This　paper　examines　whether　the　widespread　adoption　of　digital　technologies　in　cities　has　increased　attractiveness.　Based　on　China’s　smart-city　construction　(SCC),　a　pilot　program　aimed　at　promoting　applications　of　digital　technologies　in　cities,　this　paper　finds　that　SCC　has　led　to　a　higher　urban　population　growth　in　smart　cities　in　China.　Two　potential　channels　are　suggested　by　mechanism　analysis:　improved　ecological　environment　resulting　from　digital　governance　with　respect　to　pollution　and　green　production;　essential　digital　information　provided　by　internet　users.　Specifically,　relying　on　difference-in-differences　analysis,　the　results　reveal　that,　from　2005　to　2017,　SCC　in　China　led　to　approximately　4.4%　higher　urban　population　growth　in　smart　cities　relative　to　non-smart　cities.　In　particular,　evidence　from　migrant　survey　data　suggests　that　smart　cities　are　more　favorable　destinations　for　distant　migrants,　and　migrants　with　higher　educational　attainment　and　income.　Our　findings　highlight　the　importance　of　digitalization　in　urban　development.　©　2023　by　the　authors.