1、BeijingShanghaiShenzhenGuangzhouHangzhouNanjingSuzhouWuhanQingdaoChengduNingboChangshaHong KongTianjinChongqingXiamenWuxiZhengzhouJinanXianHefeiFoshanFuzhouShenyangDongguanZhuhaiChangzhouKunmingWenzhouNantongYantaiMacaoDalianQuanzhouShaoxingNanchangJiaxingTaiyuanGuiyangShijiazhuangZhongshanNanningXu

2、zhouHarbinChangchunTaizhouHuizhouHaikouTangshanYangzhouHohhotYanchengBaodingUrumqiJiangmenLanzhouZhaoqingChinese Cities of Opportunity 2024Cities are pivotal to Chinas pursuit of high-quality development,furnishing crucial spatial support for constructing a new development pattern.Since the launch o

3、f reform and opening up,urbanisation has undergone an unprecedented surge in both scale and pace.Since 1978,the urbanisation rate in China has consistently advanced by over one percentage point on average each year,resulting in 93 cities with a population exceeding one million,surpassing other natio

4、ns worldwide in this aspect.Chinas urbanisation rate of permanent residence hit 66.16 percent in 2023.As cities accelerate the transition towards a new type of urbanisation,many have fostered distinctive industries to propel economic advancement rooted in their unique industrial foundations.Super-la

5、rge cities and megacities drive the collective development of surrounding cities,counties,and city clusters by promoting the division of labour and cooperation.In doing so,they continue to explore a path to high-quality urban development with Chinese characteristics.The 14th Five-Year Plan proposes,

6、from a strategic standpoint,to advance the implementation of a new type of people-centred urbanisation strategy,as cities embody peoples aspirations for a better life.In 2023,with Chinas economy steadily recovering,residents enthusiasm for tourism consumption continued to escalate.Among the tourist

7、destinations,cities such as Zibo and Harbin have gained popularity,driving tourists to explore fresh urban prospects anchored in cultural tourism.These cities captivate tourists not only with their local cuisine and picturesque landscapes but also with their well-developed infrastructure,well-regula

8、ted market environment,and the sense of belonging and identity towards their own cities among the residents,who are eager to extend warmth and hospitality to visitors of their cities.As the“Chinese Cities of Opportunity”report gradually expands its scope of observations,we have not only witnessed th

9、e development of many leading Chinese cities but also discerned fresh momentum driving the growth of many emerging cities.This report offers an international perspective and serves as a valuable reference for Chinas new urbanisation efforts.This years report observes a total of 57 cities,including C

10、hinas major urban clusters,as well as several central and regional node cities.The report scrutinises cities across multiple tiers in ten dimensions,aiming to explore their characteristics and potential,in a comprehensive and equitable manner.The China Development Research Foundation and PwC have ma

11、intained a close collaboration for many years,and both teams work together to provide the valuable public product,the“Chinese Cities of Opportunity”report,to city administrators and social investors.I wish to extend my gratitude to the PwC team for their dedication to corporate social responsibility

12、 throughout this partnership.I eagerly anticipate continuing our collaboration to offer forward-thinking perspectives and insights,thereby contributing to the high-quality development of Chinese cities.Fang JinSecretary General,China Development Research FoundationCulture and tourism industries crea

13、te new images and unlock new opportunities for citiesChinese Cities of Opportunity 20241Chinese Cities of Opportunity 20242Identifying diverse and multifaceted urban opportunitiesOur world today is undergoing a deep transformation.Technological disruption,climate change and other accelerating global

14、 megatrends are creating both challenges and opportunities for institutions and organisations alike.In this uncertain and rapidly-changing environment,leaders are having to adapt and reinvent their organisations to remain viable and thrive in the decades ahead.Cities serve as critical hubs for major

15、 economic activities and dense populations.In recent years,we have witnessed notable changes in the ways cities operate around the world,as enterprises adapt their business strategies and residents readjust their individual lifestyles in response.With the recovery of the world economy,cities are pre

16、sented with a chance to stand out by embracing the numerous opportunities brought about by opening-up and cooperation.Over the past few years,as the worlds second largest economy,China has played an important role in boosting the global economic recovery.China has been enhancing its urban business e

17、nvironment while being actively involved in the global industrial restructuring,guided by proactive policies and initiatives and supported by industrial development.Cities are important places where industries grow.With the progress of urbanisation,China has been at the forefront of developing many

18、megacities with a population exceeding 10 million or regional GDP surpassing RMB1 trillion,alongside metropolitan areas and urban clusters surrounding central cities.Chinas urban infrastructure is continually being upgraded,driven by fast-growing digitalisation and increased consumption.As a result,

19、we have witnessed the growth of emerging industries like intelligent manufacturing and new energy in China.Many Chinese cities have seized the opportunities in these cutting-edge fields of scientific and technological innovation and green economy to accelerate development.In the meantime,these megac

20、ities have created more opportunities that spill over to the surrounding cities,driving the growth of urban clusters.The diverse core industrial strengths and regional advantages showcased by cities of different sizes have made the region more attractive to investors.Overall,the fast-growing high-te

21、ch industries and the expansion of sustainable green economy models will generate fresh development momentum and opportunities for Chinas urbanisation,creating new opportunities for businesses and investors.At PwC,we look forward to continuing to participate in Chinas urbanisation,by helping busines

22、ses and investors to make the most of these opportunities.We would like to thank the China Development Research Foundation(CDRF)for its continued support provided to PwC China and the“Chinese Cities of Opportunity”research.We hope that our work will be helpful for the future development of Chinese c

23、ities.Bob MoritzPwC Global ChairContentOverview04City selection04Research methodology05Observation results05In-depth interviews06Rankings 2024 and analysis071.Intellectual capital092.Technology and innovation113.Major regional cities134.Urban resilience17(Interview)Zhai Guofang:Building resilient ci

24、ties to ensure both development and security195.Transportation and urban planning216.Sustainable development257.Culture and quality of life27(Interview)Dong Weijun:Harnessing the power of the cultural tourism industry to unleash urban potential298.Economic clout319.Cost3310.Ease of doing business373

25、9Variables49Acknowledgements50For further information(Interview)Yi Chengdong:Developing metropolitan areas to promote regional and integrated urban-rural development15(Interview)Lu Ming:Enhancing traffic efficiency through compact development in major cities23(Interview)Liu Peilin:Constructing citie

26、s of opportunity with long-termism business environment35Chinese Cities of Opportunity 20243Chinese Cities of Opportunity 20244The vigour and vitality of cities derive from the continuous process of development and progress.The world today is going through profound changes unseen in a century,amidst

27、 this historical cycle,where opportunities and challenges coexist,Chinese cities have not ceased their efforts to seek new development opportunities and explore new economic growth potential.They are entrusted with the mission to promote industrial innovation with sci-tech innovation and to develop

28、new quality productivity forces featuring high-tech,high-efficiency,and high-quality.In the pursuit of promoting the high-quality development of new urbanisation,it will be an important goal and direction for a certain period in the future to drive regional coordinated development and urban-rural in

29、tegration based on urban clusters and modern metropolitan areas.City selectionAs urbanisation in China continues to progress,many emerging cities have entered a stage of high-quality development,with their economic strength and appeal steadily improving.Our focus will be more on these rapidly rising

30、 cities.In addition to assessing the performance of individual cities in terms of overall strength,we also aim to examine in-depth regional urban characteristics and development trends.This year,we have added six new cities in the Yangtze River Delta to our observation,specifically:Yancheng,Yangzhou

31、,Jiaxing,Shaoxing,Taizhou,and Wenzhou.The 57“Chinese Cities of Opportunity 2024”are(broadly from North to South,West to East):Harbin,Changchun,Shenyang,Dalian,Urumqi,Lanzhou,Xian,Hohhot,Taiyuan,Beijing,Tianjin,Shijiazhuang,Tangshan,Baoding,Jinan,Qingdao,Yantai,Zhengzhou,Xuzhou,Yancheng,Yangzhou,Nanj

32、ing,Hefei,Wuhan,Changzhou,Nantong,Wuxi,Suzhou,Shanghai,Jiaxing,Hangzhou,Shaoxing,Ningbo,Taizhou,Wenzhou,Fuzhou,Quanzhou,Xiamen,Changsha,Nanchang,Guangzhou,Shenzhen,Zhaoqing,Foshan,Jiangmen,Zhongshan,Dongguan,Huizhou,Zhuhai,Chengdu,Chongqing,Kunming,Guiyang,Nanning,Haikou,as well as Hong Kong and Mac

33、ao.Although the above cities vary in terms of economy and population size,each possesses its own distinct development context and fundamental basis,influenced by geographical location,resource endowment,and historical progression.The“Chinese Cities of Opportunity”report predominantly focuses on exam

34、ining the characteristics and potential of individual cities.By analysing urban development data,we aim to identify diverse and multi-tiered development prospects for these cities.The observation covers a number of central cities and node cities in major urban clusters in China,such as the Beijing-T

35、ianjin-Hebei city cluster,the Yangtze River Delta city cluster,the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area,the Chengdu-Chongqing city cluster,the Yangtze River Midstream city cluster,the Shandong Peninsula city cluster,the Central Plain city cluster,and the GuanzhongPlain city cluster.OverviewChi

36、nese Cities of Opportunity 20244Research methodologyThe“Chinese Cities of Opportunity”report adopts PwCs city assessment tools to examine the selected cities.The tools provide targeted observations of the cities from ten dimensions,involving economic growth,society and peoples livelihood,urban infra

37、structure,natural environment,population,city governance,and city influence.The development of cities is changing every day.Accordingly,our observation system is not static.We hope to follow the pace of the rapid development of Chinese cities to reflect their development achievements and potential o

38、pportunities.Therefore,observing from the ten dimensions,we can take a fine-grained look through a lens based on multiple variables.While maintaining the basic principles and keeping the system unchanged,we can make appropriate adjustments to align with the socio-economic development.Nevertheless,ur

39、ban societies take on rich and diverse forms.History,cultural traditions,and strategies and wisdom that focus on future development cannot be simply measured by data models alone.The results are also influenced by data sources and methods of calculation.We intend to use these tools to provide a rich

