A high-end geography series that explores some of the fastest-developing countries and cities in the world and assesses how they are dealing with the challenges of the 21st century. Topics looked at include: population structure, the economy, environmental sustainability and the outlook for the future. Each title also features a closer look at an individual city within the country.

China's economic rise during the past twenty years has been meteoric, as a nation of farmers has been transformed into an industrial superpower. This transformation is reflected in China's capital city, Beijing. The new China faces many challenges, from population and pollution to political reform and human rights. Can its success be sustained, without putting at risk its environment and rich cultural heritage?