This section provides varied information on aspects of the urban system for (currently) 62 cities and towns across Asia - its Central, Eastern, South-eastern, Southern and Western regional areas (the latter incorporating the Middle East) - including a few that are part of the SIDS network. The profiles of some cities contain more information than others due to the availability of published information online. The range of information provided for each city / town varies (from the likes of local government teams, researchers, think tanks and newspapers) and it may change over time. Whilst every effort is made to ensure all links are active, source links may change (please let us know if you do find any links that do not work).
Statistics about urbanisation across Asia are available from various sources, including Statista.
The overall region contains a wide range of extremely diverse and interesting geographies, and it is forecast to be where much of the world's urban growth and development will take place in the next few decades. This urbanisation provides opportunities and also challenges - this piece from Nov 2019 by the WEF and this piece by The Guardian provide just two examples. The Singapore government provides a useful general source of information, Eye on Asia.
Cities and towns in Central Asia are working out how to responsibly move forwards. In Eastern and South-east Asia very large urban hubs and smaller hubs are on a journey to become more sustainable. Urban places in Southern Asia are exposed to many vulnerabilities. In Western Asia, the socio-economics of cities and towns are linked to how the nation states can and will evolve (ranging from the oil and gas rich Gulf States to much poorer states such as Palestine).
Fast links:
Note: This section includes images of cities and towns to provide a small snapshot of what they look like. These images are either from the website owner or they have been sourced from free-to-use image sites. If you see an image that could / should be replaced, please contact the website owner.
Kabul - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system -
Air pollution (Hindustan Times 2023)
Climate change in Afghanistan (Chatham House 2022)
The physical system - influences of culture in the built environment (MDPI 2020)
The socio-economic system -
Socio-economic indicators (EUAA 2022)
Yerevan - Wikipedia overview
An interview with UNDP
Governance -
The ecological system - Yerevan Green City Action Plan
Efforts to improve Environmental practices (Armenian Weekly 2022)
The physical system - energy efficiency in building retrofits (UNDP/GCF 2020)
residential buildings and green design (IOP Science 2021)
The socio-economic system - Waste management actions (EVN 2021)
Tashkent - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system - Environmental challenges (the IFC)
The physical system - giving an ancient city a modern heart (Arup)
car emissions in Tashkent (KUN 2022)
Monitoring Green zones (IOP 2020)
The socio-economic system -
Beijing - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
Ancient urban planning (The Guardian 2016)
The ecological system -
The physical system -
High-resolution mapping of the Beijing urban environment (ACS 2020)
Changing life in hutongs (The Guardian 2019)
The socio-economic system - reviving the street stall economy (SCMP 2023)
reviving the street stall economy (or not) (CNN 2023)
Chengdu - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
Local government website
The ecological system - building with nature (UNEP 2021)
Is the Green Belt surviving? (RFA 2023)
The physical system - Can China's mega version of the Garden City work? (The Guardian 2019)
land use in the Chengdu-Chongqing region (Frontiers 2022)
The socio-economic system - can food stalls help boost the economy? (LA Times 2023)
Guiyang - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system - Bureau of Ecology & Environment
Guiyang City use of forest resources (PR Newswire 2023)
Urban biodiversity action (ICLEI 2023)
The physical system -
Guiyang's rapid hi-tech development (The Guardian 2017)
Smart City initiatives (PR Newswire 2022)
The socio-economic system - a review of the sustainable development process (Springer 2020)
Hefei - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
Government investment and business working together (Japan Times 2022)
An emerging city in inland China (Science Direct 2018)
The ecological system - understanding the microbial system in a city (NIH 2023)
The physical system - the modernisation of Hefei (World Architecture 2014)
The socio-economic system - a tech cluster exemplifies China's vision (Yahoo / The Economist 2023)
Qingdao - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system - Nature-based Solutions in the city (Network Nature)
Coastal resilience challenges (C40)
The physical system - the 15-minute neighbourhood (JTLU 2023)