40、er and more diverse perspective for observing cities.The city rankings provide no basis for comparison to those of the previous years,that is,the findings in this report are relatively independent observations.In this report,the cities are observed in ten dimensions,with each dimension comprising fi

41、ve variables for a total of 50 variables.Some variables encompass sub-indicators,primarily considering the balance of the number of each type of variable under each dimension.At the same time,the data indicators covered by a single variable can appropriately reflect the level of development of that

42、variable.The variables and sub-indicators simultaneously factor in both per capita and gross data to provide an overarching picture of each citys foundation for development and potential opportunities.We analyse all cities based on consistent standards while taking factors such as scale advantage in

43、to account.In light of the changes in the statistical scope of some data and the improvement of the city observation perspective,this report uses the“key laboratories”variable to replace the“state key laboratories”variable,and the“new energy development”variable to replace the“penetration rate of ne

44、w energy vehicles”variable in the“technology and innovation”dimension;“social security”variable to replace the“disaster prevention and emergency management”variable in the“urban resilience”dimension;and“road traffic”variable to replace the“road resources”variable in the“transportation and urban plan

45、ning”dimension.Updated data calibers are employed for some variables.Our considerations for the design and data sources of these variables are detailed in the“variables”section of this report.We use PwCs assessment tools in examining the selected cities.The variables and dimensions are not weighted,

46、and every city has a ranking against each variable.One point is awarded to each position up the table,with the scores of the corresponding positions arranged in descending order,i.e.,the highest score,for first place,was 57 points and the lowest score,for last place,was one point,with tied rankings

47、receiving equal points.However,for certain dimensions,such as“cost”,the scores were arranged in ascending order,i.e.,the scores reflect their corresponding positions in the table.Scoring in order reduces the complex,absolute differences between cities to equidistant points.The sum of points awarded

48、to each city for each variable under each dimension constitutes its ranking for that dimension,and the sum of a citys scores across all variables and all dimensions determines the citys overall ranking in the report.The data were sourced under the principles of objectivity,impartiality,rigour,and ap

49、plicability,and mainly obtained from public sources,including the National Bureau of Statistics,government departments,official statistical yearbooks and bulletins published by each city,as well as research data from authoritative think tanks,universities,and research institutes,or big data research

50、 findings.The primary data source for this report was the official statistical yearbooks published by each city in 2023.In cases where cities had not published such yearbooks,data from provincial-level statistical yearbooks and bulletins were used as supplements.The statistical data cut-off point wa

51、s 2022,the rest were 2023,and the data collection cut-off point was February 2024.We refer to provincial-level data or other comparable data where the data released by a specific city was insufficient.Observation resultsThe top ten cities in the“Chinese Cities of Opportunity 2024”are:Beijing,Shangha

52、i,Shenzhen,Guangzhou,Hangzhou,Nanjing,Suzhou,Wuhan,Qingdao,and Chengdu.The next ten cities are Ningbo,Changsha,Hong Kong,Tianjin,Chongqing,Xiamen,Wuxi,Zhengzhou,Jinan,and Xian.Followed by:Hefei,Foshan,Fuzhou,Shenyang,Dongguan,Zhuhai,Changzhou,Kunming,Wenzhou,and Nantong.Then followed by:Yantai,Macao

53、,Dalian,Quanzhou,Shaoxing,Nanchang,Jiaxing,Taiyuan,Guiyang,and Shijiazhuang.And lastly:Zhongshan,Nanning,Xuzhou,Harbin,Changchun,Taizhou,Huizhou,Haikou,Tangshan,Yangzhou,Hohhot,Yancheng,Baoding,Urumqi,Jiangmen,Lanzhou,and Zhaoqing.Chinese Cities of Opportunity 20245Chinese Cities of Opportunity 2024

54、6From the observation results,it is evident that the top cities excel in balanced development,ranking prominently across multiple dimensions,thereby showcasing their robust overall strength.Beijing,Shanghai,Shenzhen,and Guangzhou continue to lead the development of Chinese cities,with Hangzhou,Nanji

55、ng,Suzhou,Wuhan,Qingdao,and Chengdu following closely in the top ten.Notably,Beijing and Shanghai clinch the top spots in three dimensions each,while Shenzhen secures the first position in two dimensions.Qingdao ranks first in the“transportation and urban planning”dimension and holds the tenth rank

56、in the“economic clout”dimension.Ningbo leads in the“sustainable development”dimension and ascends to the top ten in both the“economic clout”and“ease of doing business”dimensions.Wuxi,Foshan,and Dongguan ranks in the top ten in the dimensions of“technology and innovation”,“transportation and urban pl

57、anning”,and“ease of doing business”,respectively.Cities like Hefei,Shenyang,Changzhou,Nantong,and Yantai,positioned mid-ranking overall,also demonstrate commendable performance in various dimensions.For brevity,detailed comments will be reserved for the top cities in the overall ranking.Please refer

58、 to the text for comprehensive insights into specific dimension rankings and analyses.From the comprehensive observation results,it is evident that the three primary city clusters in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region,the Yangtze River Delta,and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area exhibit c

59、onsistent performance.Similarly,cities within the Chengdu-Chongqing,Shandong Peninsula,and Yangtze River Midstream city clusters demonstrate commendable performance in the observation.The development momentum and outreach of these city clusters continue to expand,establishing connections that drive

60、enhancements in overall urbanisation levels.Furthermore,several rapidly growing emerging cities exhibit outstanding performance in the observation.In recent years,certain cities have experienced significant growth propelled by the advancement of strategic emerging industries.In addition to their str

61、ong appeal to investors,these cities have fostered confidence and provided robust support for the stabilisation and recovery of the Chinese economy.This underscores the diversified,multi-level,and multi-tiered economic vitality prevalent in Chinese cities.This report will also place greater emphasis

62、 on these cities and their performance across various dimensions or variables.While the supporting data used in the observation is mainly retrospective,the enhanced performance of these cities did not occur overnight.Consequently,this report will delve deeper into the underlying factors driving thei

63、r progress and the potential development opportunities they bring forth.In-depth interviews The“Chinese Cities of Opportunity 2024”is privileged to include insights and views from the following scholars and experts.Mr.Yi Chengdong,Professor of the Department of Urban and Real Estate Management at th

64、e School of Management Science and Engineering,Central University of Finance and Economics,puts the focus on“promoting urban-rural integration and regional integrated development”,as elucidated in his article titled“Developing metropolitan areas to promote regional and integrated urban-rural develop

65、ment”.Mr.Zhai Guofang,Professor and PhD Supervisor at the Department of Urban Planning and Design,Nanjing University,advocates for prioritising the importance and positive impacts of resilient city construction in his article titled“Building resilient cities to ensure both development and security”.

66、Mr.Lu Ming,a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference(CPPCC)and Director of Shanghai Institute for National Economy at Shanghai Jiao Tong University,introduces concepts and suggestions regarding“Enhancing traffic efficiency through compact develo

67、pment in major cities”in his article.This is based on an analysis of traffic data in major cities and investigations into urban space construction and planning.Mr.Dong Weijun,former President of Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences,member of the Social Development Affairs Committee,the

68、 Standing Committee of Heilongjiang Provincial Peoples Congress,Vice Chairman of Heilongjiang Federation of Social Sciences,and Vice President of Heilongjiang Provincial Economic Association,shares Harbins practices and experience in cultural tourism as an example to illustrate how city managers can

69、 leverage cultural tourism to form industrial linkage in the article“Harnessing the power of the cultural tourism industry to unleash urban potential”.Mr.Liu Peilin,Chief Expert and Research Fellow at the Research Centre for Regional Coordinated Development,Associate Dean of the Institute for Common

70、 Prosperity and Development,and Research Fellow at the School of Economics,Zhejiang University,advocates for prioritising stability,predictability,and other influencing factors in the endeavour to enhance the business environment.This perspective is articulated in his article titled“Constructing cit

71、ies of opportunity with long-termism business environment”.Our report is crafted from the standpoint of building social responsibility,and all participating interviewees share this vision.Their observations and experiences,shared on crucial topics regarding the development of metropolitan areas,the

72、construction of resilient cities,industrial growth,and the enhancement of the business environment in Chinese cities,have enriched our perspective and provided readers with diverse and comprehensive insights.Chinese Cities of Opportunity 20246Rankings 2024 and analysisChinese Cities of Opportunity 2

73、0247Chinese Cities of Opportunity 20248Innovation factors like scientific and technological strength,human resources,and educational levels have always been the primary drivers for cities to enhance their independent innovation capabilities and build innovative cities.The dimension of intellectual c

74、apital evaluates a citys investment in innovation resources,intellectual capital reserves,and foundational research in science and technology through the analysis of five variables:“enterprise expenditure on R&D”,“scale of higher education”,“key laboratories”,“expenditure on science and technology”,

75、and“educational level”.In the overall ranking within this dimension,Beijing,Guangzhou,Shanghai,Wuhan,Nanjing,Hangzhou,Changsha,Xian,Shenzhen,and Tianjin take the top ten spots(in descending order),Zhengzhou,Chengdu,Hefei,Qingdao,and Chongqing rank 11th to 15th.These cities have gradually amassed abu

76、ndant educational resources and established excellent foundational conditions for scientific research over time.Throughout their development and transformation,they have showcased early-mover advantages in bolstering their overall capabilities through advancements in science and education.Simultaneo

77、usly,serving as pivotal cities within their respective regions,they exert strong influence and leadership in driving the progress of surrounding cities,thus providing crucial support for the formation of regional innovation ecosystems.As a crucial driver of Chinas economic growth driven by science a

78、nd technology,the Yangtze River Delta city cluster has accelerated the convergence of innovation resources and steadily ramped up investment in science and technology.Cities such as Suzhou,Shanghai,Wuxi,Hangzhou,Ningbo,Changzhou,and Nantong maintain their leading positions in terms of enterprise exp

79、enditure on R&D.Additionally,Jiaxing and Shaoxing,newly included in the observation,also demonstrate noteworthy performance in expenditure on science and technology,signalling their potential in scientific and technological innovation.Within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area(GBA),Shenzh

