There are currently 141 officially designated national famous cultural historic cities in China with many more on the local levels. Every year, new plans were prepared and new buildings were constructed in these cities and other historic sites. Theories and methodologies behind the designs negotiate between the heritage from the past and the life of the present. They are the two sides of the same coin, which together define the anticipated modernity in Chinese architecture and urbanism. This special issue focuses on the modern design and construction in historic Chinese sites. It features new research on individual architectural projects at sites of rich historical contexts, city planning or urban design involving the preservation of traditional neighborhoods, architectural conservation, and theoretical and methodological reflections on historically informed design. Both the concepts of historical preservation and the professional practice of architecture and urban planning are the products of modernity in China. The case studies represented here thus create a collection of critical reflections on the modern reaction to traditions in the built environment.