Asia-Pacific

China, Japan, other South East Asian countries, Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Islands countries.

Two people in masks stand in front of a "caring for you at home" sign. They speak to people in medical masks.

The city is the health system

Your healthcare system treats you after you get sick. Your city decides whether your health declines at all. Singapore is proving that planning is preventive medicine.

October 8, 2026 - Rajiv Ahuja

A bus in Singapore at a stop behind a tree, waiting for passengers to get on.

Eating, littering on Singapore buses now a fineable offense

Passengers who put other riders in danger may be charged thousands of Singapore dollars.

September 29, 2026 - CNN Travel

A rail passenger going through the ticket barrier at Leeds Train Station with the UK Government's re-nationalised rail company GBR signs and symbols displayed.

To privatize, or not to privatize? Lessons from Britain and Japan's railways

When Britain and Japan faced the consequences of monopolistic public transit, both countries divided their transit up into regional private companies — and saw very different outcomes.

September 29, 2026 - Solomon Silvia

The Ancient Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia captured in early morning light. The temple is gray, and has three pillars with cone shaped tops. It is under a light blue sky.

What the fall of earth's largest pre-industrial city can teach us about urban sprawl

Angkor was a low-density metropolis. It lasted six centuries, until it could no longer maintain its infrastructure in a changing climate. Today, it offers planners a sobering warning about the risks of dispersed urban living.

September 18, 2026 - Stefan Al

People standing under a covered walkway in Singapore

Singapore's secret to keeping transit cool in sweltering heat

The tropical city state known for superior transit has a tip or two for keeping transit manageable as cities heat up.

August 17, 2026 - The Cool Down

Jakarta BRT bus.

How Jakarta built the world's largest BRT system

Once known for total gridlock, the Indonesian capital has transformed itself into a public transit leader.

May 12, 2026 - In Development

A fancy train compartment

Japan’s bullet trains to debut private pods with 5G wifi windows, “invisible audio bubbles”

The compartments have “personal sound zones” with noise-cancelling technology embedded in the seats, and wifi-infused glass that promises interruption-free streaming and video calls.

April 30, 2026 - Yahoo! Tech

Tired man leaning on window sleeping on bus or tram.

Study: Cramped Quarters Worsen Sleep — but not as Much as Long Commutes

A Japanese study links commutes over 50 minutes to higher rates of insomnia and daytime sleepiness.

October 13, 2025 - Medical News

Bird's eye view of thin strip of land with palapas and palm trees in Tuvalu.

Sea Level Rise is Drowning This Pacific Island Nation; They Have a Plan

The nation of Tuvalu has created an ambitious plan to relocate its entire population and preserve key cultural and historic resources as rising seas threaten to wipe it out within three decades.

July 30, 2025 - Wired

People on motorbikes driving through busy vibrant Hanoi, Vietnam produce market.

Hanoi to Ban Gas-Powered Two-Wheelers, Later Cars

City officials hope that electrifying motorcycles, a ‘lifeblood’ of Vietnamese transportation, will have a positive impact on air quality and noise in the city’s downtown.

July 27, 2025 - Electrek

Yellow single-seat Japanese electric vehicle drivign down road.

The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs

The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.

June 6, 2025 - PC Magazine

Cars and pedestrians on Hong Kong street at night.

Hong Kong Cab Hailing App Folds — and Uber Takes Over

HKTaxi launched a year before Uber came to town. Now, it’s shutting down. Lawmakers worry a monopoly looms.

February 13, 2025 - South China Morning Post

Smithsonian museum in Washington, D.C. facade.

Advancing the National Asian Pacific American Museum

Supporters are mobilizing, fundraising, and facilitating the creation of a compelling Congressional report to secure authorization for a Smithsonian museum that represents and preserves the diverse histories and cultures of Asian Pacific Americans.

January 6, 2025 - Friends of the National Asian Pacific American Museum

View of E-World 83 Tower in Seoul, South Korea through branches full of white and pink cherry blossoms.

Seoul’s Urban Parks Blossom with Books

The Reading in Seoul Garden event invited residents to enjoy free reading and relaxation activities, including digital and live programs, in scenic parks, fostering a sense of community amid the city’s autumn landscapes.

November 1, 2024 - The Korea Times

People running and cycling on wide paved path next to water with Singapore skyline with high-rises in background.

Singapore: A Model for Longevity and Quality of Life

Singapore's remarkable rise in life expectancy, driven by government policies on health, green spaces, and social cohesion, has earned it the distinction of being named the world's sixth “Blue Zone.”

October 14, 2024 - BBC

View of Auckland, New Zealand with construction cranes.

New Zealand Zoning Reform Targets Housing Production

New national rules will prevent local councils from limiting development in an effort to ease the nation’s housing crisis.

July 12, 2024 - Associated Press

Air pollution is visible in the air around high-rise buildings in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Air Pollution World’s Worst Public Health Threat, Report Says

Air pollution is more likely to take years life off the lifespan of the average human than any other external factor, according to a recent report out of the University of Chicago.

August 31, 2023 - Phys.org

The construction site of a new development in the Azabudai Hills neighborhood of Tokyo.

A New Tallest Skyscraper for Japan

The Toranomon-Azabudai reaches 330 meters into the sky, far lower than international standards but taller by 30 meters than the previous tallest building in Japan.

July 5, 2023 - CNN

Close-up of multicolored gas station pumps

OPEC Plus Decision to Reduce Oil Output Could Lead to Global Recession

A decision earlier this month by a group of the world's largest oil exporters to drastically reduce oil production to stem the decline in oil prices could be a ‘tipping point’ for a global recession, says the International Energy Agency.

October 19, 2022 - The Hill

Liquid natural gas tanker in Klaipeda, Lithuania

Europe's New Energy Infrastructure Begins to Emerge

When Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin hoped to quickly redraw national boundary lines in Eastern Europe. The region's energy infrastructure, particularly pipelines carrying natural gas, may change sooner.

May 24, 2022 - POLITICO Europe

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.