Improving urban metabolism study for sustainable urban transformation

•This paper discusses research and policy needs in the field of sustainable urbanization.•This paper targets studies for China’s rapid urbanization.•We discuss the research needs for metabolism studies for sustainability of cities.•The major driving forces in the context of urbanization are analyzed.•We study the knowledge integration through stakeholder engagement.

It is important understanding urbanization where residents outside of the area come into the urbanized region. Urbanized area is the one facing more environmental problems because of intensive population density amplifying more damage to the environment. This paper targets China’s rapid urbanization and discusses research and policy needs in the field of sustainable urbanization. We discuss research needs for metabolism studies for sustainability of cities, major driving forces in the context of urbanization, and knowledge integration through stakeholder engagement.