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For some 20 years, Kunming, a provincial capital city in China -- 3.2 million inhabitants -- has been the twin town of the European metropolis Zurich. As a direct result of this partnership, Kunming now has the first inner-city bus line in China, the first large-scale conservation of a historical part of the town, and new concepts for urban development at a regional level.This pioneering collaboration between western and Chinese planning teams, and the ways in which urban planning has been managed, are not only significant for Kunming but are of importance for all countries which are interested in sharing the expertise and knowledge of professionals whether they be from East or West, North or South, for countries which wish to benefit from western building practice whilst avoiding their mistakes. The challenge of such joint projects surely lies in the confrontation resulting from the traditional and historical background in large Asian cities together with their sense of modernity which has often surpassed the modern western world not only in terms of progress but also problems.