There are two significant changes from city improvements in Civ3. The first difference is that city improvements no longer have upkeep costs in Civ4 — the city maintenance cost now depends on the number of cities your have, distance from your capital, and your civic choices. The second difference is the new health system. Now, some buildings, such as aqueducts and supermarkets, can improve the health of your city, while some other improvements, such as forges and factories, can reduce your city’s health.
The table below lists all city improvements, some of which are related to each of the seven religions in the game, with their own temple, monastery, and cathedral level building.
NOTE: Information in this section is correct as of Beyond the Sword v3.19. For a listing of what the icons mean, please see this page.
Icon | City Improvement | Cost | Requires | Effects |
---|---|---|---|---|
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Academy | – | Great Scientist | +4 ![]() +50% ![]() |
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Airport | 250 | Flight | +1 ![]() Can airlift 1 land unit per turn +3 XP for new air units +4 air unit capacity +1 trade route |
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Apothecary | 150 | Guilds Currency |
Unique building for Persia; Replaces Grocer +2 ![]() +1 ![]() +25% ![]() Can turn 2 citizens into Merchants |
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Aqueduct | 100 | Mathematics Masonry |
+2 ![]() Required to build the Hanging Gardens Available for free on Renaissance and later starts |
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Assembly Plant | 250 | Assembly Line | Unique building for Germany; Replaces Factory +1 ![]() +2 ![]() Can turn 4 citizens into Engineers +25% ![]() ![]() +50% ![]() |
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Ball Court | 80 | Construction | Unique building for the Maya; Replaces Colosseum +3 ![]() +1 ![]() ![]() |
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Bank | 200 | Banking | +50% ![]() Required to build Wall Street Available for free on Modern and later starts |
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Baray | 100 | Mathematics Masonry |
Unique building for Khmer; Replaces Aqueduct +1 ![]() +2 ![]() Available for free on Renaissance and later starts |
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Barracks | 50 | – | New land units receive +3 experience points +2 ![]() Required to build Heroic Epic |
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Bomb Shelters | 100 | Electricity | -50% damages from nukes Requires the Manhattan Project |
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Broadcast Tower | 175 | Mass Media | +50% ![]() +1 ![]() ![]() Can turn 2 citizens into artists +1 ![]() +1 ![]() |
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Buddhist Monastery | 60 | Meditation Buddhism |
+2 ![]() +10% ![]() Required to train Buddhist Missionary Obsolete with Scientific Method |
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Buddhist Stupa
(Double Production Speed w/ Copper) |
300 | Music Buddhism 2 Buddhist Temples |
+50% ![]() +2 ![]() Can turn two citizens into priest +1 ![]() |
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Buddhist Temple | 80 | Priesthood Buddhism |
+1 ![]() +1 ![]() Can turn 1 citizen into Priest |
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Bunker | 100 | Electricity | -50% damage from air units |
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Castle
(Double Production Speed w/ Stone) |
100 | Engineering Walls |
+1 ![]() +25% ![]() +1 trade route +50% defense (except vs. Gunpowder units) -25% damage from bombard (except vs. Gunpowder units) Obsolete with Economics |
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Christian Cathedral
(Double Production Speed w/ Stone) |
300 | Music Christianity 2 Christian Temples |
+50% ![]() +2 ![]() Can turn two citizens into priest +1 ![]() |
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Christian Monastery | 60 | Meditation Christianity |
+2 ![]() +10% ![]() Required to train Christian Missionary Obsolete with Scientific Method |
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Christian Temple | 80 | Priesthood Christianity |
+1 ![]() +1 ![]() Can turn 1 citizen into Priest |
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Citadel
(Double Production Speed w/ Stone) |
100 | Engineering Walls |
Unique building for Spain; Replaces Castle +1 ![]() +25% ![]() +1 trade route +50% defense (except vs. Gunpowder units) -25% damage from bombard (except vs. Gunpowder units) +5 XP for Siege Units Obsolete with Economics |
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Coal Plant | 150 | Assembly Line Factory |
Provides power with Coal (+2 ![]() |
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Colosseum | 80 | Construction | +1 ![]() +1 ![]() ![]() |
