He has a background in urban geography, urban ecology, and urban planning. His research areas include urbanization, urban environmental management, smart cities, coupled human and natural systems, and spatial inequality. He has published more than 100 papers, with 64 of them as the first or corresponding author. These articles have been cited over 10,000 times. Many papers were selected as ESI highly cited papers, and two papers were included in the F5000 top Chinese academic papers. He is recognized as one of the World's Top 2% Scientists (2023-). His research has provided decision-making consulting and urban planning services to numerous local governments, and many of his works have been reported by the media. He is one of the main authors of the Report on Big Data Supporting Sustainable Development Goals, the Beautiful China Construction Evaluation Report, and the Climate and Ecological Environment Change in China.

• Liu H, Fang C*. China’s new program gives cities check-ups[J]. Nature Cities, 2025, 2: 910–912.
• Liu J, Liu H*, Zhan D, et al. Digital pulse of inclusion: spatiotemporal dynamics and influencing factors of public disability attention in China[J]. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 2026.
• Liu H*, Jia C*, Zhang L, et al. Understanding climate change perceptions among urban residents in China: Insights from a nationwide survey[J]. Journal of Environmental Management, 2025, 394: 127631.
• Liu H*, Xiong J, Song T. Characteristics and key drivers of virtual urban land flows in China[J]. Land Use Policy, 2026, 163: 107923.
• Jia C, Yu W, Liu H*, et al. Public satisfaction with government climate actions and its determinants: Evidence from a nationwide survey in China[J]. Sustainable Horizons, 2026, 18: 100177.
• Pei Li, Peiji Shi, Haimeng Liu*, et al. Multi-scenario simulation of land use spatial patterns in arid metropolitan regions of China with a coupled WESP-FLUS model[J]. Regional Sustainability, 2026: 100336.
• Liu H, Lu J, Li X, et al. Evaluating human-nature relationships at a grid scale in China, 2000–2020[J]. Habitat International, 2025, 156: 103282.
• Liu H, Xiong J, Hong S, et al. Social, economic, and environmental development in China through the lens of synergies and trade-offs[J]. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2025: 145634.
• Gang Xu, Haimeng Liu*, Chunwang Jia, et al. Spatiotemporal patterns and drivers of public concern about air pollution in China: Leveraging online big data and interpretable machine learning, Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 2025, 114: 107897.
• Zhang J*, Wen W, Shen J, Li C, Liu H*. Gorge floodplain landscape dynamics and sustainability: Insights from human-nature interactions [J]. Ecological Modelling, 2026, 512(2026): 111361.
• Zhang, L., Wang, Y*., Bian, H., Gao, J., Yuan, Z., Wang, Z., ... & Liu, H*. Understanding the ecological impacts of vertical urban growth in mountainous regions[J]. Ecological Informatics, 2025: 103079.
• Gao Q, Tang D, Liu H*, et al. Quantifying the sustainability of human and natural systems: A novel perspective on conjugate mechanisms[J]. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 2025, 112: 107792.
• Qian Y*, Zeng J, Hao W, ……Liu H*. Spatiotemporal Patterns and Drivers of Urban Traffic Carbon Emissions in Shaanxi, China[J]. Land, 2025, 14(7): 1355.
• Liu H, Wang L, Wang J, et al. Multidimensional spatial inequality in China and its relationship with economic growth[J]. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 2024, 11(1): 1415.
• Cheng Y, Xu Z, Liu H*. Sustainable development in global border regions[J]. Science, 2024, 384(6702): 1309-1309.
• Xiong J, Wang L, Song T, Liu H*. Visualising trade-related virtual urban land transfers in China[J]. Regional Studies, Regional Science, 2024, 11(1): 696-700.
• Liu H*，Liu J. Triple win: solar farms in deserts can boost power, incomes and ecosystems[J]. Nature, 2024, 626(8000):716-716. 
• Liu H, Wang X, Wang Z, et al. Does digitalization mitigate regional inequalities? Evidence from China[J]. Geography and Sustainability, 2024, 5(1): 52-63.
• Liu, H*. City evaluation methodology: An overview [J]. Geographical Research. 2024, 43(03): 596-620. 
• Liu H* , Cheng Y, Liu Z, et al. Conflict or Coordination? The Spatiotemporal Relationship Between Humans and Nature on the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau[J]. Earth's Future, 2023, 11(9): e2022EF003452.
• Liu H*, Chen H. Third Pole needs more than legal protection[J]. Science, 2023, 382(6676): 1254-1254.
• Zhou T, Liu H*, Gou P, et al. Conflict or Coordination? measuring the relationships between urbanization and vegetation cover in China[J]. Ecological Indicators, 2023, 147: 109993.
• Zheng R, Wu G*, Cheng Y, Liu H, et al. How does digitalization drive carbon emissions? The inverted U-shaped effect in China[J]. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 2023, 102: 107203.
• Liu, H. Zhou, T* Gou, P. 10-Year NDVI Dataset Development in 361 Cities of China (250-m, 1990–2020) [J]. Journal of Global Change Data & Discovery, 2023, 7(1): 65-74.
• Liu H, Xing L*, Wang C, et al. Sustainability assessment of coupled human and natural systems from the perspective of the supply and demand of ecosystem services. Frontiers in Earth Science, 2022: 1939.
