Imagine a city built from scratch, with grand boulevards, futuristic architecture, and luxury homes—yet eerily empty. This is Ordos, China that began as a bold vision for urban transformation but quickly became a cautionary tale of overambition, speculative development, and the unpredictable forces of market economics. What went wrong? And how has Ordos managed to turn its story around, slowly finding new life amid its vast, empty streets? Writing about Ordos offers a unique lens on the complexities of modern city-building, the pitfalls of rapid urbanization, and the resilience required to reinvent a failed dream.

Numerous new city projects are currently being implemented across various countries, aiming to become smart cities, sustainable cities, or a combination of both. Building a completely new smart and sustainable city from scratch comes with numerous challenges, ranging from the initial stages of master planning to final execution and long-term operations. The article focuses on challenges which new city projects face.