By 2030 almost 70% people in the People's Republic of China will live in a city, and this number is expected to continue to rise. The design of cities plays a pivotal role in the health of its inhabitants. This session will set the context of the topic by providing an overview of the Healthy China 2030 policy and trends in urbanization and aging demographics in the country. It will outline the key health challenges and the resulting opportunities and challenges for urban planning in PRC. It will discuss how a focus on health and wellness can have profound implications for urban design and redesign and livability of urban environments. 

While city planners regularly take into consideration the economic viability of cities, not many explicitly consider health. Yet health and wellness account for between twenty to thirty percent of all economic activity and are the only continual source of new job growth in advanced economies. A focus on health and wellness would mean designing and developing transportation systems, housing, and recreational facilities that meet the needs of all. It would also mean the creation of a truly "smart city", with prevention and healthcare systems supported by comprehensive information networks providing data in real time.