80、en,Dongguan,Guangzhou,and Foshan rank among the top cities in terms of enterprise expenditure on R&D.In recent years,the GBA has significantly increased its investment in research and development,leading to the emergence of new strategic industrial clusters.The region aims to position itself as a gl

81、obal hub for scientific and technological innovation by fostering strong enterprises,industries,and economies rooted in scientific and technological prowess.Since the launch of the Notice on Implementing the Plan for Restructuring the State Key Laboratory System by the Ministry of Science and Techno

82、logy in 2022,China has hastened the pace of reshaping its scientific and technological innovation framework.In 2023,many higher education institutions concentrated their efforts on applying for the reconstruction of state key laboratories.As part of adapting to the reforms in the national scientific

83、 and technological system,the variable of key laboratories has newly incorporated the number of state key laboratories as a sub-indicator.Hong Kong has performed well in this aspect.It actively collaborates with cities in the GBA to deepen the integration of science and innovation and enhance the sy

84、nergy between industry,academia,and research innovation.Its goal is to establish itself as an international hub for science and innovation.Cities in Central and West China such as Zhengzhou,Wuhan,Xian,Chongqing and Chengdu,Harbin in Northeast China,and Nanchang in Southeast China all fare pretty wel

85、l in the scale of higher education variable thanks to their great efforts to cultivate a large number of highly educated talents.However,these cities face huge opportunities and challenges to empower economic transformation and upgrading,such as how to gather and attract top-notch talents in scienti

86、fic and technological innovation,link the talent chain,industrial chain,and capital chain together,translate scientific and technological achievements into productivity locally,and develop new quality productive forces based on local conditions.Intellectualcapital1Chinese Cities of Opportunity 20249

87、Chinese Cities of Opportunity 2024102The optimisation and upgrading of urban industrial structure,along with the transition from high-speed growth to high-quality growth,heavily rely on the impetus provided by technology and innovation.The dimension of technology and innovation assesses a citys tech

88、nological development,innovation capacity,and level of digitisation.This dimension encompasses five variables:granted patents,high-tech enterprises,new energy development,mobile Internet,and digital cities.The observation results of these variables can,to some extent,indicate a citys fundamental fou

89、ndation,industrial utilisation,and urban scenario application of accumulated technologies,thereby reflecting the citys development driven by technology and innovation.In this dimension,Shenzhen,Beijing,and Shanghai not only claim the top three spots in the overall ranking but also secure two first-p

90、lace positions in each variable.This positions them as leaders among other cities in terms of their overall technological and innovation capabilities.Additionally,Suzhou,Hangzhou,Guangzhou,Nanjing,Chengdu,Wuxi,and Wuhan also demonstrate strong performance,ranking among the top ten in this dimension.

91、Overall,cities in the Yangtze River Delta stand out in this aspect,showcasing a relatively high level of regional concentration in technological research and development,fostering an innovative atmosphere,and nurturing high-tech industries.Among the top ten cities in the granted patents variable,the

92、re are five cities from the GBA,namely Shenzhen,Zhuhai,Foshan,Zhongshan,and Dongguan.This reflects the regions significant emphasis on and support for scientific and technological innovation.The GBAs commitment to establishing an international centre of scientific and technological innovation is evi

93、dent in its substantial investment in both basic research and practical technical fields.Guangdong Province,Hong Kong,and Macao within the GBA have deepened their cooperation in science and technology.With a robust flow of scientific and technological resources such as data,capital,and talent,the re

94、gion has experienced a deepening integration in both basic research and industrial innovation.By implementing a collaborative innovation mechanism in science and technology,the GBA is steadfastly moving forward in its ambition to construct an international hub of scientific and technological innovat

95、ion,along with an ecosystem with global appeal.High-tech enterprises play a pioneering role in transforming scientific and technological advancements into tangible productivity.Leading the ranking are key cities within the three major urban clusters:Chengdu in Southeast China,Changsha and Wuhan in C

96、entral China,and Xian in Northwest China.An industrial innovation agglomeration area with multiple players has emerged,playing a crucial role in driving the development and growth of emerging industries in the region.Plenty achievements in leading manufacturing and major industries have achieved int

97、ernational standards as China has accelerated the transformation and upgrading of its traditional industries and fostered strategic emerging industries through scientific and technological innovation,speeding up the development of new quality productive forces.Notably,China has made significant stri

98、des in the commercial operation of domestically produced large aircraft,the construction of large cruise ships,and the production and sales of new-energy vehicles(NEVs),which now account for over 60%of global production and sales.The new energy development variable assesses both the adoption of NEVs

99、 and the advancement of new energy industries within a city.Shanghai and Shenzhen are at the forefront of this effort,while Changzhou,Hefei,and Xiamen also demonstrate commendable performance.Hefei,with aspirations to become the NEV capital,is systematically developing a complete industrial chain fo

100、r NEVs.Meanwhile,Changzhou is concentrating on the NEV industry to establish itself as a new-energy industry hub,gradually unleashing industrial momentum and propelling economic growth to new heights.Through the development of strategic emerging industries,these cities effectively drive high-quality

101、 economic growth.Technology and innovationChinese Cities of Opportunity 202411Chinese Cities of Opportunity 2024123As Chinas vast territory,large population,and diverse resource endowments lead to regional disparities,the issue of regional divergence has become increasingly prominent with the expans

102、ion of cities and the proliferation of urban centres.To address this challenge,city clusters and metropolitan areas,spearheaded by key regional cities,play a crucial role in facilitating overall regional coordinated development and enhancing urban system construction.The dimension of major regional

103、cities comprises five variables:star-graded hotels,airplane take-offs and landings,passenger capacity,freight volume,and exhibition economy.From a regional coordination perspective,this dimension thoroughly assesses a citys influence and its driving effects on surrounding areas and cities.Shanghai,H

104、angzhou,and Nanjing,three cities in the Yangtze River Delta,rank among the top ten in this dimension.They continuously yield positive spillover effects,benefiting more areas and cities within the Yangtze River Delta region.Additionally,Suzhou,Wuxi,and Wenzhou perform well in the passenger capacity v

105、ariable,while Ningbo and Xuzhou lead in freight volume.These cities have significantly contributed to the smooth flow of both domestic and international circulation by effectively facilitating the movement of various elements and resources.The GBA stands out as one of the most economically dynamic a

106、nd open regions in China.Guangzhou and Shenzhen,ranking second and sixth respectively in this dimension,play prominent driving roles as two core cities within the region.The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei city cluster,led by Beijing and Tianjin,serves as a strong driving force for the high-quality developmen

107、t of the Circum-Bohai Sea Economic Zone and economic growth in North China.Regional coordinated development has shifted from industrial transfer to industrial chain cooperation,and the Beijing research and development,Tianjin-Hebei manufacturing model has given full play to their respective advantag

108、es and significantly enhanced urban functionality.In addition,inter-regional connectivity also facilitates the linkage of the Circum-Bohai Sea Economic Zone with the two major city clusters in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the Yangtze River Delta,opening up broad space for receiving spillover

109、s of resources and industrial economy.The Circum-Bohai Sea Economic Zone has gradually become a key link connecting the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and Yangtze River Delta city clusters.The key hub cities of Qingdao,Jinan,and Dalian all perform well in the star-graded hotels and exhibition economy variabl

110、es.Following the established Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei,Yangtze River Delta,and the GBA city clusters,the Chengdu-Chongqing city cluster has capitalised on new opportunities arising from the development of the national strategic hinterland,gradually emerging as the fourth pole of Chinas economic growth.I

111、n a collaborative effort,Chongqing and Sichuan have jointly issued the Action Plan for Building a Regional Development Functional Platform in Areas Adjacent to Sichuan and Chongqing.This initiative aims to enhance collaboration in innovation,establish a regional development functional platform,and c

112、reate cross-provincial new areas.Additionally,it seeks to explore reform mechanisms for the appropriate separation of economic zones from administrative regions,fostering mutual economic benefits.In addition,Wuhan and Changsha have achieved high scores in the airplane take-offs and landings,exhibiti

113、on economy,and freight volume variables.Similarly,Xian,Kunming,and Xiamen also demonstrate significant performance in this dimension,highlighting the pivotal role that comprehensive gateway cities play as crucial hubs within the region.Moreover,city clusters are beginning to take shape in various re

114、gions such as the middle reaches of the Yangtze River,the Guanzhong Plain,the Guangdong-Fujian-Zhejiang region,and Central Yunnan.These areas are gradually leveraging their respective comparative advantages based on their primary functions,fostering a new development pattern through integration and

115、mutual promotion.Major regional citiesChinese Cities of Opportunity 202413Chinese Cities of Opportunity 202414In 2022,China experienced its first population negative growth since the launch of reform and opening up.Presently,the countrys population dynamics reflect a trend of birthrate decline,popul

116、ation ageing,and differentiation in regional population growth.In 2023,urbanisation in China showed gradual growth,with an urbanisation rate reaching 66%.Projections suggest this rate will rise to approximately 70%by 2030 and reach a peak of around 80%between 2040 and 2050.At this juncture,significa

117、nt efforts should be directed towards the development of metropolitan areas and city clusters,where continue to experience population concentration.The Central Economic Work Conference held in 2023 proposed it as one of the key economic tasks for 2024 to“promote the coordinated development between u

118、rban and rural areas,as well as regional coordinated development”.During this stage,China should develop metropolitan areas to drive regional and integrated urban-rural development.First,we need to enhance the planning and construction of metropolitan areas to ensure that a significant portion of th

119、e country is encompassed by large-scale metropolitan areas at both national and provincial levels,with key cities serving as focal points.We should align our development principles,approaches,and strategies,streamline functions and spatial layouts,and implement comprehensive planning and development

120、 for infrastructure and public services.This approach will facilitate the synchronised advancement of various industries.Second,we should strengthen the development of a unified large market and promote the sufficient two-way flow of land,population,capital,and technological factors among cities,tow

121、ns,and villages within the metropolitan areas.Its crucial to streamline the pathways for rural-to-urban migration and advance reforms in household registration,ensuring that migrant populations with stable employment or livelihoods are integrated into local communities,similar to local rural residen

