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Best-Performing Cities China 2018

Since 2015, the Milken Institute’s Best-Performing Cities China series has used the latest and most comprehensive official data to track the economic performance of cities. Our analysis offers recommendations on improving performance, and provides businesses with insight into regional economic trends, helping them to explore potential investment opportunities. 

Our ranking index for this edition comprises nine indicators–one-year (2015-2016) and five-year (2011-2016) growth for jobs, wages, and gross regional product (GRP) per capita, three-year (2013-2016) foreign direct investment (FDI) growth, FDI/GRP ratio (2016), and the location quotient (LQ) for high value-added industry employment (2016). This index categorizes Chinese cities into large and small groups to yield more meaningful comparisons and insights.

2018 Rankings:

FIRST- AND SECOND-TIER CITIES

THIRD-TIER CITIES

 1. Shenzhen, Guangdong(广东省, 深圳市)

1. Dongguan , Guangdong (广东省, 东莞市)

 2. Chongqing (重庆市)

2. Suining, Sichuan (四川省, 遂宁市)

 3. Tianjin (天津市)

3. Foshan, Guangdong (广东省, 佛山市)

 4. Zhengzhou, Henan (河南省, 郑州市)

4. Wuhu, Anhui (安徽省, 芜湖市)

 5. Guiyang, Guizhou (贵州省, 贵阳市)

5. Zhuhai, Guangdong (广东省, 珠海市)

 6. Changchun, Jilin (吉林省, 长春市)

6. Ji’an, Jiangxi (江西省, 吉安市)

 7. Chengdu, Sichuan (四川省, 成都市)

7. Jiuquan, Gansu (甘肃省, 酒泉市)

 8. Hefei, Anhui (安徽省, 合肥市)

8. Zhongshan, Guangdong (广东省, 中山市)

 9. Xi’an, Shaanxi (陕西省, 西安市)

9. Suzhou, Jiangsu (江苏省, 苏州市)

 10. Hangzhou, Zhejiang (浙江省, 杭州市)

10. Anshun, Guizhou (贵州省, 安顺市)