The socio-economic system - street vitality and Qingdao (MDPI 2023)
Sanya - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system - embracing eco-tourism (EuroNews 2020)
The physical system - tracing the city's urban development (Science Direct 2022)
The socio-economic system - dealing with marine plastic waste (Brill 2023)
Shanghai - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
Earth observations showing change since 1984 (NASA)
The ecological system - evaluating efforts to build an urban eco-network (Frontiers 2021)
Plant communities and climate change (PLOS 2018)
The physical system - the urban environment of the city (2020)
The socio-economic system -
Plans and achievements in environmental protection (NZCFS 2020)
Wuhan - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system - the future of ecology in Wuhan (Science Direct 2022)
The physical system - role of the built environment in the COVID-19 recovery (Frontiers 2022)
street vitality and street built environment in historic areas (MDPI 2023)
The socio-economic system - the liveability of Wuhan (MDPI 2022)
Xi'an - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system - a socio-ecological green network framework (Springer 2020)
The physical system -
Calculating an optimal green space (Science Direct 2023)
Water resources challenges (NIH 2016)
Adjusting to water deficiency (IWA)
A new green skyscraper is on the cards (Dezeen 2023)
The socio-economic system -
Xiongan - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system - Green plans (Beijing Review 2022)
Green self-sufficiency plans (Tomorrow City 2020)
The physical system - continued development of "The City of the Future (Global Times 2023)
40 projects in Xiongan (GCR 2023)
The socio-economic system - Brave New World plans (Brookings 2018)
Hong Kong - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system - HK's biodiversity (WWF)
Saving HK's coral with terracotta tiles (The Guardian 2020)
The physical system - can artificial islands solve a housing crisis? (The Guardian 2019)
Climate change is making HK's housing crisis worse (Washington Post 2022)
Hong Kong's land sales challenges (The Guardian 2023)
The socio-economic system - socio-economic challenges viewed through a hawker market (Made in China 2022)
Young people's perceptions of Mainland China - HK convergence (Nature 2023)
Kyoto - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system - Kyoto City on its sustainability efforts
Becoming a net-zero city (UNFCCC 2017)
The physical system - moving away from cars: the Walking City: Kyoto policy (2010)
Traditional town houses: present and future (MDPI 2022)
The socio-economic system -
Kobe - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
Earthquake disaster risk before and after the 1995 earthquake (2004)
The physical system -
Residential environments and disaster risk reduction (Science Direct 2023)
Lessons for public roads from the 1995 earthquake (US FHA 1995)
The socio-economic system - the sustainability of earthquake-damaged cities (IIKII 2019)
Tokyo - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
Metropolitan government website
Preparing for "the big one" in Tokyo (the Guardian 2019)
The ecological system - A more natural vision for an unnatural waterfront (Japan Times 2023)
A biodiversity example (ICLEI 2023)
The physical system - How Tokyo became an anti-car paradise (Longreads 2023)
Characteristics of Tokyo's built environment (Architectural Record 2022)
The socio-economic system -
Tokyo ranks 3rd in the Arcadis Sustainable Cities Index 2022 (WBC 2022)
Toyama - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
Toyama City SDGs Report (2018)
The ecological system - promoting eco-policies (Research Gate 2019)
The physical system - Creating a compact city (by the Mayor)
Promoting light rail in a small city (Taylor Francis 2022)
The socio-economic system - a city for an ageing population (ADS 2019)
Yokohama - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
Yokohama's VLR SDGs Report (2021)
Yokohama's Climate Change Strategy (2020)
The ecological system - The Blue Carbon project
The physical system -
Yokohama's renewable energy strategy (2020)
The socio-economic system - a shrinking built environment and socio-economics (Science Direct 2021)
Ulaanbaatar - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system - a new eco-district (UNA 2021)
The physical system - accessibility and inclusion in the built environment (AT2030)
The socio-economic system - Ger districts (Max Planck Institute 2019)
Seoul - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system -
The restored Cheonggyecheon Stream (the Guardian 2016)
A garden bridge (the Guardian 2017)
The physical system -
Seoul as a smart city (World Bank 2020)
The socio-economic system -
Songdo - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
Infrastructure design (Sage Journals 2021)
The ecological system - an urban system view of the Green City (UCL 2017)
