The Era of Strong Cities is the first volume of the Urban Development Report series published by Shanghai Institute for National Economy. Grounded in a data-driven approach, the book employs a range of datasets and indices to evaluate the patterns and dynamism of high-quality urban development in China. It highlights the ongoing concentration of population in urban agglomerations and around major central cities, arguing that an understanding of China’s future development requires a systematic perspective on the processes of urbanization and the evolving urban landscape.

Over the years, Professor Lu Ming and other scholars have been dedicated to the study of China’s urban development, with a particular focus on urban growth and regional economies under new conditions. They have introduced key concepts such as the “Strong City Index,” the “Manufacturing Prosperity Leading Index,” and the “Capital Market Vitality Index”, offering a comprehensive and multidimensional interpretation of the relationships between development and balance, urban and rural areas, urban agglomerations and metropolitan regions, as well as core and peripheral zones within metropolitan areas. These frameworks provide crucial support for stakeholders across society in forecasting macroeconomic trends and patterns of urban development.