This seminar examines the upsurge of megacity regions in China since the early 21st century, with a focus on how spatial planning, policy, and urban design have shaped this phenomenal process amid evolving state-market relations and growing global integration. We will analyze the development trajectories of select regions–including the Yangtze River Delta, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, and the China–Vietnam Red River Development Corridor–while examining their distinctive planning approaches and design strategies.

The course situates these case studies within broader political traditions and institutional frameworks, revealing the social, economic, cultural, and environmental forces at play. Students will also be introduced to key tools and methods of spatial planning and design that apply to city-region planning worldwide.

Through guest lectures and seminar discussions, students will engage with current debates and contribute their own perspectives, drawing on their academic and professional backgrounds to enrich a critical understanding of Chinese megacity regionalization.