The physical system - building a city from scratch (Arch Daily 2021)
Designing a sustainable city (UNC 2021)
Architectural review of Songdo (RTF)
The socio-economic system - the challenges of new cities and meeting your neighbours (Bloomberg 2018)
Pyongyang - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system - Greenery in Pyonyang (SNU)
The physical system - panoramas of the city (the Guardian 2019)
The socio-economic system - remaking the city (the Guardian 2015)
Taipei - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
Taiwan's energy risks (Atlantic Council 2022)
The ecological system - an example of conservation & tourism (the Guardian 2022)
Taipei's journey towards net zero (ICLEI 2021)
The physical system - strategic planning for Tapei sponge city (ResearchGate 2018)
A Taiwanese company has developed a new e-scooter/moped (the BBC 2023)
The socio-economic system - socio-economic resilience in Tapei (Springer 2021)
Phnom Penh - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The Lake community (the Guardian 2022)
The ecological system - urban climate resilience (Frontiers 2023)
The physical system - Sustainable City Plan 2018-2030
The socio-economic system - informal settlements and participatory methods (Sage 2017)
Nagara Rimba Nusa / Nusantara - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
A general overview (NY Times 2023)
A general overview (Future Southeast Asia 2023)
Seeking financing (the ABC 2023)
The ecological system - impact of the new city on the environment (Euronews 2023)
Will it be green? (Science 2022)
The physical system - building to begin in 2023 (Dezeen 2023)
The socio-economic system - attracting investors (Straits Times 2023)
Surabaya - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system - tackling plastic pollution (UN ESCAP 2018)
The physical system - resilience in the Kampung (ResearchGate 2018)
The socio-economic system - Surabaya Kampungs as part of the fabric (Habitat Studies 2017)
KL - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system - urban nature (the nature of cities 2017)
Green cover and urban planning (Science Direct 2017)
The physical system - KL Structure Plan 2040 (C40 Cities 2021)
A viewpoint on urbanisation in KL (Borgen 2023)
International Finance District Masterplan (Sasaki)
An example new mixed development - TRX
The socio-economic system - low income profiles in KL (ResearchGate 2023)
Melaka - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system - sustainability initiatives (Modern Diplomacy 2018)
Green cover and urban planning (Science Direct 2017)
The physical system - a UNESCO case study
A review of the shophouse design (Building Engineer 2021)
The socio-economic system - tourism targets for 2023 (NST 2023)
Putrajaya - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system - one of the world's greenest cities (the BBC 2021)
The Garden City of Putrajaya (New Cities 2014)
The physical system - smart city blueprint
The socio-economic system - a sustainable development model (Smart City Journal)
Singapore - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system - creating a greener environment (Arch Daily 2022)
The Garden City vision from 1967
TreesSG - the urban forest (National Parks)
Ecology example - Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park
The physical system - Green Buildings Masterplan
The socio-economic system - economic planning
Healthier SG (government initiative)
The Singapore Green Line (Bloomberg 2023)
Risk of transboundary haze in 2023 (Straits Times 2023)
How would 40°C weather affect daily life in Singapore? (CNA 2023)
Bangkok - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
Urban Living Labs (Urbanet 2022)
The ecological system - the greening of Bangkok (UNFCCC 2022)
The Green Bangkok 2030 Project (C40)
The physical system -
The socio-economic system - livelihoods impacts on city expansion (Buildings & Cities 2022)
Nonthaburi - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
Nonthaburi in 2030 (IGES 2021)
The ecological system - urban parks (Academia)
The physical system - Machine Learning Methods for Urban Types Classification (MDPI 2023)
The socio-economic system - envisaging low-carbon lifestyles (Hot or Cool 2021)
Hanoi - Wikipedia overview
A general paper about Hanoi
Governance -
Hanoi planning (Vietnam Times 2022)
The ecological system - urban development and environmental impacts (MDPI 2019)
The physical system - the built environment and travel options (MDPI 2020)
Self-built housing in Hanoi (University of Huddersfield 2017)
The socio-economic system - inter-generational self-help clubs (UAP)
Hoi An - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system - UNIDO support to become an eco-town (UNIDO)
The physical system -
The socio-economic system - rural tourism development (HAL 2022)
Ho Chi Minh City - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system - climate change review (Frontiers 2022)
