Shanghai Tongji Urban Planning & Design Institute (TJUPDI) was established in 1996. Acting as a platform of Tongji University engaging in urban planning services, TJUPDI is one of the first domestic institutes acquiring National Grade “A” Qualification Certificate of Urban Planning, Urban Design and Tourism Planning. Besides, it is also among four intermediary agents recommended by Ministry of Commerce, P.R. China for sound performance in conducting urban commercial site plans. Now, an excellent professional group of 203 full-time urban planners has been formed, including 40 senior engineers and 175 national certified urban planners as well as several permanent and visiting foreign experts.

TJUPDI, ranking among a few predominant urban planning institutes in China, has accomplished projects not only across the whole country but also in Europe, Asia and Africa (e.g. Russia, Germany, Vietnam, Cambodia, Angola and Zambia). The projects cover a wide range of planning purposes:
• Strategic Plans,
• Regional Plans,
• Master Plans,
• Heritage Conservation Plans,
• Tourism Plans,
• Regulatory Plans
• Detail Plans and
• Urban Design.
Additionally TJUPDI offers compiling or advisory service for specific planning subjects. Apart from that, the institute also conducts manifold research projects and is responsible for the establishment of a series of technical regulations and standards in urban-planning commissioned by Ministry of Construction and all government levels.

TJUPDI attaches a great importance to quality control of its planning works. Relying on the Tongji University’s high reputation in the field of urban planning at home and abroad, the college-affiliated institute offers full scope to this advantage in its theoretical research and demonstrates comprehensive strength by successfully integrating “planning practice, education and research”. While always striving for innovations, the institute is keeping pace with ever-changing practical planning requirements. More than 1000 planning and research projects have been accomplished in recent years, including 63 prize-winning projects of provincial and municipal level as well as 29 of national level. In particular, the institute was even commissioned to plan World EXPO 2010 in Shanghai.

After the devastating Wenchuan Earthquake in May 2008, the institute arrived at disaster area without any delay for immediate implementation of Temporary Shelter Plan covering Dujiangyan, Pengzhou, Chongzhou and Dayi. Meanwhile, many other urban planning tasks including launching projects of Dujiangyan reconstruction work aided by Shanghai Municipality, Reconstruction Urban Design of Yingxiu Town of Wenchuan County and Beichuan Earthquake Memorial Site Conservation Plan were also undertaken by TJUPDI. In particular, Master Reconstruction Plan of Dujiangyan and Urban and Rural System Plan of Dujiangyan Region were respectively rewarded as 1st – Class Prize of Shanghai Excellent Urban and Rural Planning Award, 2009. In addition, Getting credit for impressive disaster-relief efforts, the institute’s party branch of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was well perceived by its superior administrative sector of Shanghai municipality and China Association of City Planning, awarded as “Model CPC Basic Unit for Earthquake Disaster Relief” and “Model Urban Planning Unit for Earthquake Disaster Relief” respectively.

Projects of great significance, completed in the recent years, include:
• Master Plan of World EXPO 2010, Shanghai (Master Plan, Regulatory Plan, Special Subject Study and Plan);
• Master Reconstruction Plan of Dujiangyan (2008-2020);
• Urban and Rural System Plan of Dujiangyan Region (2008-2020);
• Conservation Plan of Historic Districts in Shanghai (between Hengshan Road and Fuxing Road);
• Conservation and Renovation Plan of Historic District Pingjiang, Suzhou;
• Regulatory Plan of the Historic Ming Dynasty Town in Qufu;
• Urban Design of the Shanghai District adjacent to the Station “North Sichuan Road” (Metro Line 10);
• Comprehensive Urban Planning Project "Baltic Sea Pearl" in St. Petersburg, Russia.

In the early year of 2010, TJUPDI moved into Tongji University Science and Technology Park. (Headquarter Building: Tongji Urban Planning Mansion )