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Abstract: An emergy-based analysis was conducted for the Beijing–Tianjin–Tangshan urban agglomeration district from perspectives of emergy density, resource structure, environmental pressure and resource use efficiency during the period of 1991–2005. The results showed that Beijing, Tianjin and Tangshan as contiguous regions shared similar characters and evolving trends in certain aspects as emergy intensity and proportion of local renewable resources on the whole. As for the local resources availability, process efficiency and environmental pressure, however, these three cities have significant differences. With comparison of the other cities in China, it is shown that Beijing–Tianjin–Tangshan region has higher environment loading and lower sustainability level though enjoying rapid urbanization process and economic development. This study also suggests that the first priority on economic development competition within urban agglomeration regions may lead to the wasting of resources and redundant construction, while cooperative and rational selection for development pattern are the proper choice for coordinate regional development and long term sustainability to overcome resource restrictions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]