122、ts.We will facilitate the free flow of technological factors and resources and strengthen intellectual property protection.Establishing funds for the holistic development of metropolitan areas and urban-rural integration is essential.We should support the issuance of government bonds for welfare pro

123、jects that promote regional and urban-rural coordinated development,provided that debt risks are effectively managed.Furthermore,we need to activate unused land,optimise land and property usage,and expand trials to facilitate the commercial utilisation of rural collective land.Yi ChengdongProfessor,

124、Department of Urban and Real Estate Management,School of Management Science and Engineering,Central University of Finance and EconomicsInterview Developing metropolitan areas to promote regional and integrated urban-rural developmentChinese Cities of Opportunity 202415Chinese Cities of Opportunity 2

125、02416Third,we need to enhance specialisation and cooperation among industries within metropolitan areas,as well as regional collaboration in the service sector,manufacturing,and modern agriculture.Additionally,leveraging digital and other innovative technologies is essential to foster the integratio

126、n and synergy of industries.Fourth,we need to strengthen the mechanism for the coordinated development of resources and the environment,promote orderly economic and social progress through the orderly distribution of land and space,and integrate a new type of urbanisation with overall rural revitali

127、sation.We should give full play to the radiating and spreading role of core cities in the metropolitan areas,drive urban-rural integration in the surrounding areas,and achieve rural revitalisation.Fifth,we need to improve the modern governance system for the coordinated development of metropolitan a

128、reas and the integrated development of urban and rural areas.Moreover,we should maximise the participation of multiple entities in governance and explore mechanisms for linking statistics calculation analysis,financial and tax allocation,policy sharing,and joint responsibility in assessment.In doing

129、 so,we can strengthen the integration of metropolitan areas and the integrated development of urban and rural areas.Chinese Cities of Opportunity 2024164As urbanisation advances rapidly in China,cities with a population of more than ten million and a GDP of over RMB1 trillion continue to emerge.The

130、country has entered a stage of high-quality development in urbanisation,calling for enhanced urban resilience.Cities must develop robust capabilities to mitigate various risks and fulfil the basic security needs of urban residents.Therefore,establishing a solid economic foundation and maintaining co

131、nsistent resource allocation are fundamental to enhancing urban resilience.The dimension of urban resilience aims to assess a citys operational and management systems,as well as government funding.This dimension comprises five variables:medical resources,healthcare,public pension,public safety,and s

132、ocial security.The resource elements measured by these variables reflect a citys long-term investment and economic foundation,which will progressively increase alongside improvements in urban economic development and targeted investments by city administrators.The majority of top cities in this dime

133、nsion boast a strong economic foundation,with governments making sustained significant investments in various sectors including healthcare,pension,and social security.Shaoxing and Yangzhou,newly included in the assessment,outperform expectations in this dimension compared to their overall city ranki

134、ng.Their commendable performance can be attributed to high per capita government investments in“healthcare”and“social security”,as well as their upper-middle-level participation rates in urban pension insurance.This underscores the importance city administrators place on investing in various resourc

135、es for urban development.The adequacy of medical resources remains a pressing concern for densely populated urban centres.This variable assesses the overall physician resources and medical facility levels in each city,using sub-indicators such as the total number of practising physicians,physicians

136、per 10,000 residents,total hospital beds,beds per 10,000 residents,and the total number of Grade III,Level A(top-level)hospitals.Beijing,Hangzhou,Zhengzhou,Chengdu,and Jinan emerge as the top five cities in this dimension.Medical resources in regional key cities not only cater to local medical deman

137、ds but also serve the high-level medical needs of the wider region.Consequently,a significant concentration of high-quality medical resources will inevitably occur in these cities.In the future,achieving a balanced distribution of medical resources throughout the region will be crucial.This can be a

138、ccomplished through initiatives such as establishing branches of high-level hospitals or implementing relocation measures.Such efforts will facilitate the equitable distribution of medical resources and represent a key aspect of high-quality development in healthcare provision.The public pension var

139、iable assesses a citys social security system development by examining the public pension coverage rate.This rate indicates the proportion of the permanent resident population covered by basic endowment insurance,including both insured urban employees and insured urban and rural residents.Chongqing

140、and Chengdu,the two core cities in Sichuan,perform well in this variable.Given the rapid concentration of industries and population in these cities,they prioritise the construction of their public pension systems.They also promote the flexible flow of talent by synchronising policies and implementin

141、g various facilitation measures.Yangzhou and Taizhou,newly included in the assessment,also excel in this variable.This reflects their progress in social security while experiencing rapid economic growth.As the level of urbanisation continues to increase in China,city administrators are faced with tw

142、o important topics:high-quality urban security ability and basic resource supply.They should continue to pay attention to and steadily invest corresponding resources while developing the economy.Urban resilienceChinese Cities of Opportunity 202417Chinese Cities of Opportunity 202418I.China faces int

143、ertwined security challenges,and the uncertainty and complexity faced by cities are constantly increasing.The world is currently experiencing heightened levels of uncertainty.Since the beginning of the 20th century,intensified human economic activities and rapid urbanisation have led to increased ma

144、terial wealth alongside escalating risks.These risks encompass traditional threats such as earthquakes,floods,typhoons and mudslides,as well as new challenges such as environmental pollution,industrial accidents,economic crises,traffic incidents,and infectious diseases.This collective risk landscape

145、 has ushered humanity into what can be termed as“risk society”.According to statistics,natural disasters in China affected 95.44 million people in 2023,resulting in 691 fatalities and missing persons,the collapse of 209,000 houses,and damage to 10,539,300 hectares of crops.These calamities incurred

146、direct economic losses amounting to RMB345.45 billion.Compared to the average figures of the past five years,there was a decrease of 24.4%,2.8%and 37.2%in the number of affected individuals,casualties,and damaged crops,respectively.However,there was a significant increase of 96.9%in the number of co

147、llapsed houses and a 12.6%rise in direct economic losses.II.The concept of building resilient cities represents a novel approach and paradigm for addressing natural disasters and environmental issues.In the face of increasingly severe disasters and environmental problems,international organisations

148、including the United Nations and the World Bank are calling upon the international community to take immediate action in building resilient cities and coping with climate change and other global risks.A resilient city can endure,absorb,adjust to,and rapidly bounce back from external shocks such as e

149、arthquakes,heavy rainstorms,floods,typhoons,and terrorist incidents.The Communist Party of China(CPC)and the Chinese government attach great importance to building resilient cities.“The Recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China for the 14th Five-Year Plan for Economic

150、and Social Development and the Long-range Goals Through 2035”,adopted at the fifth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee,proposes to build resilient cities.In December 2023 during his inspection tour in Shanghai,Xi Jinping,general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committ

151、ee and Chinese president,called for efforts to advance the building of a resilient and safe city,to explore a new path of modernisation in megacity governance with Chinese characteristics.Beijing,Shanghai,Shenzhen and other cities have taken the lead in building resilient cities and have achieved po

152、sitive results by actively exploring and summing up experience under this initiative.Zhai GuofangProfessor&PhD Supervisor,Department of Urban Planning and Design,Nanjing UniversityInterview Building resilient cities to ensure both development and securityChinese Cities of Opportunity 202419Chinese C

153、ities of Opportunity 202420III.Building resilient cities is a focus of efforts to ensure both development and security.It is pointed out in the report delivered at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China that“we should ensure both development and security and be ever ready to prot

154、ect against potential dangers”.President Xi Jinping also stressed that security underpins development and development guarantees security,and security and development should be promoted simultaneously at a symposium on cyberspace security and informatisation.The research conducted by the Multi-Hazar

155、d Mitigation Council of the National Institute of Building Sciences in the US shows that the benefit-cost ratio will be 11:1 if resilient cities are built according to fortification criteria,and the ratio for funding from the Federal Government will be 6:1.A benefit-cost ratio of 4:1 can be achieved

156、 further when resilient cities are built beyond fortification criteria.Japans national resilience planning,initiated in 2013,is projected to decrease earthquake-related losses by 30%to 40%and flood-related losses by 30%to 100%.The benefit-cost ratio is calculated at 14.8,with tax revenue increase ou

157、tweighing costs at a ratio of 1.56:1.Thus,constructing resilient cities not only enhances security but also fosters a better business environment,mitigates economic losses,and stimulates economic growth.This effort is undoubtedly a priority in ensuring both development and security.Chinese Cities of

158、 Opportunity 2024205As the foundation of urban construction,transportation is an important component of economic activities in a city.At present,urban transportation faces such challenges as unbalanced space utilisation and an irrationally distributed transportation network.Scientific and optimal ur

159、ban planning can enhance the order and bearing capacity of the transportation structure and better support a new development paradigm and high-quality development.The“transportation and urban planning”dimension comprehensively describes a citys carrying capacity,transportation management ability,and

160、 construction planning through five variables:road traffic,bus transport,rail transit,traffic efficiency and green space coverage.In general,Qingdao,Nanjing,and Foshan rank in the top three positions.Beijing,Suzhou,and Changsha are tied for fourth place,while Chengdu ranks seventh.Guangzhou and Shen

161、zhen share eighth place,followed by Dalian,Hangzhou,Hefei,Xiamen,Chongqing,and Ningbo.This observation underscores the development of efficient and well-designed integrated transportation systems in Chinas major cities.These systems seamlessly connect express trunk routes,distributed routes,and gree

162、n pathways.In the next five years,China will enter a new stage of building up its strength in transportation at a faster pace.The Ministry of Transport,in conjunction with other government departments,successively issued guiding documents such as the Five-Year Action Plan for Accelerating Building u

163、p Chinas Strength in Transportation(2023-2027)and the Notice on Piloting the Launch and Road Access of Intelligent Internet-connected Vehicles.The documents emphasise the need to expedite the development of smart transportation and foster the deep integration of emerging technologies such as big dat

164、a,the Internet,and artificial intelligence with the transportation industry.This integration aims to enhance the intelligence and precision of urban management.Leading the way in this endeavour,the Yangtze River Delta has pioneered a new model of smart transportation.In a collaborative effort,three

165、provinces and one municipality have introduced the One-code Pass in transportation to promote connectivity among cities and further bolster integrated transportation development in the region.In the traffic efficiency variable,cities in the Yangtze River Delta,including Nantong,Changzhou,Xuzhou,Ning

