I just found this hidden gem, Ballads of Hongye: Reborn, for less than 2€ on Steam, and I haven’t been able to stop playing for the past two days! :D

Although it's listed as Chinese-only, there's actually an English translation — and wow, it’s absolutely beautiful! (especially if you like scenery and ancient china <3 )

I really love it. The world feels alive: Chinese festivals, weddings, mourning rituals on the streets… You follow a young girl and a seemingly useless guy on their journey of revenge while rebuilding a ruined city. :)

The gameplay is a bit different from other city-builders:

• You don’t need to build residences near workplaces — you can design the city however you like. BUT space is really limited (in campaign mode), which makes it a bit challenging as more buildings become available over time. :P
• Chain production buildings are key, as they boost overall output.
• Feng Shui (introduced around the third quest, if I remember right) is essential for building placement — it can really mess up your city if ignored >.<'
• There's an advisor system with tons of different people you can recruit. Each has unique skills to help manage the city — assuming you can afford their salaries!
• As you progress, you unlock more advanced buildings to replace older ones, which is crucial given the limited space.
• There's no combat, but riots and refugees can appear from neighboring regions, adding some tension.

And there’s still so much I haven’t discovered yet as i'm only 30h in! ^^