Shenjing He: From Rural Roots to Megacity Regions

In this episode of The Century of Cities, we are joined by Shenjing He, Professor and Head of the Department of Urban Planning & Design at the University of Hong Kong. Drawing on decades of transformation, she reflects on China's journey from a predominantly rural society to a nation defined by megacity regions, high-speed mobility, and ambitious net-zero commitments. Shenjing highlights the enduring challenges of inequality, the housing struggles of rural migrants, and the complexity between national ambitions and local entrepreneurialism. She shares why regional integration will be essential, how intergenerational equity and climate resilience will shape the future, and what lessons China's urbanization offers to Africa and South Asia. Shenjing also considers the evolving role of the urban scholar, the tensions between collaboration and competition in city clusters, and why she remains cautiously optimistic about the long game for sustainable, equitable cities.