166、bo,as well as Shaoxing,Yancheng,Yangzhou,Taizhou,and Jiaxing,which are newly included in this observation,rank among the top ten cities.In addition,Chinas transportation infrastructure is expanding in size.In 2023,as many as 240 highway projects were approved nationwide,involving a total investment

167、of more than RMB1.7 trillion.To facilitate the observation of urban infrastructure planning and construction,the road traffic variable has been adjusted this year,using a citys car ownership and road network density of built-up areas as sub-indicators to measure road traffic demand and supply capaci

168、ty in a city.Wenzhou,Nantong,and Shijiazhuang score high in this variable,performing better than in the overall dimension.In terms of urban resource utilisation and planning,cities within the GBA continue to uphold their leading positions in ecological governance.Macao and Hong Kong claim the first

169、and second spots,respectively,in the bus transport variable.Additionally,Zhongshan,Dongguan,Zhuhai,and Foshan all rank among the top six cities in the green space coverage variable.These cities are dedicated to implementing green and low-carbon development concepts while establishing long-term devel

170、opment mechanisms to promote environmentally friendly transportation and create more liveable urban environments.Transportation and urban planningChinese Cities of Opportunity 202421Chinese Cities of Opportunity 202422In the course of development,major cities and metropolitan areas have experienced

171、urban problems such as traffic congestion,long commutes,pollution and high property prices.In July 2022,the National Development and Reform Commission unveiled a notice that detailed efforts to promote new urbanisationduring the 14th Five-Year Plan period,highlighting the urgent need to address majo

172、r urban problems.The development approach adopted by major cities or metropolitan areas in terms of spatial layout modes,such as compact development,sprawling development,or population decentralisation,has a significant impact on traffic congestion and sustainable urban development.We have collected

173、 data on congestion index,population size,and skyscraper numbers for over 400 cities worldwide to analyse the relationship between compact urban development and traffic congestion.Given that skyscrapers are commonly concentrated in the downtown areas,the indices based on skyscraper data in our analy

174、sis could evidently represent the building height in city centresand the level of compact development.Our findings have revealed that congestion deteriorates along with the rising population,but for major cities,it is in an inverse proportion to building height in downtown areas.Why is congestion re

175、latively eased in compact cities?In service-oriented major cities where frequent interactions between supply and demand are needed,the location advantages of downtown areas naturally offer more conveniences to employment and consumption.As the population is concentrated in the urban core,high-rise b

176、uildings allow people to replace a portion of their horizontal commuting facilitated by cars with a faster vertical commuting facilitated by elevators.This not only enhances commute efficiency but also relieves pressure on transportation infrastructure.Compact cities can shorten commute and routine

177、travel distances,and other means of commuting such as walking and cycling will be used more often,thus giving better use of urban road resources.On the other side,compact cities make it economically feasible to apply diverse and dense public transport networks.This will possibly improve transportati

178、on infrastructure,build up traffic capacity and efficiency,and scale down the use of private vehicles to alleviate traffic congestion.Interview Lu MingMember of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference(CPPCC);Director of Shanghai Institute for National Eco

179、nomy(SHINE)at Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityChinese Cities of Opportunity 202423Enhancing traffic efficiency through compact development in major cities Chinese Cities of Opportunity 202424Then how to develop cities with mature space layouts in a compact manner?Urban renewal is one.Through urban rene

180、wal,cities can alleviate congestion in terms of frequency and extent,and reduce the commute time,even if the citys population increases.However,apart from some misconceptions about compact city development,there remain barriers to compact development nowadays,such as the unreasonable plot ratio of b

181、uildings in city centres.Despite the building height restrictions due to multiple considerations including preservation of historical buildings and ecological maintenance in downtown areas,many measures can be taken to expand living space.To be specific,relevant stakeholders could make efforts to al

182、leviate outdated plot ratio control according to market needs,reallocate vacant industrial,commercial,or service land to residential land,and increase the utilisation efficiency of residential land.Chinese Cities of Opportunity 2024246The sustainable development dimension evaluates the allocation an

183、d responsible utilisation of natural resources in cities,focusing on water resources,urban environmental protection,and air quality.It also analyses trends in sustainable population growth through population mobility and measures cities energy efficiency and commitment to green and low-carbon restru

184、cturing via the green and low-carbon development variable.Megacities often face challenges in managing water resources and urban environmental protection due to natural limitations and the concentration of the population.As they develop industries,its crucial for them to have the mindset of maintain

185、ing air quality and embracing green and low-carbon development.The long-term sustainability of cities relies on a continuous flow of population,which provides the necessary labour supply.For large cities,sustainable development hinges on striking a balance between development and the efficient utili

186、sation of resources.Among the top cities in this dimension,Ningbo,Fuzhou,Haikou,Changsha,and Kunming show no obvious weaknesses,mainly benefiting from their balanced advantages in all the variables,which reflect their relatively balanced sustainable development.Zhuhai not only enjoys an inherent adv

187、antage in air quality due to its coastal location but also secures an excellent performance in urban environmental protection while it continues to agglomerate population.Decades ago,Fuzhou proposed the 3820 strategic project to transform the city into a clean,beautiful,comfortable,quiet,and open co

188、astal city with a healthy ecological environment.By implementing advanced concepts of green development and creating an ecological city,Fuzhou has provided a “Fuzhou example”for overall coordinated and sustainable urban development.Water resources and air quality represent areas where cities are inf

189、luenced by inherent natural conditions.Chongqing,Zhaoqing,Jiangmen,Nanning,and Harbin,leading the list,benefit from their coastal locations,enjoying natural advantages in these aspects.When assessing urban air quality,its essential to consider not only the citys average annual air quality but also t

190、he improvement compared to the previous year.Ningbo,Yancheng,Fuzhou,Huizhou,and Xiamen emerge as the top five performers in the air quality variable.The Action Plan for Sustained Improvement of Air Quality will prioritise the enhancement of air quality in key regions through various measures.These i

191、nclude promoting collaborative governance among regions,enhancing the atmospheric environment management system,and expediting the adoption of green and low-carbon lifestyles.Urban environmental protection includes two sub-indicators:the sewage treatment ratio and the ratio of incinerated waste to s

192、afely disposed waste.Cities like Zhengzhou,Baoding,Zhongshan,Haikou,Taiyuan,and Fuzhou demonstrate outstanding performance in this aspect.Addressing resource challenges such as waste encircling cities necessitates effective measures for managing urban waste through reduction,harmless treatment,and r

193、ecycling,especially for large cities.Population plays a vital role in modern human resources.Population mobility gauges a citys labour force sustainability by monitoring the inflow and outflow of the urban population.Cities in GBA exhibit notable strengths in this variable,with Dongguan and Zhongsha

194、n ranking among the top performers.Additionally,provincial capital cities demonstrate evident siphonic effect on their population,with Urumqi and Taiyuan excelling in this regard.As populations increasingly gravitate towards large cities and economically prosperous regions,city administrators must p

195、rioritise environmental concerns such as urban sustainable development and quality of life.By transitioning towards a green and low-carbon lifestyle,cities can effectively pursue the dual carbon objective,simultaneously promoting economic growth and fostering a sustainable ecological environment,thu

196、s gradually realising a beautiful China.SustainabledevelopmentChinese Cities of Opportunity 202425Chinese Cities of Opportunity 2024267The cultural tourism industry plays an important role in meeting peoples needs for a better life,given its wide coverage,strong driving force,and high openness.The s

197、trong recovery of Chinas culture and tourism since last year has effectively released the potential in domestic demand,injecting new impetus into urban economic growth.The“culture and quality of life”dimension examines a citys cultural vitality and peoples living standards through five variables:res

198、ident income,museums,cinemas,library collections and consumption vitality.Improving living standards necessitates both a solid economic foundation and an increase in resident income.In the Yangtze River Delta city cluster,the residents generally have high income.Hong Kong and Macao claim the top two

199、 positions in the resident income variable.Additionally,ten cities in the Yangtze River Delta feature among the top 15,including Shanghai,Suzhou,Hangzhou,Ningbo,Nanjing,and Wuxi,as well as newcomers Shaoxing,Wenzhou,Jiaxing,and Taizhou.This underscores the robust economic prowess of the integrated Y

200、angtze River Delta region.The consumption vitality variable evaluates a citys overall consumption and per capita consumption levels by considering two sub-indicators:total retail sales of consumer goods and retail sales of consumer goods per capita.Quanzhou,Fuzhou,Hefei,and Jinan outperform expectat

201、ions in this variable compared to the overall dimension,taking leading positions.To stimulate consumption,encourage effective investment,and form a virtuous cycle between consumption and investment,the State Council issued Several Measures for Unlocking the Potential of Tourism Consumption and Promo

202、ting the High-quality Development of Tourism last year.The document proposes the deep integration of culture and tourism,the development of themed tour routes showcasing Chinese cultural relics,and the promotion of cultural tourism under the theme Reading ten thousand books and travelling ten thousa

203、nd miles.It also encourages diversification in tourism forms,such as exhibition+tourism and performance+tourism.Xian introduced an innovative panoramic cultural display of the Tang Dynasty titled 12 Hours in Changan,a Tang City that Never Sleeps.Similarly,Gansu unveiled ten cultural tour routes them

204、ed An Exquisite Lanzhou:Picturesque Mountains,Rivers,and Folk Customs along the Yellow River.Several cities have also captivated tourists with their unique cultural characteristics and rich cultural heritage.It is worth noting that the cultural tourism consumption chain,with food,accommodation,trave

205、l,shopping and entertainment as the core elements,continues to extend,driving the revitalisation of various kinds of resources.Cultural tourism has gradually become an important approach for the transformation and upgrading of many industrial cities.The National Development and Reform Commission and

206、 the Ministry of Culture and Tourism jointly issued the Tourism Development Plan for Northeast China,with a primary focus on promoting high-quality economic development and facilitating the transformation of the regions old industrial base.The immense popularity of Harbins ice and snow tourism has s

207、ignificantly bolstered market confidence and positively impacted economic growth in Northeast China.Similarly,Shenyang,another city with a historical industrial base,has dedicated significant efforts to the development of industrial tourism.Leveraging its abundant cultural resources and industrial h