• Liu, H*., Gou, P*., & Xiong, J.. Vital triangle: A new concept to evaluate urban vitality. Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, 2022, 98, 101886.
• Liu H*, Wang C*, Zhang M, et al. Evaluating the effects of air pollution control policies in China using a difference-in-differences approach. Science of The Total Environment, 2022: 157333.
• Liu H, Liu H, Cheng Y*. Illustrating the multi-stakeholder perceptions of environmental pollution based on big data: Lessons from China. Regional Sustainability, 2022, 3(1): 12-26.
• Liu H, Liu J*, Li M, et al. Assessing the evolution of PM2. 5 and related health impacts resulting from air quality policies in China. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 2022, 93: 106727.
• Liu H, Cui W, Zhang M*. Exploring the causal relationship between urbanization and air pollution: Evidence from China. Sustainable Cities and Society, 2022: 103783.
• Liu H.  Coupled Urbanization and Eco-environment Cube: Framework and Application, Beijing: Science Press, 2021. (in Chinese)
• Fang C, Liu H*, Wang S*. The coupling curve between urbanization and the eco-environment: China’s urban agglomeration as a case study. Ecological Indicators, 2021, 130: 108107.
• Cheng Y, Liu H*, Wang S, et al. Global action on SDGs: policy review and outlook in a post-pandemic Era. Sustainability, 2021, 13(11): 6461.
• Wang, S., Tong, Y., Fan, Y., Liu, H.*, Wu, J., Wang, Z., & Fang, C. Observing the silent world under COVID-19 with a comprehensive impact analysis based on human mobility. Scientific reports, 2021, 11(1), 1-12.
• Liu H, Fang C*, Fang K. The Coupled Human and Natural Cube: A novel framework analyzing the multiple interactions between human and nature. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2020, 30(3): 355-377.
• Liu H. "Change" and "Unchange" of urban development path in the post-epidemic era”. China Development, 2020(Z7):123-125. 
• Liu H*, Fang C, Gao Q. Evaluating the real-time impact of COVID-19 on cities: China as a case study. Complexity. 2020, doi.org/10.1155/2020/8855521.
• Liu H, Fang C, Fan Y*. Mapping the inequalities of medical resource provision in China. Regional Studies, Regional Science. 2020, 7(1): 568-570.
• Cui X, Fang C*, Liu H, et al. Assessing sustainability of urbanization by a coordinated development index for an Urbanization-Resources-Environment complex system: A case study of Jing-Jin-Ji region, China. Ecological Indicators, 2019, 96:383-391.
• Du Y, Wan Q, Liu H, et al. How does urbanization influence PM_2.5 concentrations? Perspective of spillover effect of multi-dimensional urbanization impact. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2019, 220: 974-983.
• Liu H*, Hu S, Fang K, et al.A comprehensive assessment of political, economic and social risks and their prevention for the countries along the Belt and Road. Geographical research, 2019, 38(12): 2966-2984.
• Liu H, Fang C*, Miao Y, et al. Spatio-temporal evolution of population and urbanization in the countries along the Belt and Road 1950-2050. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2018, 28(7): 919-936.
• Liu H, Fang C*, Huang X, et al. The spatial-temporal characteristics and influencing factors of air pollution in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration. Acta Geographica Sinica,2018,01:177-191. 
• Liu H, Fang C*, Zhang X*, et al. The effect of natural and anthropogenic factors on haze pollution in Chinese cities: A spatial econometrics approach. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2017, 165:323 -333.
• Liu H, Fang C*, Sun S. Digital inequality in provincial China. Environment & Planning A, 2017:0308518X1771194.
• Fang C, Pang B, Liu H*. Global city size hierarchy: Spatial patterns, regional features, and implications for China. Habitat International, 2017, 66:149-162.
• Fang C, Liu H, Luo K, et al. Process and proposal for comprehensive regionalization of Chinese human geography. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2017, 27(10):1155-1168.
• Fang C, Liu H*, Li Guangdong. International progress and evaluation on interactive coupling effects between urbanization and the eco-environment. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2016, 26(8):1081-1116.
• Liu H, Fang C*, Mao H, et al.Mechanism of oasis urbanization: A theoretical framework based on complexity theory. Geographical research,2016,02:242-255.
• Fang C, Liu H*, Li Guangdong, et al. Estimating the Impact of Urbanization on Air Quality in China Using Spatial Regression Models. Sustainability, 2015(7):15570-15592.
• Liu H, Shi P*, Pan J, et al. Spatio-temporal Evolution on Housing Price to Income Ratio of China by Multiscale Analysis. Geographical Science,2015,10:1280-1287. 
• Liu H, Shi P*, Yang X, et al.Self-organization Evolution Simulation and Empirical Study of Human-water System. Journal of Natural Resources,2014,04:709-718. 
• Liu H, Shi P*, Zhou J, et al. Characteristics and influencing factors of runoff consumption in the midstream of Shiyang river. Progress in Geography,2013,01:87-94.
• Liu H, Shi P*, Wang L, et al. Optimizing Land Use Structure for Low Carbon Target：A Case Study in Lanzhou of Gansu Province. China Land Science,2012,06:55-61.

