Shipeng Xu

Urban sustainable development increasingly depends on interactions among multiple urban subsystems, yet existing studies often overlook cross-regional linkages and nonlinear development processes. This study investigates the coordinated development of urbanization, smart development, resilience, and low-carbon transition (USRL) from an efficiency perspective. Using panel data from 278 Chinese cities during 2010–2023, this work integrates the Super-SBM model, the Local–Tele Coupling Coordination Degree (LTCCD) framework, Dagum Gini decomposition, and machine learning techniques to examine the spatiotemporal evolution, spatial disparities, and driving mechanisms of coordinated development. The results show that coordinated development improved steadily over time, although subsystem evolution remained uneven, with resilience lagging behind other dimensions. Regional disparities gradually narrowed, but inter-regional differences remained the dominant source of spatial inequality. Innovation intensity, industrial upgrading, and high-quality foreign investment positively contributed to coordinated development, whereas fiscal and financial factors exhibited nonlinear effects. Interaction analysis further revealed that coordinated development is shaped by the combined influence of multiple drivers rather than by individual factors alone. Our findings suggest that urban sustainable development is jointly influenced by subsystem coordination, cross-regional interactions, and nonlinear development dynamics, highlighting the importance of integrating local and tele-coupling processes in urban sustainability research.

Aging in a suitable residential environment is essential for the health and well-being of older adults. This study aims to analyze the residential environment preferences (REPs) of older people in China to create a residential environment suitable for their physical and mental health, enhancing their life satisfaction. This study used a sample questionnaire to identify relevant characteristics and analyze preferences, which were validated using non-parametric tests and Pearson’s correlation coefficient tests. The questionnaire consisted of 33 questions on characteristics of the residential environment on a 7-point Likert scale and was administered to 433 older adults aged 60 and over in 28 provinces in China. The results showed that “community safety” was the most important environmental characteristic, with an average importance rating of 5.77 out of 6. Accessible building design (average rating of 4.91), emergency response systems (average rating of 4.49), and indoor thermal comfort (average rating of 4.45) were also key factors in promoting aging in place. There was a positive correlation between the community environment and the indoor environment (e.g., community safety and indoor sound insulation, r = 0.209, p < 0.01), and both were, to some extent, negatively correlated with building features (e.g., public toilets and private courtyards, r = −0.278, p < 0.01; indoor thermal comfort and green building design, r = −0.165, p < 0.01). Age and physical health had a strong influence on preferences, but gender had little influence. This study paves the way for future research and policy development on age-friendly housing to ensure sustainable and supportive residential environments for the aging population.