208、eritage,Shenyang has introduced several industry-themed cultural tourism routes,effectively transforming the industrial rust belt into a vibrant showcase belt of cultural tourism.A citys cultural development requires long-term operation and accumulation.A good city brand is a valuable intangible ass

209、et as it can enhance the influence and appeal of a city itself and empower economic transformation and upgrading.Culture and quality of lifeChinese Cities of Opportunity 202427Chinese Cities of Opportunity 202428This winter,Harbin has become the go-to spot for tourists,especially favoured by online

210、influencers,for its stunning ice and snow attractions.This surge in popularity,seemingly unexpected but inevitable,hints at exciting opportunities for urban development.Harbins recent buzz is a mix of its vibrant energy,a stroke of luck,and its impressive transformation fueled by its longstanding re

211、putation.Over the Spring Festival break,Harbin welcomed a record-breaking 10.09 million visitors,raking in an impressive RMB16.42 billion in tourism revenue.This is a successful practice of the concept that“Ice and snow are also mountains of gold and silver”.On March 7,2016,President Xi Jinping prop

212、osed a concept to Heilongjiang Province:“Snow and ice,comparable to green mountains and clear water,are also valuable assets that represent true wealth.”In recent years,Heilongjiang Province and its capital city Harbin have been committed to putting this idea into action,working hard to turn innovat

213、ive concepts into real results.Despite the challenges of icy winters,which are typically seen as drawbacks for cities in high-latitude regions,Harbin has fully embraced its ice and snow resources,turning them into valuable assets with cultural significance.The citys journey began with the introducti

214、on of the Ice Lantern Fair in 1963.Today,its International Ice and Snow Festival stands as one of the worlds top four festivals of its kind,while its Ice and Snow World holds the Guinness World Record for being the largest ice and snow-themed park.By casting culture into the soul of the city,improvi

215、ng tourism through cultural traits and innovation,Harbin has transformed its“cold”resources into a thriving economy.With the ice and snow economy emerging as a key driver of growth,the city is focused on fostering the comprehensive development of its ice and snow industry,spanning sports,culture,equ

216、ipment,and tourism.Promotion by the new media is closely matched with the joint actions taken by tourists and local residents.The new media took the lead in promoting Harbin as an ideal destination for ice and snow tourism,which sparked the strong interest of tourists from other parts of the country

217、,and local residents responded actively to receive the tourists.The word-of-mouth acclaim quickly enhanced the reputation and popularity of the city.Harbin has naturally become a hot destination for enjoying ice and snow in winter,attracting a large number of tourists from South China who swarmed in

218、to the city in groups.As hosts,the people of Harbin were eager to rejuvenate their city and stimulate its economy.They warmly welcomed numerous visitors from all over the country,treating them with the same care and hospitality as they would toward their own family.The residents demonstrated genuine

219、 sincerity,enthusiasm,courage,and generosity,redefining the essence of urban spirit in the new era.Harbins approach serves as a model for exploring ways to blend culture and tourism with distinctive local characteristics for development.Dong WeijunFormer President,Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of

220、Social Sciences;Member of the Social Development Affairs Committee,the Standing Committee of Heilongjiang Provincial Peoples Congress;Vice Chairman,Heilongjiang Federation of Social Sciences;Vice President,Heilongjiang Provincial Economic Association Interview Chinese Cities of Opportunity 202429Har

221、nessing the power of the cultural tourism industry to unleash urban potential Chinese Cities of Opportunity 202430Harbin is endowed with the perfect unity of time,geography,and people.As a renowned“Ice City&Summer Capital”,Harbin has four distinct seasons,snow-covered in winter,and cool and pleasant

222、 in summer.Given its superior geographical location,the city is the centre of Chinas cooperation with Russia and has a strong European flavour,known as the“Oriental Moscow”and“Little Oriental Paris”.This winter,the surge in popularity of“Erbin”(a nickname for Harbin)can be attributed not only to its

223、 unique ice and snow attractions and culturally rich tourism offerings,but also to its high-quality public services,pleasant consumption environment,and the warmth of its urban culture.Government agencies in Heilongjiang Province and Harbin took proactive measures by launching the“100-day initiative

224、”for winter ice and snow tourism,demonstrating responsiveness to public feedback,and addressing concerns about ticket refunds for the Ice and Snow World incident in a positive manner,which garnered widespread praise.Harbins genuine and straightforward local customs,along with its warm and imaginativ

225、e approach to welcoming tourists,not only boosted the citys popularity but also enhanced tourism throughout Northeast China.A city can only become lively and influential,transforming online interest into actual tourists and turning transient internet fame into year-round popularity,if it fosters a s

226、table and inclusive environment where government functions well and people live in harmony.Chinese Cities of Opportunity 2024308The economic clout dimension measures a citys major economic indicators through variables such as well-known enterprises,foreign investment,deposits and loans of financial

227、institutions,regional GDP and regional GDP per capita.The current international economic situation is complex and changeable,and the recovery of Chinas economy requires the joint support of all cities.By observing the economic development of cities at this stage,we can review their overall economic

228、strength and influence,and forecast their future potentials.Beijing,Shanghai,and Hong Kong,the three major political,economic,and financial centres,lead in the respective variables.They also occupy the top three positions in the overall ranking of this dimension.Hong Kong maintains its lead in two v

229、ariables:foreign investment and regional GDP per capita.Beijing and Shanghai claim the first and second positions,respectively,in the well-known enterprises,deposits and loans of financial institutions and regional GDP variables.Over 20 cities boast a regional GDP exceeding RMB1 trillion.Several cit

230、ies exhibit robust growth momentum,including Foshan,Quanzhou,Nantong,Dongguan,Changzhou,and Yantai,reflecting the multi-tiered development momentum and support of Chinese cities.Moreover,several cities in the Yangtze River Delta,such as Wuxi,Suzhou,Changzhou,Ningbo,and Yangzhou,rank at the top in te

231、rms of regional GDP per capita.The city cluster in the region maintains a balanced and leading position in overall economic development.The well-known enterprises variable examines a citys appeal to investors and economic influence by assessing the number of Chinas top 500 enterprises headquartered

232、in the cities respectively in 2023.Chongqing,Xiamen,Hefei,Xian,and Urumqi perform better in this variable than in the overall dimension.Cities in Central and West China are making great efforts to cultivate and introduce leading enterprises and give full play to their advantages and influence as cen

233、tral cities along the Belt and Road.Foreign investment plays a pivotal role in fostering the mutual prosperity and development of both Chinas economy and the global economy.Since the implementation of the Foreign Investment Law,the scope of industries encouraging foreign investment has progressively

234、 expanded,with Chinese cities continuously enhancing their foreign investment environment.Hong Kong and Macao,renowned financial centres with a strong internationalisation foundation,maintain their leadership in this aspect.Beijing and Shanghai further solidify their positions as centres of internat

235、ional exchange and economic hubs.Additionally,cities like Haikou,Shenyang,Jiaxing,Zhuhai,Yantai,Changzhou,and Huizhou demonstrate outstanding performance in the actual utilisation of foreign capital.The number of cities with the potential to attract foreign investment continues to rise.In recent yea

236、rs,attracting foreign investment has been characterised by an optimised structure and broader coverage of cities.It is crucial for cities to seize opportunities,heed the requests of foreign-invested enterprises,and consistently enhance their business environment.By doing so,they can bolster their ov

237、erall attractiveness to foreign investment and strengthen their economic capabilities.This fosters the formation of a virtuous cycle of development.Economic cloutChinese Cities of Opportunity 202431Chinese Cities of Opportunity 2024329The“cost”dimension analyses a citys appeal to talents from the pe

238、rspective of everyday living costs,and measures its friendliness to investors from business-related costs,through five variables:consumer price index,cost of public transport,cost of housing rental,cost of business occupancy and average salary”.This dimension employs an ascending ranking method,with

239、 cities boasting lower costs being positioned higher.Most cities in North China enjoy significant cost advantages owing to ample land resources and labour capital.Tangshan,Baoding,Shijiazhuang,Hohhot,and Yantai lead the rankings,followed by Quanzhou,Taiyuan,Lanzhou,and Guiyang.Urumqi and Changchun a

240、re tied for the tenth position.However,cities in the GBA and the Yangtze River Delta generally trail behind due to high population density and increased demand resulting from advanced economic development,coupled with persistent high costs such as commodity and housing prices.The key to solving this

241、 problem is to accelerate the establishment of a coordinated development pattern of large,medium-sized,and small cities based on city clusters and metropolitan areas.Compared with the excessively concentrated resources and saturated room for development in megacities,small and medium-sized cities an

242、d counties within city clusters and metropolitan areas have good locational advantages and industrial foundations,and their economic vitality is yet to be released at a faster pace.They can be developed into satellite cities with complementary functions and industries to support neighbouring big cit

243、ies.In recent years,the GBA city cluster has intensified efforts to overcome resource mismatches and homogeneous competition.Leveraging the comparative advantages of various regions,they have optimised the functional division of labour to foster regional coordinated development.Zhongshan,Jiangmen,an

244、d Zhaoqing lead in three variables:cost of housing rental,cost of business occupancy,and average salary,boasting advantages in housing and labour costs.Conversely,Macao,Dongguan,Huizhou,Shenzhen,and Guangzhou rank lowest in the consumer price index variable.These cities have experienced significant

245、price hikes,while consumption demand and vitality continue to show sustained growth.The cost of public transport variable assesses the affordability of transportation services by considering the standard fares of for-hire taxis and the average radius of mobility in each city.It measures the cost of

246、public transport by calculating the average unit price per kilometre of taxi rides.As major cities in city clusters and metropolitan areas expand their radiation capacity,urban space enlarges,resulting in increased public transport costs.Urumqi,Hohhot,Lanzhou,Taiyuan,Xian,Jinan,and Shenyang perform

247、well in this variable,outperforming the overall dimension.With the accelerated construction of urban renewal projects,cities are reorganising and reallocating urban space resources.In the future,as urban spatial pathways are further reshaped,it is anticipated to lead to a potential decrease in resid

248、ents transportation costs.The results of observation in the cost dimension may not be completely consistent with the economic growth rates of cities.For instance,emerging cities such as Yantai and Quanzhou still maintain relatively stable market prices and reasonable costs while achieving rapid econ

249、omic growth.They are embracing broad prospects for investment.Overall,the potential development opportunities of cities are always diversified and personalised for investors and job seekers with different needs.CostChinese Cities of Opportunity 202433Chinese Cities of Opportunity 202434In a stable b

250、usiness environment featuring long-termism,the institutional conditions,the legal environment,the regulatory framework and the policy measures that affect how businesses operate remain consistent and predictable,unlike in a short-termism settings where conditions can be more volatile and changeable.