•         National Natural Science Foundation of China (42471230), Assessing and simulating the symbiotic evolution of urban humannatural systems through intracoupling and telecoupling perspectives. 2025-2028.

•         National Science and Technology Major Project (2025ZD1204100), Differentiated Standards Framework for Creating Beautiful Cities in the Jing–Jin–Ji Region. 2025-2028

•         National Natural Science Foundation of China (42171210), Tele-effect and lag-effect mechanism of urbanization on environment and risk early warning. 2022-2025.

•         National Natural Science Foundation of China (41801164), The influence mechanism of China’s rapid urbanization on environmental quality, 2019-2021.

•         Beijing Youth Talent Promotion Project, Green and high-quality development of urbanization in China, 2023-2025.

•         The Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program (2019QZKK1005), Green Development path of urbanization on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, 2019-2023.

•         Innovative Youth Program of China Association for Science and Technology (20200608CG072501), Urbanization pattern and epidemic spread, 2020.

•         China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2019T120129), Telecoupling mechanisms between energy consumption and air quality, 2019.

•         Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA20040400), Pan Third Pole environmental change and green Silk Road construction, 2018-2023.

•        Deputy secretary general, the Urban Agglomeration and Metropolitan Area Special Committee of the China Society of Urban Economics, 2020- present

•        Committee, Ecological environment System Engineering Committee; Committee on Social Computing and Social Intelligence; China Urban Brain Research Committee; Beijing Meteorological Society

•        Executive vice president, Chinese Academy of Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowship,2018-2020

•        Editorial board member, Science Bulletin, Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, The Innovation Geoscience, Sustainable Horizons, Regional Sustainability

•        Invited Referee, Nature Cities, Nature Human Behaviour, Nature Communication, One Earth, The Innovation, Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Resources Conservation and Recycling, Earth's Future, npj Urban Sustainability, Science Bulletin, Annals of the American Association of Geographers, iScience, Cities, Journal of Cleaner Production, Applied Geography, Journal of Environmental Management, Sustainable Cities and Society, Landscape and Urban Planning, Land Use Policy, Ecological Indicators, Habitat International, Environmental Science & Technology, Energy Policy, International Journal of Digital Earth, International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, Chinese Geographical Science, Sustainable Development, Urban Studies, Environmental Impact Assessment Review, International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, Urban Climate, Environmental and Sustainability Indicators, Sustainable Futures, Transactions in GIS, Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science, Land, Anthropocene, Journal of Geographical Sciences, Ecosystem Health and Sustainability, etc.

•         The 16th Outstanding Scientific and Technological Paper of Beijing Youth, Beijing Association of Science and Technology, 2022.

•         China’s Top 100 influential academic papers, Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China, 2021.

•         Excellent Doctoral dissertation of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Top 100), Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2019.

•         Qian Xuesen Gold Medal in Urban Studies (Nomination Award), Hangzhou International Urban Research Center, 2019

•         Youth Excellent Paper Award of Chinese Geographical Congress, Geographical Society of China, 2018.

•         Huaxia Construction Science and Technology Award, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development China, 2016.