The first World Urban History Forum was held in Hangzhou from October 28 to 30.

The forum was jointly hosted by the Research Institute of World History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Hangzhou Normal University, and co-organized by the Hangzhou Research Center of International Urbanology.

Over 50 experts and scholars from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Peking University, Zhejiang University, Columbia University, University of Leicester, Yamagata University, and other schools came to discuss the modernization of world cities, the differences between oriental and western cities, and the challenges for world urban culture and society.

“With the rapid process of China’s urbanization, people are concerned about the future of the world’s cities. Exploring the past, present and future of cities will provide experience for the construction of China’s modern cities,” said Zhang Shunhong, director of the Research Institute of World History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, at the opening ceremony.

Experts and scholars at the forum focused on the “urban sicknesses” that have spread in the industrial age, such as the population explosion, environmental pollution, the housing shortage, traffic problems, worsening sanitary conditions, etc., and discussed the future of China’s modern cities.

By Xie Fang and Wang Gongyuan