China Under Construction

Ali CHESHMEHZANGI is a Full Professor and Head of the School of Architecture, Design and Planning (ADP) at the University of Queensland, where he leads the school and researches across the fields of architecture, design, and planning/urbanism. He has been the World’s top 2% field leader for three consecutive years, recognised by Stanford University. He is among the top 30 global scholars in the urban sustainability research area. Ali is internationally known for his scholarly contribution and extended work on climate resilience and sustainable urbanism research. Ali has a wealth of experience, expertise, and a strong commitment to innovation and excellence in the fields of architecture, design, and planning, the three core disciplines of his School at UQ. With a career spanning over two decades, he has made significant contributions to the academic and professional communities, with a focus on sustainable and environmentally conscious design. Prior to joining UQ, Ali held several strategic leadership and senior managerial roles, such as Vice-President for International Engagement and Global Partnership, Founding Director/Head of the Center for Innovation in Education and Research, Head of the Department of Architecture and Built Environment, Founding Director of the Urban Innovation Lab, Director of a university-wide Teaching and Learning platform, Director of International Research Network for Rural and Urban Development, Head of Research Group for Sustainable Built Environment, co-director of university-wide research priority areas, Director of Center for Sustainable Energy Technologies, and Interim Director of Digital Design Lab. So far, Ali has published over 500 journal papers, articles, conference papers, book chapters, and reports. He also has 32 other academic books, three of which have received awards at the national, provincial, and municipal levels. He also has received international awards and recognition for his research on urban resilience studies and sustainability research, as well as a Vice-Chancellor’s award for his impactful contribution to higher education.  Tian TANG is an independent researcher focused on analysing China’s urban and regional transitions and urban sustainability research. She co-authored two books with Ali Cheshmehzangi, titled “China’s City Cluster Development in the Race to Carbon Neutrality” (2022) and “30 Years of Urban Change in China’s 10 Core Cities” (2024). The former received a prestigious national award from Springer in November 2023. For almost a decade, Tian has worked with several local agencies and consultancy firms, with significant research work in Sichuan, Shanghai, Guangdong, Hainan, Hunan, and Chongqing, all in China. Tian is experienced with fieldwork activities in China and currently focuses on analysing urban transitions in urban clusters and specific regions in China, while exploring global case study examples, too. With extensive collaborations with the industry, relevant institutes, and governmental agencies, Tian has developed an extensive profile in urban sustainability research. In 2016 and then from 2019 onwards, her extended work included several case study research works as an independent research associate member and industry collaborator. In 2020-22, she focused on carbon neutrality research, case study reports, regional analysis, Chinese city clusters, and ICT-driven smart-resilient urban transformations. To date, Tian has 120+ reports, papers, and conference/workshop presentations and is co-author of an award-winning book.

• Navigating China’s Urban Revolution: From Tradition to Transformation.- Xi’an: From Ancient Glory to High-Tech Hub.- Changsha: The PuDong of Western China through Regional Synergy and Technological Innovation.- Zhengzhou: Transformation from Ancient Capital to Logistical and Economic Hub.