Currently, community governance in China is facing three pressing challenges. First, its system needs to be improved and refined. Second, community services need to be expanded. Third, mode of community governance is in need of innovation. In this context many local communities have encouraged their residents to engage in activities associated with community building. The engagement has not only activated residents’ motivation to self-govern their communities, but also contributed to developing a new mode of community governance often called “Weizizhi” – meaning “micro-self-governance”. This case is derived from Xintai Compound of Shishanhengtangjiedao of Gaoxin District of Suzhou City in Jiangsu Province. It has developed an exemplary micro-self-governance mode by the name of “Ziguanwei” – meaning self-management committee. The Compound, through this committee, has effectively addressed its governance challenges related to issues such as conflicts between neighbors, public safety, and local traffic.

There are three milestones in Xintai Compound’s micro-self-governance. First, a platform consisting of four parties (i.e., the Compound, owners’ committee, realty management, and mutual support group) was established for taking a collaborative approach to local governance challenges. The second milestone is that of setting up self-management committee, through which some residents initiated a voluntary self-management team. The team actively engaged in public benefit activities directly related to residents’ interests such as public safety, public etiquette, and public hygiene. Third, the self-management team designed and organized an activity aiming at innovation in the management of compound environment. A questionnaire was used to collect information from residents on their ideas and/or suggestions in this regard.

To summarize, self-management committee (i.e., the micro-self-governance mode in Xintai Compound) has developed residents’ competence in self-governance by engaging them in the activities and practices associated with community governance. Such engagement has enabled many residents to enjoy a sense of achievement and satisfaction, which may in turn even lead to their greater participation in community governance.