Abstract: Heritage community has emerged as a pivotal concept in the conservation and transmission of inhabited heritage. However, critical questions remain regarding the assessment of heritage communities, the mechanisms underlying their formation, and the roles various actors play in this process. This paper employs actor-network theory and examines the Embankment Building in Hongkou District, Shanghai, as a case study. The research is structured in two stages. First, an evaluation framework for heritage communities is developed to assess their developmental stages. Second, social network analysis is utilized to uncover the complex relationships among different actors within the community. Key events in the formation process are identified to facilitate a detailed analysis of the roles and action logics of these actors. Ultimately, this study highlights the significance of heritage communities in preserving and transmitting cultural heritage in contemporary urban and rural China.