Flood precautions review (Copernicus 2022)
Flood risk framework (AGU 2022)
The physical system - redefining its skyline (the Guardian 2019)
The socio-economic system - socio-economic planning (Vietnam + 2022)
Dhaka - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system -
flooding challenges (NIH 2023)
Town Watching Manual (C40 2018)
The physical system - how Dhaka transformed over 50 years (the Guardian 2021)
Smart City challenges (MDPI 2023)
The socio-economic system - densification of the city (Global Journals 2017)
Chittagong - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system - forest and landscape restoration (Science Direct 2023)
Disaster Risk Reduction (ResearchGate 2014)
The physical system - an architectural review (RTF)
Green infrastructure development (ResearchGate 2022)
The socio-economic system - socio-economics and traffic congestion (Science Direct 2022)
Amaravati - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The Amaravati Masterplan (Foster & Partners)
Aspects of creating state capitals (EPW 2021)
A sustainable city? (CNN 2018)
The ecological system - climate resilience (CEEW 2019)
The physical system - agrarian urbanism (Sage Journals 2021)
The socio-economic system - combatting poor health (Times of India 2021)
Bangalore - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
A Sustainability Manifesto to 2030
Planning challenges (Deccan Herald 2018)
The ecological system - climate vulnerability (Citizen Matters 2022)
Why is the city now prone to floods? (Nature in focus 2022)
Heat stress: how soaring temperatures are taking their toll (the Guardian 2024)
The physical system - building designs and climate change (DH 2022)
The socio-economic system - data on city slums (Nature 2018)
Bareilly - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system - environment conservation campaign (Times of India 2020)
The physical system - Smart City plans
The socio-economic system - a study of malnutrition in children (SBRH 2021)
Chennai - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system - Chennai flyways: managing bird populations (Sage Journals 2022)
The physical system - city design and physical activity levels (QUB 2016)
The socio-economic system - neighbourhood development and tackling obesity (Cities Health 2021)
Delhi - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system - turning pollution into floor tiles (the BBC 2021)
An ecological overview (Urban Ecology)
Tackling air pollution (Brookings 2020)
The physical system - urban form and sustainability (Nature 2023)
Delhi's deadly dust (the Guardian 2017)
Measures to improve flood resilience (Down To Earth 2023)
The socio-economic system - urban quality of life (Springer 2021)
Hyderabad - Wikipedia overview
A Disasters Avoided paper: tackling extreme heat
Governance -
Improving citizen involvement (Indian Express 2023)
The ecological system - heat risks (Telengana Today 2023)
Telengana State Heatwave Action Plan 2021
Think Hazard overview - heat risks
Floods in future (Times of India 2020)
The physical system -
The socio-economic system - the impact of urban sprawl (Springer 2022)
Kolkata - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system - living urban systems (Sage Journals 2022)
Urbanisation and risks to Kolkata's wetlands (Al Jazeera 2023)
The miracle of Kolkata's wetlands (the Guardian 2016)
The physical system - the battle to save Kolkata's heritage (Al Jazeera 2019)
The socio-economic system - informal street vendors and local politics (Open Edition 2016)
Mumbai - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
Governance solutions to informal housing (ArcGIS 2021)
The ecological system - climate change is stretching the city (The Atlantic 2022)
Population density and flooding risk: historical view (the Guardian 2016)
Adapting to flood risk (Science Direct 2022)
The physical system - balancing urbanisation and nature (Revolve 2021)
Restoring the city's stone markers (the Guardian 2020)
The socio-economic system - segregation & exclusion in Mumbai (Springer 2021)
Puducherry - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system - The Puducherry Climate Change Cell (CCC)
Microplastics & Puducherry's beaches (NIH 2019)
Coastal resilience lessons (the BBC 2021)
The physical system -
Aspects of historic architecture (UAF 2021)
The socio-economic system - a study of fishermen (ResearchGate 2021)
Hulhumalé - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
A new island of hope (the BBC 2020)
A related project - Maldives Floating City
The ecological system - confronting climate change (GCA 2022)
The physical system - land reclamation choices (Science Direct 2023)
Further land being reclaimed (RTP 2023)
The socio-economic system - creating a Livability Index for Hulhumalé (UNDP Maldives 2023)
Kathmandu - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
Trends in urban growth in Kathmandu Valley (ERA 2020)
