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This paper presents an in-depth analysis of urbanization dynamics on the Tibetan Plateau through the lens of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), addressing a research gap in the understanding of urbanism in highland and global south contexts. Given the current surge of assembly-based thinking within urban scholarship, we employ an assemblage framework to comprehend the heterogeneous constitution of urbanization, integrating human and non-human components, as well as socio-material, political, and spatial governances. Through a meticulous examination of three comprehensive case studies from the Tibetan Plateau SEZs, including a state-led new town, a renewable energy-driven industrial zone, and an industrial enclave, we delineate the diverse forms of plateau urbanism. Our findings underscore the imperative for contextually tailored urban development strategies that consider the distinctive geographical, ecological, and socio-political conditions of the Tibetan Plateau. It emphasizes the need for adaptive governance and planning that can address infrastructure deficiencies, environmental constraints, and the integration of local communities. Furthermore, we also call for further exploration of urbanisms in other highland regions, advocating for a more longitudinal, crosswise and nuanced understanding of urbanization processes in various global contexts. • Plateau urbanism as an assemblage of diverse plateau material and immaterial urbanization forces. • We aim to explore the interactions of various actors, diverse dynamics of spatial logics, and multifaceted spatial modes that underlie the ongoing territorial transformation of the plateau cities. • We pioneeringly applies assemblage thinking to conceptualize and empirically investigate plateau urbanism on China's Tibetan Plateau. • The study presents a comprehensive examination of three distinct Special Economic Zones (SEZs) on the Tibetan Plateau. • The paper advocates for a more inclusive and nuanced approach to urbanization processes in the lens of assemblage thinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of the Indian summer monsoon (ISM) and mid-latitude westerlies on the central Tibetan Plateau (TP) during the Holocene, particularly during the mid-Holocene, is still unclear, limiting our understanding of past climate change in this region. Cuona Lake, located on the central TP, is a transitional zone of atmospheric circulation that is well situated for investigations on the interplay between the ISM and mid-latitude westerlies. In this study, multiple proxies of lacustrine sediments from Cuona Lake were measured, including total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), δ13C org , n -alkanes, and their hydrogen isotopes, to reconstruct the evolution of climate on the central TP over the past 13 cal kyr BP. Decreased TOC/TN ratios, dominant short-chain n -alkanes/alkanoic acid C 15/16/17 , and lower values of n -alkane indicator ratios (carbon preference index and average chain length) throughout the investigated period suggest that the organic matter of the lake essentially originated from aquatic algae, and was weakly affected by terrestrial input. The historic variations in the δD, TOC, and δ13C org values revealed cold-wet conditions during 12.4–11.4 cal kyr BP, warm-wettest environments during the early Holocene (from 11.4 to 8.2 cal kyr BP), cool-wet conditions in the mid-late Holocene (from 5 to 3 cal kyr BP), and warm-dry conditions since 3 cal kyr BP. The reconstructed climatic variability in the Cuona area agrees well with previous indexes in south-central TP, indicating that the climatic pattern of the studied area is basically controlled by the monsoonal circulation from the late part of the last deglaciation to the early Holocene, with the ISM reaching the north-central TP at ∼11 cal kyr BP. During the mid-late Holocene, the humid conditions coincided with an enhanced influence of westerlies, providing strong evidence for the contribution of westerlies-delivered moisture to the central TP. Based on a comparison of paleoclimate records, the Cuona region displays a transitional phase between monsoon circulation and westerly jets during the Holocene. • High-resolution hydroclimate records from Cuona in the central TP since 13 kyrs. • Four stages with distinct climate trend and millennial-scale change were identified. • Contributions of Westerly air masses lead to wet conditions in the transition zone. • Both Indian summer monsoon and Westerlies are involved over the past 13 cal kyr BP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]