Officially launched in 2019, it focuses on discovering and recognizing outstanding smart city projects in China in terms of innovation, relevance, impact, implementation scope, citizen participation, co-creation, inclusivity, feasibility, safety, replicability, and collaboration among multiple stakeholders.

The main purpose of the awards is to select outstanding representative projects of smart city construction and development in China. Its core objective is to identify candidate solutions that can propel cities towards a more livable, sustainable, and economically viable direction. These solutions should promote diversity, inclusivity, fairness, safety, and collaboration, significantly improving the quality of life for all residents.

In 2024, the China Smart City Awards received a total of 166 proposals, covering 441 smart city construction cases from 45 cities (including district-level units) across 13 provinces, 3 municipalities directly under the central government, and 1 autonomous region.