The article explores the conceptual distinctions among twelve key city categories—sustainable city, eco-city, low carbon city, liveable city, green city, smart city, digital city, ubiquitous city, intelligent city, information city, knowledge city, and resilient city—based on a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of academic literature. The study reveals that while some categories overlap, they each have distinct conceptual perspectives. The 'sustainable city' is the most frequently used and central concept, closely linked to 'eco-city' and 'green city'. 'Smart city' and 'digital city' have gained prominence in recent years, while 'resilient city' and 'knowledge city' are less frequent but distinct. The findings highlight the need for clarity in terminology to ensure accurate understanding and application in urban development and policy. The analysis shows that 'sustainable city' serves as a broad conceptual umbrella, while other categories have more specific focuses. The study also identifies sub-clusters within the conceptual field, indicating that some categories have developed their own independent theoretical frameworks. The 'low carbon city' is significant, though still relatively recent, while 'knowledge city' has evolved more gradually. The 'green city' is less distinct and often interchangeable with other terms. The 'smart city' has become a dominant concept in urban development, surpassing 'sustainable city' in frequency. The study underscores the importance of distinguishing these terms to avoid confusion and ensure effective policy implementation.The article explores the conceptual distinctions among twelve key city categories—sustainable city, eco-city, low carbon city, liveable city, green city, smart city, digital city, ubiquitous city, intelligent city, information city, knowledge city, and resilient city—based on a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of academic literature. The study reveals that while some categories overlap, they each have distinct conceptual perspectives. The 'sustainable city' is the most frequently used and central concept, closely linked to 'eco-city' and 'green city'. 'Smart city' and 'digital city' have gained prominence in recent years, while 'resilient city' and 'knowledge city' are less frequent but distinct. The findings highlight the need for clarity in terminology to ensure accurate understanding and application in urban development and policy. The analysis shows that 'sustainable city' serves as a broad conceptual umbrella, while other categories have more specific focuses. The study also identifies sub-clusters within the conceptual field, indicating that some categories have developed their own independent theoretical frameworks. The 'low carbon city' is significant, though still relatively recent, while 'knowledge city' has evolved more gradually. The 'green city' is less distinct and often interchangeable with other terms. The 'smart city' has become a dominant concept in urban development, surpassing 'sustainable city' in frequency. The study underscores the importance of distinguishing these terms to avoid confusion and ensure effective policy implementation.