China's latest ranking of the top 10 most livable cities: If you had to choose one city to spend your retirement, which one would you pick?
China's Latest Ranking of the Top 10 Most Livable Cities
If you had to choose one city to retire and spend the rest of your life, which one would it be?
📅 May 22, 2024 | Walk Auto Travel
About the Survey
The "China Beautiful Life Survey" is an annual study jointly launched by China Central Radio and Television Station, the National Bureau of Statistics, China Post Group Co., Ltd., and the National Development Research Institute of Peking University. Every year, the survey collects data from over 100,000 households across more than 150 cities and 300 counties in China through in-home questionnaires.
This evaluation has been ongoing for 18 years since 2006. According to the 2023-2024 China Beautiful Life Survey, the following 10 cities have been ranked as the "Top 10 Most Livable Cities in China."
Evaluation Criteria:
- Sense of fulfillment
- Happiness index
- Safety perception
- Consumer investment habits
- Employment & entrepreneurship opportunities
- Leisure & lifestyle quality
- Overall happiness experience
- Public satisfaction with city governance and social services
🌟 China’s Top 10 Most Livable Cities
📍Guangzhou, Guangdong
Guangzhou is a city filled with symbols—delicious Cantonese cuisine, nostalgic arcade-style streets, towering skyscrapers in Zhujiang New Town, and the vibrant urban villages.
It seems to always stay young and full of energy. As Xu Zhiyuan once said:
"The freedom and boldness of Guangzhou people fascinate me."
As a flourishing metropolis in southern China, Guangzhou embraces its rich traditions and cultural heritage while preserving the vibrancy of daily life.
📍Dalian, Liaoning
Nicknamed "The City of Romance," Dalian is unlike any other city in Northeast China.
- Winters are not brutally cold (no -30°C temperatures).
- The local dialect is mixed with Shandong influences.
- The food scene includes specialties like steamed rice cakes (Menzi) from Yantai.
- The endless coastline gives it the vibe of a southern seaside city.
"Dalian is half sea." On a sunny day, walking along the coastline feels like stepping into a Hayao Miyazaki movie—the blue ocean and tranquil islands make it a perfect place for a slow-paced life.
📍Hefei, Anhui
Hefei carries three major titles:
- Capital of Anhui Province
- Sub-center city of the Yangtze River Delta
- Comprehensive National Science Center
In 1949, Hefei was merely a small county town with two streets and 50,000 people. It was chosen as Anhui’s capital due to its central location.
It was once called:
- "China’s largest county town",
- "The chubby second child next door",
- "Ba Du (霸都)",
- "A gambling city."
Yet, Hefei has transformed into a rising star. The so-called "Hefei Model" of development has attracted significant attention from urban planners.
Today, Hefei is emerging as a strong contender among China's most livable cities.
📍Chengdu, Sichuan
Chengdu has many prestigious titles:
- "China’s Fourth Largest City"
- "World’s Capital of Gastronomy"
- "China’s Top Tourist City"
- The only Chinese city rated Beta+ in the global city rankings
- No.1 on the New First-Tier Cities List for 8 consecutive years
- Ranked China’s Happiest City for 14 consecutive years
People flock to Chengdu for different reasons:
- Some come for pandas 🐼
- Some come for hotpot 🍲
- Some come for teahouses 🍵
- Some come for the laid-back lifestyle 😌
Whatever the reason, Chengdu never disappoints.
📍Kunming, Yunnan
Kunming, known as "The Spring City", is famous for its mild climate, vibrant flowers, and relaxed atmosphere.
Thanks to its isolated geographical location and pleasant year-round weather, Kunming offers one of the best living conditions in China.
A writer once said:
"This city has never been a battlefield in history nor built a palace for national worship. Instead, it has quietly nurtured generations of ordinary citizens, elegant ladies, loving mothers, and mouthwatering street food."
📍Yibin, Sichuan
Yibin, known as "The First City on the Yangtze River," is where the river officially gets its name. It is also the confluence of the Jinsha, Min, and Yangtze Rivers.
With its expansive waterscapes and excellent climate, Yibin has also given birth to Wuliangye, one of China’s finest liquors.
It has earned the titles "River City" and "Liquor City," which add to its romantic charm.
- The legendary director Ang Lee filmed Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in Yibin’s bamboo forests.
- Young filmmaker Chen Jianying calls Yibin "one of the most poetic places in China."
📍Weihai, Shandong
Located along the magical 37° North Latitude, Weihai shares its geographic line with many of the world's most famous historical and cultural cities.
Weihai is a small but picturesque city.
- Mountains and sea intertwine in harmony.
- Buildings never block the view of the hills or the ocean.
- It feels more like a forest city than a traditional urban area.
"Other cities build parks within the city, but Weihai feels like a city built inside a park."
📍Changzhou, Jiangsu
Changzhou is a blend of modernity and ancient charm.
- It has skyscrapers and urban sophistication.
- It also has ancient bridges, classical gardens, and tranquil waterways.
Nicknamed the "Water Town of the South," Changzhou is home to:
- Endless lakes and rivers 🌊
- Breathtaking landscapes ⛰️
- An elegant Jiangnan-style living environment
📍Xiamen, Fujian
Xiamen is a city of romance and leisure:
- "Garden City" 🌺
- "Piano Island" 🎹
- "Music Capital" 🎶
Xiamen is a fusion of cultures—a mix of old ports, modern art districts, European villas, and traditional Chinese buildings.
Every hidden alley and street corner reveals unexpected beauty and warmth.
📍Huzhou, Zhejiang
"Above is heaven, below are Suzhou and Hangzhou, and nestled in between is the hidden gem—Huzhou."
Though Huzhou may not be famous for its economy, it once thrived as a rich land of fish and rice, embodying both elegance and prosperity.
Huzhou is embraced by mountains and water, moving at its own poetic pace, creating a perfect picture of an idyllic Jiangnan lifestyle.