251、A long-termism business environment isnt static,as gradual adjustments are necessary to keep pace with technological advancements and innovation.However,such adaptations should be made incrementally in the direction of cultivating a business-friendly atmosphere that embraces inclusiveness,prudence,a

252、nd fosters entrepreneurship and innovation,rather than the opposite.Building a long-termism business environment is of great significance in creating cities of opportunity.Without the presence of such a conducive environment for sustained growth,market players would resort to short-term strategies a

253、imed at quick profits,and the competitive landscape should be in disorder.This lack of stability would dampen market players willingness to undertake long-term entrepreneurial ventures and innovative pursuits,which demand sustained efforts to yield desired outcomes,thereby diminishing their drive fo

254、r innovation.Moreover,such markets would in no way attract external investments in a sustained manner.Without the establishment of a stable long-termism business environment,the momentum for high-quality development,and indeed development itself,would falter,impeding the realisation of cities as hub

255、s of opportunity.Hence,it is important to foster a stable long-termism business environment through the following approaches.Firstly,we need to ensure governance abides by the rule of law to instill confidence among market players and provide them with a sense of security.Secondly,policies should be

256、 refined to target specific issues,avoiding the negative consequences of overlapping regulations.Abrupt policy shifts should be avoided to prevent undermining the trust of market players in the business environment.Thirdly,improving communication between the government and market participants is cru

257、cial.Its vital to engage in pre-communication with stakeholders during policy formulation and to thoroughly and transparently explain the purpose and implications of new policies to society once implemented.Liu PeilinChief Expert&Research Fellow,Research Centre for Regional Coordinated Development；A

258、ssociate Dean,Institute for Common Prosperity and Development；Research Fellow,School of Economics,Zhejiang UniversityInterview Chinese Cities of Opportunity 202435Constructing cities of opportunity with long-termism business environmentChinese Cities of Opportunity 202436Fourthly,we need to leverage

259、 the lessons learnt from successful experiences elsewhere,after all the best practices in building business environment could not be kept to oneself.Building a sustainable business environment requires ongoing learning from the best.Lastly,we should establish a comprehensive measurement system is es

260、sential.In addition to conventional metrics,we should evaluate factors that contribute to the ease of doing business,such as the environments support for business activities,its impact on investment and entrepreneurship,its promotion of innovation,and its overall contribution to enterprise performan

261、ce,as well as peoples income and quality of life.Moreover,we need to assess the current state and stability of the environment:whether it is improving steadily,fluctuating dramatically,or deteriorating.We should strive for continual improvement rather than decline.Chinese Cities of Opportunity 20243

262、610The ease of doing business dimension evaluates the environment for business operations in a city.It gauges factors such as the development of startup companies,the volume of domestic and foreign trade,and the effectiveness of city administrators in establishing and managing the urban environment.

263、This assessment is based on five variables:entrepreneurial vigour,foreign trade,logistics,fiscal balance,and business environment.It provides insights into the overall business climate in a city,showcasing its economic vitality,growth prospects,and attractiveness to investors.In this dimension,Shang

264、hai,Hong Kong,Guangzhou,and Quanzhou lead in their respective variables.Shenzhen,Suzhou,Hangzhou,Beijing,Ningbo,Dongguan,Nanjing,and Xiamen are among the top ten cities with well-rounded performances.Several cities in the Yangtze River Delta,such as Jiaxing,Shaoxing,Wenzhou,and Taizhou,newly include

265、d in the assessment,along with Foshan and Zhongshan in the GBA,have performed well in this dimension.This success is largely attributed to the regions overall strong economic development,robust investment attractiveness,and a standardised and orderly business environment.Entrepreneurial vigour prima

266、rily assesses the presence of non-state-owned listed companies and unicorn enterprises within cities.Over the years,Chinese cities have fostered a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship andofferedsupportiveenvironments and actively incubating innovative enterprises.As a result,many cities have w

267、itnessed the emergence of vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystems.In this evaluation,Changzhou and Chongqing demonstrate stronger performance in this aspect compared to their overall standings.Foreign trade stands as a crucial facet of Chinas openness,fostering mutual benefits and progress.Hong Kong,Ning

268、bo,Dongguan,Xiamen,and Shenzhen maintain stable and excellent performance in this variable,and cities around the Bohai Sea such as Qingdao and Dalian also score high in this variable.The overall steady performance of foreign trade is pivotal to stabilising economic growth.“Logistics”indirectly refle

269、cts the level of basic support for commercial activities in domestic trade.Quanzhou,Wenzhou,Taizhou,Jiaxing,Shijiazhuang,and Baoding in different regions perform better in this variable than in the overall dimension.This reflects their important roles as regional central cities in terms of logistics

270、,as well as their differentiated competitiveness during development.After years of continuous efforts,Chinese cities have comprehensively optimised and enhanced their overall business environment,government services,and the scope of e-government services.The introduction of streamlined and standardi

271、sed government service procedures,along with convenient online processing,has provided both enterprises and residents with tangible benefits.In general,in terms of business environment,larger cities outperform small and medium-sized ones,southern cities outperform northern ones,and eastern cities ou

272、tperform central and western ones.However,these gaps are gradually narrowing as both central and local governments implement various demonstration initiatives.Moving forward,continuous refinement of the business environment will become increasingly crucial as Chinese cities further open up and engag

273、e in international cooperation.The soft aspects of the business environment play a pivotal role in attracting foreign investment and invigorating the private economy,and city administrators should pay sustained attention to this aspect.Ease of doing businessChinese Cities of Opportunity 202437Chines

274、e Cities of Opportunity 2024381.Intellectual capitalEnterprise expenditure on R&DThis variable uses the internal expenditure on R&D of industrial enterprises above the designated size in each city in 2022 to measure the investment level in R&D of the society.The data sources are the statistical year

275、books and science and technology bureaus of respective cities,the Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong SAR and the Statistics and Census Service(DSEC)of Macao SAR.Scale of higher educationThis variable measures a citys future human capital reserves by considering the number of undergraduate

276、 and postgraduate students enrolled in the institutions of higher education in each city in 2022.The data sources are the statistical yearbooks and bulletins of each respective city,the Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong SAR and the Statistics and Census Service of Macao SAR.Key laborator

277、iesThis variable uses the number of state key laboratories operated by enterprises and national key laboratories approved for restructuring in 2023 in each city to measure the infrastructure conditions and development level of the city in terms of science and technology innovation.Data are sourced f

278、rom the Ministry of Science and Technology.Data for Hong Kong and Macao are obtained from public information.Expenditure on science and technologyThis variable measures the level of government investment in scientific and technological research and development in each city.It is calculated by dividi

279、ng the citys 2022 fiscal expenditure on science and technology from the general public budget expenditure by the year-end permanent resident population.Data sources include the statistical bureaus and the financial bureaus of respective cities,the Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong SAR an

280、d the Statistics and Census Service of Macao SAR.Educational levelThe educational level of the population is measured by calculating the proportion of the population with a junior college degree or above to the permanent resident population and the proportion of illiterate people to the permanent re

281、sident population in each city based on the Seventh National Population Census.This variable comprehensively analyses the overall educational level of the population in each city.Data sources are the Seventh National Population Census,the census results disclosed by the Census and Statistics Departm

282、ent of Hong Kong SAR,and the Statistics and Census Service of Macao SAR,respectively.VariablesChinese Cities of Opportunity 202439Chinese Cities of Opportunity 2024402.Technology and innovationGranted patentsThis variable assesses the level of innovation and development of each city by measuring the

283、 number of granted patents per 10,000 people in each city.It is calculated by dividing the number of granted patents in 2022 by the year-end permanent resident population.The data sources are the statistical yearbooks and bulletins of respective cities,the Census and Statistics Department of Hong Ko

284、ng SAR and the Statistics and Census Service of Macao SAR.High-tech enterprisesThis variable measures each citys technological and industrial innovation capacity by considering the number of high-tech enterprises in each city as of year-end 2022.Data are sourced from the statistical bulletins,govern

285、ment work reports and public data released by science and technology departments of each city,and public information released at the provincial,municipal,and regional levels.New energy developmentThis variable measures the development level of new-energy industries in each city,such as new-energy ve

286、hicles,photovoltaic,and hydrogen energy.It includes two sub-indicators:the ownership of new-energy vehicles per 1,000 people and the index ranking of the“Hurun China New Energy Cities 2023”released by the Hurun Research Institute.Data for cities in the Chinese mainland are sourced from the 2023 year

287、-end figures from the Ministry of Public Security and the Dasouche cloud platform.Data for Hong Kong are sourced from the Hong Kong Transport Department,and data for Macao are sourced from the Macao Statistics and Census Service and calculated with reference to the evaluation system used for cities

288、in the Chinese mainland.Mobile InternetThis variable uses two sub-indicators to measure the application of Mobile Internet and the development of the digital economy in cities:the proportion of mobile phone users as a percentage of the permanent population as of 2022 year-end,and the Top 100 digital

289、 economy city rankings in the“2023 Research Report on Chinas Urban Digital Economy Development”released by China Centre for Information Industry Development(CCID)Consulting.Data of mobile users are sourced from local statistical yearbooks and bulletins of the respective cities.Digital citiesThis var

290、iable uses two sub-indicators to comprehensively measure each citys development level in terms of digitisation:rankings of cities on the digital development index sourced from the“City Digital Development Index(2023)Cities”released by the H3C Digital China Research Institute,and the top 100 digital