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Confucian Academy
(Double Production Speed w/ Copper) |
300 | Music Confucianism 2 Confucian Temples |
+50% ![]() +2 ![]() Can turn two citizens into priest +1 ![]() |
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Confucian Monastery | 60 | Meditation Confucianism |
+2 ![]() +10% ![]() Required to train Confucian Missionary Obsolete with Scientific Method |
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Confucian Temple | 80 | Priesthood Confucianism |
+1 ![]() +1 ![]() Can turn 1 citizen into Priest |
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Cothon | 100 | Compass | Unique building for Carthage; Replaces Harbor Can only be built in a coastal city +1 trade route +1 ![]() +50% commerce from trade routes |
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Courthouse | 120 | Code of Laws | +2 ![]() -50% maintenance Can turn 1 citizen into Spy Required to build Forbidden Palace |
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Customs House | 180 | Economics Harbor |
Can only be built in a coastal city +100% commerce from intercontinental foreign trade routes |
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Dike | 180 | Steam Power | Unique building for the Dutch; Replaces Levee +1 ![]() Can only be built in a coastal or riverside city |
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Drydock | 120 | Steel | +1 ![]() New water units receive +4 experience points Builds water units +50% faster Can only be built in a coastal city |
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Dun
(Double Production Speed w/ Stone) |
50 | Masonry | Unique building for Celts; Replaces Walls +50% defense (except vs. gunpowder-based units) -50% damage from bombard (except from Gunpowder units) Free Guerilla I promotion for land units Required to build Castle |
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Factory | 250 | Assembly Line | +1 ![]() +2 ![]() +25% ![]() ![]() Can turn 2 citizens into Engineer Required to build coal plant, hydro plant, nuclear plant |
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Feitoria | 180 | Economics Harbor |
Unique building for Portugal; Replaces Customs House Can only be built in a coastal city +100% commerce from intercontinental foreign trade routes +1 commerce on water tiles |
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Forge | 120 | Metal Casting | +1 ![]() +25% ![]() Can turn 1 citizen into Engineer |
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Forum | 150 | Currency | Unique building for Rome; Replaces Market +25% ![]() Can turn 2 citizens into merchant +1 ![]() +25% Great Person birth rate |
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Garden | 80 | Construction | Unique building for Babylon; Replaces Colosseum +1 ![]() +2 ![]() +1 ![]() ![]() |
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Ger | 60 | Horseback Riding | Unique building for Mongolia; Replaces Stable +4 XP for new Mounted Units Obsolete with Advanced Flight |
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Granary | 60 | Pottery | Stores 50% of ![]() +1 ![]() Available for free on Renaissance and later starts |
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Grocer | 150 | Guilds Currency |
+25% ![]() Can turn 2 citizens into Merchant +1 ![]() Required to build Supermarket Available for free on Industrial and later starts |
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Hammam | 100 | Masonry Mathematics |
Unique unit for Ottomans; Replaces Aqueduct +2 ![]() +2 ![]() |
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Harbor | 80 | Compass | +50% trade route yield +1 ![]() Can only be built in coastal cities Available for free on Modern and later starts |
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Hindu Mandir
(Double Production Speed w/ Marble) |
300 | Music Hinduism 2 Hindu Temples |
+50% ![]() +2 ![]() Can turn two citizens into priest +1 ![]() |
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Hindu Monastery | 60 | Meditation Hinduism |
+2 ![]() +10% ![]() Required to train Hindu Missionary Obsolete with Scientific Method |
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Hindu Temple | 80 | Priesthood Hinduism |
+1 ![]() +1 ![]() Can turn 1 citizen into Priest |
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Hippodrome | 50 | Drama | Unique building for Byzantium; Replaces Theater +3 ![]() +1 ![]() ![]() +1 ![]() +1 ![]() Required to build Globe Theatre |
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Hospital | 200 | Medicine | +3 ![]() Heal units extra 10% damage/turn Required to build Red Cross |
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Hydro Plant | 200 | Plastic Factory |
Provides power Can only be built in a riverside city |
