Abstract: To further investigate the research level, hotspots, and trends of global mountain hydropower development's impact on the ecological and environmental effects of urbanization, this study integrates literature data from Web of Science (WOS) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Utilizing CiteSpace and VOSviewer software, we conducted bibliometric and visual analyses on research related to the impact of mountain hydropower development on urbanization's ecological and environmental effects in the two databases spanning from 1987 to 2024. The findings reveal that research interest in this field has been on the rise from 1987 to 2024, with a significant surge in published papers after 2010. China leads the world in terms of publication volume, and institutions like the Chinese Academy of Sciences have made notable contributions. The field primarily focuses on the interplay between water resource carrying capacity, biodiversity conservation, and urbanization. Current research frontiers include sustainable development, green and low-carbon transformation, and ecological restoration in the context of urbanization. Zarfl, C, and Ziv, G are prominent scholars in this field. The journal "WATER" has published the highest number of articles, with the most influential being "A global boom in hydropower dam construction." Evidently, research globally is shifting from examining the direct ecological impact of hydropower development to exploring the effects of the hydropower-urbanization composite system on the environment. Analyzing the current state and trends of related research is instrumental in formulating scientific and rational strategies for ecological conservation and regional development.