Top 10 Most Livable Cties in China 2010
By admin on 2015-01-27

A recent survey on city living showed that urban residents are most concerned about traffic, the environment, social welfare and security. Here is a list of China's top 10 most suitable cities for living compiled according to public votes.

Xiamen

Xiamen, known in the West as Amoy, is a coastal city in Fujian Province facing the Taiwan Strait. It became one of China's first Special Economic Zones in the 1980s. The island of Xiamen, compact, clean and peaceful, is regarded by the Chinese as the sweetest city in China. It calls itself the Garden on the Sea with brilliant sunshine, beautiful flowers and charming sea waves creating an atmosphere of a fairyland.

Zhuhai

Zhuhai is a special economic zone established in the 1980s in Guangdong Province. The city boasts its amiable climate, beautiful beaches and convenient transportation. The UN has named it a model city for environmental protection.

 Guilin

Guilin is chosen for its wonderful scenery, rivers and karst peaks covered in lush greenery. Located in the northern part of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the city claims its hills and rivers are the best in the world. Compared to other Chinese cities, Guilin is relatively small and compact. Getting around the city presents no serious obstacles. Locals ride bicycles everywhere, even when it is raining.

Hangzhou

Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province, is called a paradise on Earth. It has been one of the most renowned and prosperous cities of China for much of the last 1,000 years. Seven centuries ago, Marco Polo described this place as "the most beautiful and magnificent city in the world" when he made a trip to the city. Hangzhou''s claim to paradise has always been centered on its famous West Lake, surrounded on three sides by hills. The islets, temples, gardens and arched bridges of this small lake have constituted a supreme example of lakeside beauty in China.

Qingdao

Qingdao is a coast city in Shandong Province. The Chinese regard it as the most elegant city in the country. Qingdao''s blue skies, cherry blossoms and little houses give the city a romantic atmosphere. Live here to take night strolls along Qingdao's ancient lanes.

Chengdu

Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, is known by the Chinese as the Heavenly Kingdom. It is said that no one would think of leaving the city for a moment. Chengdu citizens always conduct a cozy life. The common daily life of Chengdu is about sipping fragrant tea and tasting delicious dishes while sitting quietly in a teahouse (no one dares to make any noise) or while enjoying a local opera. Something else that makes the city a great place to live: its first-class panda breeding and research center. There is also a zoo that has cute pandas, not ugly ones.

 Guangzhou

Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, has a vibrant economy and is rich in cultural traditions. It is chosen because Guangzhou has more job opportunities than anywhere else in the country and looks modern (but might not actually be modern). It is hard to describe the city in any language, let alone English. Unlike the aggressive Beijing, exquisite Shanghai and leisurely Chengdu, Guangzhou flaunts but keeps a low profile, combines fickleness with peace and emits a flavor of vagueness in a transparent setting. These characteristics may be contradictory but Guangzhou makes them work together.

Beijing

The capital city may not be the most livable, but it makes this Most Livable Cities list because of its status as China's political center. And it''s glamorous enough in all the aspects (not necessarily the aforementioned aspects, traffic, environment, social welfare and security).

Dalian

Situated in the southernmost part of the Liaoning Province on a peninsula separating the Bohai and Yellow seas, Dalian is one of China's most vibrant and modern cities. With its clean air, beautiful beaches and pleasant temperatures in the summer, Dalian has become an ideal destination for those who want to escape the summer heat and the hustle and bustle of metropolises like Beijing and Shanghai. As for actually living there year-round … who knows?

Shanghai

Shanghai is a global metropolis located midway along China's coast. It is the most populous city in China. As described by photographer Li Jin of the Chinese edition of National Geographic, Shanghai is both a bustling city flourishing with commerce, finance, culture, art fashion and entertainment and a peaceful city of convenience.