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Ikhanda | 60 | – | Unique building for the Zulus; Replaces Barracks -20% maintenance +2 ![]() +3 EXP for new land units Required to build Heroic Epic |
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Industrial Park |
200 | Industrialism Factory |
+2 ![]() Can turn 2 citizens into engineers +1 free engineer +1 ![]() |
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Intelligence Agency |
180 | Communism | +8 ![]() +50% ![]() Can turn 2 citizens into spy |
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Hydro Plant | 200 | Plastic Factory |
Provides power Can only be built in a riverside city |
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Islamic Monastery | 60 | Meditation Islam |
+2 ![]() +10% ![]() Required to train Islamic Missionary Obsolete with Scientific Method |
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Islamic Mosque
(Double Production Speed w/ Marble) |
300 | Music Islam 3 Islamic Temples |
+50% ![]() +2 ![]() Can turn two citizens into priest +1 ![]() |
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Islamic Temple | 80 | Priesthood Islam |
+1 ![]() +1 ![]() Can turn 1 citizen into Priest |
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Jail | 120 | Constitution | +4 ![]() +50% ![]() -25% War ![]() Can turn 2 citizens into spy Available for free on Modern and later starts |
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Jewish Monastery | 60 | Meditation Judaism |
+2 ![]() +10% ![]() Required to train Jewish Missionary Obsolete with Scientific Method |
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Jewish Synagogue
(Double Production Speed w/ Stone) |
300 | Music Judaism 3 Jewish Temples |
+50% ![]() +2 ![]() Can turn two citizens into priest +1 ![]() |
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Jewish Temple | 80 | Priesthood Judaism |
+1 ![]() +1 ![]() Can turn 1 citizen into Priest |
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Laboratory | 250 | Computers Observatory |
+1 ![]() +25% ![]() +50% spaceship production Can turn 1 citizen into scientist |
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Levee | 180 | Steam Power | +1 ![]() |
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Library | 90 | Writing | +2 ![]() +25% ![]() Can turn 2 citizens into scientist Required to build University, National Epic, The Great Library |
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Lighthouse | 60 | Sailing | +1 ![]() Required to build The Great Lighthouse Available for free on Industrial and later starts |
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Madrassa | 90 | Writing | Unique building for the Arabian; Replaces Library +25% ![]() Can turn 2 citizens into priests Can turn 2 citizens into scientists Required to build University, National Epic, Great Library Available for free on Modern and later starts |
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Mall | 150 |
Refrigeration
Grocer
|
Unique building for the Americans; Replaces Supermarket +1 ![]() +20% ![]() +1 ![]() +1 ![]() |
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Market | 150 | Currency | +25% ![]() Can turn 2 citizens into merchant +1 ![]() Available for free on Industrial and later starts |
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Mausoleum | 120 | Constitution | Unique building for the Indians; Replaces Jail +4 ![]() +50% ![]() +2 ![]() -25% War ![]() Can turn 2 citizens into spy Available for free on Modern and later starts |
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Military Academy |
– | Military Science | +3 ![]() +50% military unit production Can be built by Great General |
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Mint |
120 | Metal Casting | Unique building for the Malinese; Replaces Forge +1 ![]() +25% ![]() +10% ![]() Can turn 1 citizen into Engineer |
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Monument |
30 | Mysticism | +1 ![]() +1 ![]() Obsolete with Astronomy |
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Nuclear Plant | 250 | Fission Factory |
Small chance of nuclear meltdown Provides power with Uranium |
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Obelisk | 30 | Mysticism | Unique building for the Egyptians; Replaces Monument +1 ![]() +1 ![]() Can turn 2 citizens into Priest Obsolete with Calendar |
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Observatory | 150 | Astronomy | +25% ![]() Can turn 1 citizen into scientist Required to build Laboratory |
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Odeon |
80 | Construction | Unique building for the Greek; Replaces Colosseum +3 ![]() +2 ![]() +1 ![]() ![]() Can turn 2 citizens into artist +1 ![]() |
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Pavilion |
