In recent years, the Chinese government has been transforming from a direct service provider into a regulatory role in the provision of community services. This article aims to understand the recent development of community service provision for older people in urban China by using Guangzhou City as a case example. Through analysing documents, conducting fieldwork and interviewing municipal government officials and service agencies in Guangzhou, the author identifies several changes in the community service provision system in urban China and discusses implications of these changes.