City+X: Xiaoshan Demo Brings Together Young Scholars for Interdisciplinary Urban Studies in Hangzhou
From August 26 to 27, the City+X: Xiaoshan Demo – 2026 Young Scholars Conference on Interdisciplinary Urban Studies was successfully held in Hangzhou, bringing together more than 100 guests and young scholars from government agencies, universities and research institutions, international organizations, and industry. Taking Hangzhou as an urban laboratory for observation, exchange, and discussion, the two-day conference featured a diverse and intensive program of academic activities exploring emerging topics and new perspectives in interdisciplinary urban studies.
The conference was characterized by broad international participation and strong cross-sector engagement. Participants came from the United Kingdom, Japan, the United States, Singapore, the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, and other regions. Academic institutions represented at the conference included Tsinghua University, Peking University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Wuhan University, The University of Hong Kong, University College London, the National University of Singapore, Columbia University, and Sophia University. Representatives from government departments and international and industry organizations also participated, including the Science and Technology Bureau of Xiaoshan District, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization Investment and Technology Promotion Office (China, Beijing), Hello Inc. Research Institute, and Leke Fitness.
The conference was jointly organized by the Department of Urban Development and Management, Institute of Urban Governance, China Institute of Urbanisation, Lab of Inclusive & Smart Governance for Urban-Rural Integration, and ZJU–CM Joint Laboratory on Data Intelligence and Urban Future at Zhejiang University, together with Elsevier (Urban Studies & Geography), Xiaoshan International Talent Club, and the City+ International Network for Interdisciplinary Urban Studies. The event also received strong support from partner organizations including the United Nations Industrial Development Organization Investment and Technology Promotion Office (China, Beijing), the Specialized Committee on Digital Governance for Urban and Rural Areas of the Chinese Society for Urban Studies, and Hello Inc. Research Institute.
More than ten faculty members and students from Zhejiang University participated in the conference and contributed to its academic activities, including Prof. Weiwen Zhang, Prof. Yuzhe Wu, Prof. Yuanshuo Xu, and Dr. Yongping Zhang from School of Public Affairs, as well as Prof. Wu Jiayu from College of Agriculture and Biotechnology.
The conference was also supported by the Zhejiang University–Elsevier Collaborative Project on Publishing in Interdisciplinary Urban Studies, an initiative under Zhejiang University’s Global Engagement Program and led by Dr. Yongping Zhang. Through this initiative, the conference brought together international experts in academic publishing and urban studies, including Jessica Torr, Publisher for Urban Studies & Geography at Elsevier; Prof. Zhifu Mi of University College London, Editor-in-Chief of Structural Change and Economic Dynamics; Prof. Yuzhe Wu, Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Urban Management, a journal jointly supported by Zhejiang University and Elsevier; and Prof. Wei Wang, Executive Editor of the journal.
Drawing on their experiences as researchers, editors, and publishers, the invited experts engaged young scholars in discussions on publishing high-quality research, international academic journals, and effective scholarly communication. The sessions provided participants with valuable insights into international publishing processes and ways to enhance the global visibility and impact of their research.
These exchanges further strengthened the collaboration between Zhejiang University’s School of Public Affairs and Elsevier in academic publishing and interdisciplinary urban studies. More broadly, the conference provided a platform connecting young scholars with international academic and publishing communities, contributing to Zhejiang University’s continued efforts to promote interdisciplinary research, global academic engagement, and international scholarly collaboration.