The 2015 earthquake - lessons learned (ADRC 2016)
Rising from the 2015 earthquake (the Guardian 2020)
The ecological system - Kathmandu's air pollution levels (WHO)
Environmental inequalities (Frontiers 2022)
The physical system - a viewpoint on the city & infrastructure (British Council 2018)
Earthquake resilience for residential properties (17WCEE 2020)
The socio-economic system - a look-ahead of socio-economics (The Himalayan 2023)
Karachi - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system - tree density and diversity in Karachi (Science Direct 2020)
Cooling Karachi with urban forests (the BBC 2021)
The challenges of dealing with disaster risk (the Guardian 2021)
The physical system - localness of the built form (ResearchGate 2023)
The built heritage in Karachi (JAABE 2020)
The socio-economic system - socio-economic factors affecting people's weight (Taylor & Francis 2022)
Colombo - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system - using a Sustainable Asset Valuation in Colombo (IISD 2019)
The physical system - Sustainable Housing and Construction Roadmap 2020-2050 (Global ABC)
Heatproofing the city (GCU 2021)
The socio-economic system - enhancing socio-ecological resilience in urban wetlands (UNDP 2022)
Masdar - Wikipedia overview
An article in WIRED (2023) about the new eco-city of Masdar
Governance - Masdar City website
The ecological system - eco-city principles
The physical system - clean energy
The socio-economic system -
Yazd - Wikipedia overview
Focal point: learning from heritage
- ancient wind-catchers
A general overview of the city
The ecological system - the ancient yakhchal
The physical system - the city's heritage
The socio-economic system - socio-economic classes and spatial planning
Journalism: a BBC article (August 2021) about the wind-catchers of Yadz
Amman - Wikipedia overview
Focal point: an interview with UN-Habitat
Governance -
The ecological system - dealing with flooding
The physical system - Amman's spatial planning (by UN-Habitat and SECO)
The socio-economic system - urban social engagement (by GIZ, 2021)
Journalism: general news (the Jordan Times)
Beirut - Wikipedia overview
Governance - Port of Beirut: inadequate governance in crisis & reconstruction
Governance - a multi-stakeholder approach
The physical system - trying to use solar power in the face of energy shortages
The socio-economic system - the risk of healthcare collapse in Lebanon (2022)
Consolidated page of pieces about the 2020 port explosion by The Guardian
The Beirut port explosion: three years on (the Guardian 2023)
Muscat - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system - changing urban ecology (Sage 2020)
The physical system - the pedestrian revolution in Muscat (Springer 2020)
The socio-economic system - socio-economic impact (Muscat Daily 2022)
Doha - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system - sustainable city development (Euronews 2023)
Doha EXPO 2023 - sustainability
The physical system -
The Green Building lab (the Guardian 2012)
The walkable neighbourhood (RIBA)
Doha as a 15-minute city (Springer 2022)
The socio-economic system - economic development model (Springer 2023)
Earth NA (sustainable pathways for hot and arid environments)
Ar-Rayyan - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system - microbial ecology (Frontiers 2021)
The physical system - Masterplan strategy
The socio-economic system - learning strategy (UNESCO)
NEOM - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system - green credentials (the BBC 2022)
An oil crisis failsafe? (Energy Monitor 2022)
The physical system - what is the Line? (The Conversation 2022)
The socio-economic system - sustainability & liveability claims (Dezeen 2022)
Gaziantep - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
General urban consultation (UCLG)
The ecological system - designing urban spaces in balance with climate (Science Direct 2020)
Earthquake risk (Science Direct 2021)
The physical system - urban mobility (Civitas)
The socio-economic system - spatial strategies for historic centres (Ideas 2022)
Istanbul - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system - impact of infrastructure on the city's ecology (Frontiers 2021)
Urban Environmental Management (Scientific Research 2021)
Earthquake risk (Al-Monitor 2023)
The physical system - sustainable urban mobility (Science Direct 2020)
Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (Eltis 2022)
The socio-economic system - residential segregation in the 2000s (2021)
Dubai - Wikipedia overview
Governance -
The ecological system - pushing back encroaching deserts (the BBC 2022)
World's largest ocean restoration project (New Atlas 2023)
The physical system -
The Sustainable City project (the World Bank 2022)
The socio-economic system - low-income migrants in Dubai (Developing Economics 2021)
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