes of taking orders. The newcomer quickly settled into the rider lifestyle. Xiao Wang showed reporters his room 鈥?a neat eight-bed dorm with four bunk beds, each equipped with sliding sky-blue curtains, making the space airy and clean. Pointing to the headboard, he noted: "There's also a reading light and USB charging port here, so everyone can use them at different times without disturbing others, whether for late-night reading or charging devices." "I'm truly lucky to have ended up here right after arriving in Beijing!" Xiao Wang said sincerely.
"A hot shower even after late shifts"
Gao Chuang, a rider from Henan, may be an old hand at delivery, but he's a new tenant at "Jinsong Qile Residence," having moved in just over two months ago. He previously rented in an aging walk-up building in Sanyuanqiao, paying 2,300 yuan per month, with the worst part being the lack of an elevator. "Sometimes I'd get off the night shift at 2 a.m., exhausted, and still have to climb the stairs. It was torture!" After a colleague recommended it, he learned about "Jinsong Qile Residence" offering a monthly rent of 1,000 yuan with water, electricity, and internet all included, plus daily housekeeping. In June this year, he decisively moved in.
In the two-plus months since, Gao Chuang's biggest takeaway is "comfortable, hassle-free, and relaxed." The residence provides 24-hour hot water and fully automatic laundry facilities, so "no matter how late I get off work, I can still enjoy a hot shower鈥攊t's so comfortable! I wash off the sweat and put on clean clothes the next day." The location advantage is simply irreplaceable. Situated in the heart of the East Third Ring, close to the Guomao, HeShengHui, and Fulin City commercial districts, it's just a 10-minute drive from the Fortune Center delivery zone Gao Chuang covers. "I can take orders right downstairs without long commutes, which reduces a lot of stress." Even more heartwarming for Gao Chuang is the neighborhood atmosphere. Previous shared living meant strangers, but now his roommates are all peers in the same line of work, chatting and encouraging each other after shifts, adding a touch of human warmth to daily life.
"Sisters helping each other, with full sense of security"
From its initial planning, "Jinsong Qile Residence" precisely captured the differentiated needs of female riders, fully addressing their lifestyle requirements by designating a separate area with 3 female dorms totaling 24 beds, enabling segregated living, independent management, and dedicated facilities for women riders. All beds are currently fully occupied. Inside the residence, a screen on the right side of the first floor separates the male and female sleeping areas. Manager Cai Huangjin explained that all female dorms are equipped with smart electronic locks to prevent unauthorized entry.
Beyond safety, "comfort" is another highlight of the women's section 鈥?walls, bedding, and decor feature plenty of pink accents, creating a warm and romantic atmosphere; a vanity table is thoughtfully placed in the hallway to cater to beauty needs; outside the dorms, there's an open courtyard with red umbrellas and leisure tables and chairs, serving as a private drying space or a quiet spot to rest and chat. "In the past, renting meant worrying about safety, too many people, and messiness鈥攏ow this place gives you total peace of mind," said Jiang Mengxuan, a rider from Hebei working with a major delivery platform. She noted that female riders live closely together, helping each other and forming deep sisterly bonds: they share stories from their delivery runs, bring meals for each other when someone feels unwell, and borrow shampoo when needed. Though these are small gestures, they ease the loneliness of being far from home.
More than a dorm, a space to unwind
Under the coordinated efforts of Jinsong Street, "Jinsong Qile Residence" is not just affordable housing but also a warm base, a stress-relief space, and a comprehensive service platform for the new workforce. The residence hosts a monthly collective birthday party, celebrating riders born that month and giving them small gifts. The street has also set up a psychological counseling room, a legal consultation room, and a leisure activity room on the first floor, equipped with chess and card tables, foosball, and stress-relief punching bags, giving riders a place to relax and decompress after work. Licensed lawyers and senior social workers are regularly stationed on-site to provide free services including labor dispute consultations, injury claims support, and psychological counseling.
Li Haili, general manager of the company operating "Jinsong Qile Residence," noted that his firm owns brands like "Qilehui" and "Qileyu," focusing on building guaranteed collective apartments for the new workforce. Since establishing its first location in Yanjingli, Chaoyang District, in May last year, the company has built 20 sites across the city, covering 7 districts and providing over 2,000 beds, serving more than 20,000 people. Li Haili revealed plans to complete 30 to 35 sites by the end of this year. But in his view, merely providing housing is far from sufficient. He explained that early rider apartments represented a 1.0 basic housing version, while "Jinsong Qile Residence" is the 2.0 lifestyle integration version, expanding diverse living scenarios and linking with street communities to help riders better establish roots in the city. The project will eventually upgrade to a 3.0 comprehensive ecosystem version, transitioning from "a bed" to "a room," introducing options like queen-bed rooms and family rooms to cover more living needs. Li Haili admitted that finding properties is the biggest challenge for building rider apartments and hopes for more policy and social support to jointly advance the project.
Balancing "Three Accounts" for mutual benefit
How does "Jinsong Qile Residence" ensure sustainable operations? Chen Yuna, deputy director of the party building office at Jinsong Street, explained that the street has carefully balanced "three accounts."
Economic account: The street proactively connected with the property owner, securing the space through multiple rounds of negotiation, then brought in professional social capital for a market-based comprehensive renovation, transforming the original 44 messy rooms into 29 standardized dorms with 232 regulated beds. Residents currently come primarily from platforms such as a major food delivery service, an instant shopping platform, and a household services provider, all belonging to the new workforce, with an average occupancy rate staying above 95%. Operators estimate a roughly four-year payback period for the initial investment, with future profits feeding back into further support mechanisms.
Hearts and minds account: Pricing is transparent and affordable, significantly lowering riders' housing costs. Plus, diverse needs are seen and met, leaving riders feeling goodwill and warmth, naturally fostering a stronger sense of belonging.
Governance account: The building was previously rented out commercially, marked by high population turnover, poor sanitation, and safety risks. Converting it into rider apartments has systematically eliminated these hazards, upgrading low-efficiency space. Meanwhile, riders are actively integrating into and giving back to the community鈥攖hey've voluntarily formed a volunteer service team, with over 20 riders participating in grassroots governance. During their daily delivery runs, they spot and report road hazards and facility issues, acting as mobile grid workers and street observers, becoming a vital force for community management. Chen Yuna expressed confidence in replicating and promoting the "Jinsong Qile Residence" model, further understanding the area's resources and revitalizing existing stock so more city service workers can put down roots in the Jinsong district.