Nighttime　light　data　partially　reflects　the　process　of　urban　modernization　and　its　reaction　to　urban　scale,　but　its　correlation　with　noise　remains　unclear,　especially　over　a　long-term　time　series,　remains　unclear.　To　address　this　gap,　we　examine　31　provincial　capital　cities　and　municipalities　in　China　as　the　study　area,　utilizing　noise　monitoring　data　and　nighttime　light　data　to　explore　their　relationship　in　urban　areas　from　2012　to　2021.　The　results　show　that:　(1)　During　the　study　period,　the　regional　environmental　noise　and　night　light　index　of　31　major　cities　exhibited　a　consistent　upward　trend,　with　the　average　equivalent　sound　level　of　environmental　noise　in　most　urban　areas　fluctuating　between　50.1 dB　(A)　and　60.0 dB　(A).　The　overall　quality　evaluation　was　average,　indicating　that　the　effectiveness　of　noise　pollution　prevention　and　control　was　difficult　to　sustain　in　the　long　term.　(2)　The　driving　factor　affecting　the　change　in　environmental　noise　quality　in　urban　areas　is　population　density.　(3)　There　is　a　significant　correlation　between　different　types　of　noise　proportion　and　urban　construction　and　development,　with　the　closest　correlation　observed　with　the　urban　economy,　urban　built-up　area,　and　urban　construction　land　area.　Cities　with　high　levels　of　urbanization　tend　to　have　more　vulnerable　acoustic　environments.　(4)　Industrial　noise　percentage　of　urban　environmental　noise　has　a　significant　positive　impact　on　nighttime　light　data.　This　study　provides　valuable　insights　for　promoting　the　coordinated　development　between　urbanization　and　acoustic　environment　optimization,　as　well　as　fostering　a　healthy　and　sustainable　living　environment.　©　The　Author(s)　2024.