First and Only Chinese Property Company to Receive This Global Honour
“Xintiandi Communities set a global benchmark for urban development by sustainably balancing historical heritage, future development needs with environmental sustainability.”
—Stephanie Lo, Vice Chairman of Shui On Land
Shui On Land Limited (Stock Code: 272) has been named among TIME’s inaugural “World’s Most Impactful Companies” list for 2026, making it the first and only Chinese property company to receive this prestigious recognition.
Shui On Land’s inclusion demonstrates its position as a global pioneer in developing and operating sustainable communities. With cities home to 45% of the world’s population—a share that continues to grow, particularly in Asia—and accounting for an estimated 70% of global carbon emissions, sustainable urban solutions have become a critical global imperative. Shui On Land’s long-standing practice is a direct response to this imperative.
Xintiandi Communities: Setting a Global Benchmark in Sustainable Communities Development and Operations
China’s rapid urbanization in the last thirty years has created a tremendous need to develop vibrant, healthy, sustainable communities as building blocks of thriving cities. At the same time, heritage preservation and urban regeneration have become ever more important as part of urban solutions to create holistic and fulfilling lifestyles. Shui On Land’s “Xintiandi communities” have set global benchmarks for building vibrant communities and creating landmark places. The company pioneered the development of master-planned, mixed-use, culturally sensitive communities with placemaking at their core. This has yielded award-winning landmark communities in Shanghai, Wuhan, Chongqing and Foshan,offering a diversified portfolio of community models including Greater Xintiandi Community, Neighbourhood Community, Urban Retreat Community and Knowledge Community—each tailored to local context.
“Thriving cities are made of vibrant communities, not buildings,” said Stephanie Lo, vice chairman of Shui On Land. “We are dedicated to building resilient and culturally diverse urban communities that bring heritage to life. We have always believed a community’s true value lies in whether people choose to stay and build their lives here, generation after generation, and this intergenerational continuity is rooted in economic, social, cultural, and environmental sustainability.
“This recognition from TIME represents authoritative global validation of Shui On’s approach to urban regeneration in China” Lo said. “We remain committed to a human-centric approach, opening up new possibilities for diverse ways of living, and shaping communities into self-sustaining, resilient, and enduring urban environments. By sustainably balancing historical heritage and future development needs with environmental sustainability, we provide exemplary solutions for cities—solutions that stand the test of time.”
Sustainability Leadership Affirmed: The 5C Sustainability Strategy in Action
This accolade affirms Shui On Land’s long-standing commitment to sustainable development. The company drives sustainability through its “5C Sustainability Strategy,” encompassing five pillars: community, clean, culture, care, and corporate governance. This framework translates principles into concrete actions, supporting Shui On Land’s low-carbon, climate-resilient, healthy and vibrant community development.
Shui On Land has been a pioneer in adopting the Science-based Targets Initiative (SBTi) and implementing carbon-reduction measures across its developments and operations, from renewable electricity to low-carbon building materials. For example, its flagship Shanghai Xintiandi has adopted 100% renewable electricity across all its operating properties since July 2024. Shui On has also partnered with the United States Green Building Council to launch the industry’s first “Deep Green Lease” for office spaces in China, engaging tenants in emissions reduction across the entire community ecosystem. As a result, from a 2019 baseline, it cut Scope 1 and 2 carbon intensity by 57% and Scope 3 tenant carbon intensity by 32% in 2025. Beyond decarbonization, Shui On Land also activates its communities through cultural and sports programs that foster vibrant, healthy community life, tangibly benefiting tenants and customers and the wider public.
The recognition reinforces Shui On Land’s long-standing belief that sustainability is fundamental to creating places that endure. As cities around the world confront the dual challenges of urban regeneration and climate resilience, Shui On Land will continue to respond with systemic innovation—ensuring that every community it creates becomes a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable place where people and nature thrive together.