291、city rankings in the“2023 China Digital City Competitiveness Research Report”released by CCID Consulting.3.Major regional cities.3.Major regional citiesStar-graded hotelsThis variable uses the number of star-graded hotels in each city to measure the local supply and demand and development levels of

292、star-graded hotels.Data sources include the statistical bulletin on star-graded hotels in China released by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2022,the statistical yearbooks and bulletins of respective cities,the Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong SAR and the Statistics and Census Ser

293、vice of Macao SAR.Airplane take-offs and landingsThis variable reflects the demand for air passengers and cargo transportation in each city.It is based on the ranking of the number of flights landed and taken off at major airports of each city,including civil international and domestic flights,cargo

294、 flights and non-revenue flights(excluding military aircraft).Data are sourced from the“2022 National Civil Transport Airport Production Statistical Bulletin”.One point is given to cities that have yet to have an airport.Data for Hong Kong are from the Civil Aviation Department of Hong Kong SAR,and

295、data for Macao are from the statistics released by the Macao International Airport.Passenger capacityThe passenger capacity of railroads,civil aviation,highways,and water transport reflects the scale and carrying capacity of passenger transport of each city in 2022 and indirectly reflects the citys

296、function as a regional hub.Data sources are provincial statistical yearbooks,statistical yearbooks and bulletins of the respective cities,the Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong SAR and the Statistics and Bureau Census Service of Macao SAR.Freight volumeFreight volume includes the total vo

297、lume of freight transported by railways,civil aviation,highways,and waterways to show the scale of freight operations and carrying capacity in each city in 2022,which indirectly reflects each citys function as a regional hub.Data sources include provincial statistical yearbooks,statistical yearbooks

298、 and bulletins of the respective cities,the Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong SAR and the Statistics and Census Service of Macao SAR.Exhibition economyThis variable refers to the exhibition economy development index,which is based on the composite index of urban exhibition development in

299、 the“2022 China Exhibition Data Statistical Report”,released by the China Convention Exhibition Event Society.It aims to evaluate the development of the exhibition industry in each city.The rankings of Hong Kong and Macao are based on calculations of several indicators,such as the number of exhibiti

300、ons,exhibition space,and the number of exhibition halls.Data are collected from Hong Kongs MICE industry profile released by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council,the Hong Kong Exhibition&Convention Industry Association,and the statistical yearbooks released by Macao SAR.Chinese Cities of Opportun

301、ity 202441Chinese Cities of Opportunity 2024424.Urban resilienceMedical resourcesThis variable uses the total number of practisingphysicians,the total number of hospital beds,the number of practising physicians in medical institutions per 10,000 residents,the number of hospital beds per 10,000 resid

302、ents in 2022,and the total number of Grade III,Level A(i.e.,top-level)hospitals in each city as sub-indicators as of the year-end of 2023 to comprehensively measures the overall physician resources and level of medical facilities in each city.The data sources are the statistical yearbooks and bullet

303、ins of each city,the Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong SAR and the Statistics and Census Service of Macao SAR.HealthcareThis variable measures per-capita healthcare expenditure in each city,by dividing the 2022 final healthcare expenditure by the year-end permanent resident population of

304、 each city.The data sources are the statistical yearbooks and the financial bureaus of the respective cities,the Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong SAR and the Statistics and Census Service of Macao SAR.Public pensionThis variable is defined as the proportion of the permanent resident pop

305、ulation with basic endowment insurance,including the number of insured urban employees as well as the number of insured urban and rural residents.This variable is used to measure the development level of the basic endowment insurance as part of the public services provided in each city in 2022.The d

306、ata sources are the statistical yearbooks and bulletins of each city;those of Hong Kong and Macao are collected from publicly available information.Public safetyThis variable is used to measure per-capita public safety expenditure in each city,by dividing the 2022 fiscal expenditure on public safety

307、 by the year-end permanent resident population of each city.The data sources are the statistical yearbooks and the financial bureaus of the respective cities,the Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong SAR and the Statistics and Census Service of Macao SAR.Social security This variable measure

308、s financial investment in social welfare,economic security,and the prevention and control of production safety in each city.It includes two sub-indicators:the 2022 per-capita fiscal expenditure on social security and the death toll from work accidents per 100-million-yuan worth of GDP.The data sourc

309、es are the statistical yearbooks and bulletins,emergency management authorities and finance bureaus in each city,the Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong SAR and the Statistics and Census Service of Macao SAR.5.Transportation and urban planningRoad traffic This variable measures the demand

310、and supply capacity of road traffic in each city,by examining two sub-indicators:vehicle ownership and road network density in built-up areas.Data for cities in the Chinese mainland are sourced from the“2022 China Urban Construction Statistical Yearbook”,the Ministry of Public Security,and the Dasou

311、che cloud platform(2023 year-end).Data for Hong Kong are sourced from the Hong Kong Transport Department,and data for Macao are sourced from the Macao Transport Bureau.Bus transportThis variable uses the 2022 passenger volume of bus transport(or tram)per capita to measure public transport travel in

312、each city.The data sources are the Ministry of Transport and the statistical yearbooks of respective cities,the Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong SAR and the Transport Bureau of Macao SAR.Rail transitThis variable is calculated by dividing the mileage of rail transit lines by the area of

313、 built-up land as a measure of rail transit development in every city.The data sources are the“China Urban Construction Statistical Yearbook 2022”,MTRs annual report and the Planning Department of Hong Kong SAR,the Cartography and Cadastre Bureau of Macao SAR.Traffic efficiencyThis variable is based

314、 on the list of the most congested cities nationwide in the“2023(Q3)China Urban Transportation Report”published by Baidu Maps and the city traffic ranking in the 2023 China Major Cities Traffic Analysis Report released by Gaode Map to measure the congestion and traffic flow efficiency in each city c

315、omprehensively.Data for Hong Kong and Macao are from sources with consistent standards.Green space coverageThis variable uses the green space coverage rate in built-up areas from the“China Urban Construction Statistical Yearbook 2022”to measure the level of green development of the built-up areas in

316、 each city.Data of Hong Kong and Macao are collected from the Planning Department of Hong Kong SAR and the Environmental Protection Bureau of Macao SAR.Chinese Cities of Opportunity 202443Chinese Cities of Opportunity 2024446.Sustainable developmentWater resourcesThis variable is measured by the tot

317、al volume of water resources of each city in 2022 to evaluate the overall water capacity of the city,which can also indirectly indicate its capability of sustainable development.The data sources are the bulletins from each citys water resources department,the Water Supplies Department of Hong Kong S

318、AR and the Marine and Water Bureau of Macao SAR.Urban environmental protectionThis variable uses two sub-indicators,the sewage treatment rate,and the ratio of incinerated waste to safely disposed waste,thus measuring each citys operational efficiency for environmental protection.The data sources are

319、 the waste classification figures in the“2022 China Urban Construction Statistical Yearbook”,the Census and Statistics Department and the Hong Kong Drainage Services Department of Hong Kong SAR,and the Statistics and Census Service and the Environmental Protection Bureau of Macao SAR.Air qualityThis

320、 variable includes two sub-indicators:air quality and air quality optimisation.Data regarding air quality is sourced from the“National Urban Air Quality Report”published monthly by the China National Environmental Monitoring Centre between September 2022 and August 2023.The air quality optimisation

321、indicator reflects the improvement of air quality in each city by calculating the ranking changes in the comprehensive index.The calculation is done by subtracting each citys ranking of the comprehensive index between September 2022 and August 2023,September 2021 and August 2022.For Hong Kong and Ma

322、cao,the rankings are manually calculated based on data collected from reports issued by the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Pearl River Delta Regional Air Quality Monitoring Network.Population mobilityThe variable measures the inflows and outflows of the population based on two indicators:the ratio of the

323、 permanent resident population as of the year-end 2022 to the household registered population as of the year-end 2021 in each city,as well as the ratio of the registered population as of the year-end 2022 to that of the year-end 2021.The data sources are the statistical yearbooks and bulletins of ea

324、ch city,the Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong SAR and the Statistics and Census Service of Macao SAR.Green and low-carbon developmentThis variable is used to comprehensively measure the energy consumption and low-carbon transformation trends in each city.It includes two sub-indicators:th

325、e regional GDP divided by the total electricity consumed in 2022 and evaluations on the urban carbon peak and carbon neutrality index in the“Chinese City Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality Index Summary Report(2021-2022)”,jointly released by the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences and

326、Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs(IPE).The data sources are the statistical bureaus of respective cities,the Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong SAR and the Statistics and Census Service of Macao SAR.7.Culture and quality of lifeResident incomeThis variable uses the 2022 dispos

327、able income of urban residents to measure the level of income of residents in each city.The data sources are the statistical yearbooks and bulletins of respective cities,as well as the Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong SAR and the Statistics and Census Service of Macao SAR.MuseumsThis va

328、riable uses the total number of museums in each city as of 2022 year-end to measure the scale and service capabilities of each citys historical and cultural industries.The data sources are the statistical yearbooks and bulletins of respective cities,the Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong

329、SAR and the Statistics and Census Service of Macao SAR.CinemasThis variable measures the scale and activity of the development of the movie and television culture in each city by considering the total number of cinemas in each city by February 2024.Data are sourced from the number of cinemas publish

330、ed on M;data for Hong Kong and Macao are from publicly available statistics.Library collectionsThis variable uses two sub-indicators,the total number of books in public library collections and the per capita number of books possessed in public libraries in 2022,to measure the level of public cultura

331、l resources in each city.The data sources are the provincial statistical yearbooks,statistical yearbooks and bulletins of the respective cities,the Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong SAR and the Statistics and Census Service of Macao SAR.Consumption vitalityThis variable includes two sub-

332、indicators,the total retail sales of consumer goods and the retail sales of consumer goods per capita in each city in 2022 to reflect the overall performance and potential of consumption in each city.The data sources are the statistical bulletins of respective cities,the Census and Statistics Depart

333、ment of Hong Kong SAR and the Statistics and Census Service of Macao SAR.Chinese Cities of Opportunity 2024458.Economic cloutWell-known enterprisesThis variable uses the number of registered headquarters of the top 500 companies in each city to measure its level of a citys headquarters economy and its economic clout.The data sources include 2023s“World Top 500 List”and“China Top 500”,released by F