The major Metropolitan Cities of Asia and the Pacific are at the epicentre of development in what is arguably the most dynamic region in the global economy today. Cities such as Tokyo, Shanghai, Mumbai , Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Santiago and Singapore exemplify the changing patterns of development in one of the most populous, culturally distinctive and economically powerful regions in the world. This book takes cities across 16 countries in the Asia Pacific region and explains the historical development of their respective Metropolitan centres and the way in which these cities have been shaped by internal and external forces over time. Different interpretations of development are explored by tracking economic and social trends as well as the way in which these trends have been influenced by regional and national governments, by the cultural composition of the metropolitan populations (including migration), by the physical characteristics of the cities such as geography and location and by a series of economic imperatives from the industrial base of the city / region to finance and trade. Each chapter records how these different factors have come together at different stages in the city's development thereby providing a powerful explanation for the shape and characteristics of 'the city' today. The outcome is a fascinating journey through Asia and the Pacific with the major cities of the region providing an insider's view of both city and regional development.