Ready to explore the City of the Future? So-called “smart cities” use technology to increase the efficiency of public services, reduce resource consumption and improve the quality of life for residents. Innovative, technology-enabled urban planning is the wave of the future and will also shape your experience of visiting these hot spots. Our travel experts at KAYAK.sg have identified four of the smartest cities in the region for you to plug into.
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Four Smart Cities in Asia to visit in 2016 | ||
| Destination | Hotel recommendation |
Round trip flight price p. p.* |
| Songdo, South Korea | ||
| Zhenjiang, China | ||
| Tokyo, Japan | ||
| New Taipei City, Taiwan | ||
Songdo, South Korea: A purpose-built tomorrowland
Cities are increasingly seeking to encourage walking and cycling, as studies have shown a link between car focused urban planning and rising obesity rates. This change in urban planning is especially apparent in Songdo, a purpose-built city outside of Seoul that was branded “the first smart city in the world”. The city is centred on a large public park and is easy to get around on foot, while also being very bike friendly, with a comprehensive network of bike lanes around the city. Once you’re tired from all that adventuring, you can post about your experiences on the way home with free, high-speed Wi-Fi available on the subway.
Zhenjiang, China: A smart city with a long history
A 90-minute bullet train ride will whisk you from Shanghai to Zhenjiang, a high-tech city on the Yangtze River. Once in the city, public transport is a breeze. A myriad of bus routes are managed centrally through a smart transport network that improves efficiency and reduces fuel use and emissions. Some buses even offer superfast free 4G wireless Internet for riders. Your first port of call should be the app store: bus arrival times, open parking spaces and public bicycle pick-up points can all be checked from your smartphone.
Tokyo, Japan: A tech-obsessed city where robots come to life
Tokyo is stepping up its smart city game as it prepares to host the 2020 Summer Olympics. This very clean but densely populated metropolis was named the most liveable city in the world in 2015 and routinely tops the smart city rankings. Of all the region’s futuristic cities, Tokyo might be the most fascinated with innovation and electronics. This can be experienced live at the famous Robot Restaurant in Shinjuku, where larger-than-life automatons backed by giant LCD screens flash, move and interact with the audience. Feeling lost? The tourism board’s free Tokyo Handy Guide App offers maps that can be used offline and will help you get around the city.
New Taipei City, Taiwan: Building bridges to the future
We also recommend New Taipei City, which is known in particular for its innovative infrastructure. One of the city’s most futuristic features is the impressive New Taipei Bridge, the longest symmetric stayed bridge in Asia. It spans the Tamsui River and connects the glass and steel high-rise Sanchong District with Wanhua District in Taipei City. The Danjiang Bridge is another engineering marvel worth checking out – it will be the longest of its kind in the world when it opens in 2020. The Bridge’s asymmetrical design was inspired by the movements of performers from Taiwan’s Cloud Gate Dance Theater and reflects the region’s unique scenery.
*Data provided is based on flight searches conducted on 5 April 2016 for travel between 13 and 15 May 2016. Flight prices are quoted in Singapore dollars and are based on a return economy flight for one person. Prices quoted may change and may no longer be available.