50 | Drama | Unique building for the Chinese; Replaces Theatre +3 ![]() +25% ![]() +1 ![]() ![]() Can turn 2 citizens into artists +1 ![]() Required to build Globe Theatre |
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Public Transportation |
150 | Combustion | +1 ![]() +1 ![]() +2 ![]() |
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Rathaus |
120 | Code of Laws | Unique building for Holy Roman Empire; Replaces Courthouse +2 ![]() -75% maintenance Can turn 1 citizen into Spy Required to build Forbidden Palace Available for free on modern and later starts |
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Recycling Center | 300 | Ecology | No ![]() |
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Research Institute |
250 | Superconductors | Unique building for the Russians; Replaces Laboratory +1 ![]() +25% ![]() +50% spaceship production Can turn 1 citizen into scientist +2 free scientists |
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Sacrificial Altar |
90 | Code of Laws | Unique building for the Aztecs; Replaces Courthouse +2 ![]() -50% maintenance -50% anger duration from sacrificing population Can turn 1 citizen into Spy Required to build Forbidden Palace |
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Salon |
150 | Astronomy | Unique building for the French; Replaces Observatory +25% ![]() +1 free artist Can turn 1 citizen into scientist Required to build Laboratory |
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Scotland Yard |
– | – | +100% ![]() Can be built by Great Spy |
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Security Bureau | 220 | Democracy | +8 ![]() +50% defense against espionage Helps thwart rival spies Can turn 2 citizens into spy |
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Seowon | 200 | Education Library |
Unique building for the Koreans; Replaces University +3 ![]() +35% ![]() Required to build Oxford University |
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Shale Plant |
150 | Assembly Line Factory |
Unique building for the Japanese; Replaces Coal Plant +10% ![]() Provides power (+2 ![]() |
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Stable | 60 | Horseback Riding | New mounted units receive +2 experience points |
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Stele | 30 | Mysticism | Unique building for the Ethiopian; Replaces Monument +1 ![]() +25% ![]() +1 ![]() Obsolete with Astronomy |
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Stock Exchange |
200 | Banking | Unique building for the English; Replaces Bank +65% ![]() Required to build Wall Street |
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Supermarket | 150 | Refrigeration Grocer |
+1 ![]() +1 ![]() |
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Taoist Monastery | 60 | Meditation Taoism |
+2 ![]() +10% ![]() Required to train Taoist Missionary Obsolete with Scientific Method |
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Taoist Pagoda
(Double Production Speed w/ Copper) |
300 | Music Taoism 3 Taoist Temples |
+50% ![]() +2 ![]() Can turn two citizens into priest +1 ![]() |
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Taoist Temple | 80 | Priesthood Taoism |
+1 ![]() +1 ![]() Can turn 1 citizen into Priest |
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Terrace | 60 | Pottery | Unique building for the Incans; Replaces Granary +2 ![]() Stores 50% of ![]() +1 ![]() Available for free on Renaissance and later starts |
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Theatre | 50 | Drama | +3 ![]() +1 ![]() ![]() Can turn 2 citizens into artists +1 ![]() Required to build Globe Theatre |
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Totem Pole |
30 | Mysticism | Unique building for the Native Americans; Replaces Monument +1 ![]() New archery units receive +3 EXP +1 ![]() Obsolete with Astronomy |
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Trading Post |
60 | Sailing | Unique building for the Vikings; Replaces Lighthouse Free Navigation I promotion for naval units built in this city +1 ![]() Required to build The Great Lighthouse Available for free on Industrial and later starts |
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University | 200 | Education Library |
+3 ![]() +25% ![]() Required to build Oxford University |
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Walls
(Double Production Speed w/ Stone) |
50 | Masonry | 50% defense (except vs. gunpowder-based units) Required to build Castle |
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Ziggurat |
90 | Priesthood | Unique building for the Sumerians; Replaces Courthouse +2 ![]() -50% maintenance Can turn 1 citizen into Spy Required to build Forbidden Palace |
Related Links:
- Wonders of the Worlds in Civilization IV
- More info about city improvements is available in the Civilization IV Info Center.