Building green, low-carbon, and beautiful cities is one of the seven key tasks proposed at the 2025 Central Urban Work Conference. In line with the spirit of this conference, this study elaborates on the contemporary value, core tasks, and practical pathways of constructing green, low-carbon, and beautiful cities. The findings indicate that promoting urban green and low-carbon transformation is an important measure to practice the concept of ecological civilization, actively respond to climate change, foster new quality productive forces, and enhance urban resilience, all of which hold great strategic significance. The core tasks include consolidating the achievements of ecological and environmental governance, promoting coordinated and synergistic progress in pollution reduction, carbon mitigation, and ecological expansion, advancing ecological protection and restoration, and encouraging green and low-carbon lifestyles. To achieve these goals, it is essential to strengthen planning guidance and top-level design for green and low-carbon development; adhere to innovation-driven approaches to stimulate internal momentum for green transformation; improve the policy framework to build a long-term mechanism that balances incentives and constraints; enhance coordination to advance the modernization of urban governance; and mobilize the whole society to form strong synergy in building beautiful cities.