Financial news outlet Yicai recently released the fourth edition of their ‘First-Tier City’ rankings, an extensive undertaking that compiles data on 170 consumer retail goods and behavioral data from 18 top internet companies, among other key figures.
The report is not only an indicator of where cities in China stand among their counterparts, but also sheds light on which cities’ trajectories are trending upwards or downwards.
The ranking is divided into two charts: first-tier cities and new first-tier cities, the latter of which sees quite a bit more change in the rankings each year. Cities are given a score based on five factors: economic resources, its role as a hub for the region, residents’ level of activity, diversity and future prospects.
Here are the rankings for first-tier cities in China:
1. Beijing (184.83)
2. Shanghai (178.73)
3. Guangzhou (118.91)
4. Shenzhen (116.45)
Beijing and Shanghai have long been in a two-headed race for China’s top city honors while Guangzhou and Shenzhen are in a South China tussle of their own, with Shenzhen scoring just two and a half points below Canton. While the gap between the two municipalities and Guangdong’s southern metropolises is still rather large, in the coming years we may see the distance shrink as China’s Central Government sets its sights on developing the Greater Bay Area.
READ MORE: What’s the Greater Bay Area Plan and Why Does It Matter?
As for the ‘new’ first-tier cities (cities that have only become first tier in recent years), here’s the latest list:
1. Chengdu (100)
2. Hangzhou (90.41)
3. Chongqing (89.71)
4. Wuhan (78.20)
5. Xi’an (77.75)
6. Suzhou (75.23)
7. Tianjin (71.33)
8. Nanjing (68.44)
9. Changsha (60.59)
10. Zhengzhou (60.06)
11. Dongguan (56.97)
12. Qingdao (54.25)
13. Shenyang (54.07)
14. Ningbo (53.67)
15. Kunming (52.27)
Seeing Chengdu in the pole position of this ranking is nothing new, as the West China hub continues to grow with strong support from the Central Government. The city has also developed aerospace and manufacturing industries.
This year, Kunming was the only new city to enter the rankings, replacing Jiangsu’s Wuxi. The rest of the cities’ rankings have remained relatively stable since last year.
Click here to see more China rankings.
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[Cover image via Unsplash]
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