The Role of Urban Disaster Risk Management in Major Catastrophic Events: A Case Study of Resilience in Chinese Cities During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The emergence of infectious diseases has historically influenced urban development, necessitating the evolution of urban planning toward greater disaster resilience. The COVID-19 pandemic, in particular, has revealed weaknesses in modern urban planning and governance, emphasizing the need for enhanced urban resilience and disaster risk management. For China, as urban populations continue to grow, urban resilience and disaster risk management have become focal points for urban planners and policymakers, ensuring that cities can rapidly adapt and effectively respond to various challenges. This study summarizes a series of emergency measures adopted by the Chinese government during the COVID-19 pandemic and analyzes their effectiveness. China's response, characterized by early intervention, social distancing, extensive testing, and advanced tracking technologies, effectively curtailed the virus's spread, especially in Hubei province and its capital, Wuhan. Despite these successes, the paper identifies areas where China's urban resilience could be improved, including coordination of emergency plans, information dissemination, and social cohesion, among other aspects, to better confront future challenges.