Hangzhou: road to joy!

Discover Hangzhou, Chengdu, Ningbo, cities filled with joyful citizens!

According to a recent survey, the best city to live a happy life with your family is Hangzhou, the capital city of Southeast China's Zhejiang Province.

What is China’s best and most favoured city to live in? Where do people feel at home, with good facilities and enough things to do, at a reasonable price level? It is not Beijing, nor Shanghai, Shenzhen or one of the other large metropolises in China. According to a recent survey, the best city to live a happy life with your family is Hangzhou, the capital city of Southeast China's Zhejiang Province.

Hangzhou came out first in a public survey conducted by Oriental outlook magazine and the China Association of Mayors. No less than 30 million (!) people across 50 major and 50 county-level cities have been involved in the survey, via newspaper and online questionnaires. The evaluation took into account 22 factors such as overall pricing, pace of life, level of convenience, environment, housing, education and transportation. Hangzhou tops the list, followed by Chengdu in Sichuan Province and Ningbo in Zhejiang Province. Number four to ten: Nanjing (Jiangsu), Tianjin (near Beijing), Changchun (Jilin), Wuxi (Jiangsu), Changsha (Hunan), Xi’an (Shaanxi) and Nantong (Jiangsu).

1 Hangzhou

Hangzhou (often referred to as ‘Paradise under Heaven’) is known for its splendid natural scenery, numerous historical relics, fine silk and Longjing tea. But most of all, many people favour Hangzhou for its slow pace of life, and its peace and quiet.

2 Chengdu

Chengdu, in western China, is one of the most important economic, transportation, and communication centers in Southwest China. The city, known for its historical and cultural diversity, is a livable city due to its mild climate and rich resources. Chengdu also has a good housing system.

3 Ningbo

Ningbo is a seaport city in the northeast. It is one of the famous historical and cultural cities in China, known as a trade city on the Silk Road. People feel happy living in Ningbo thanks to its favourable medical service and education

4 Nanjing

Located in the eastern part of China, Nanjing, features a lot of historic sites (among these some UNESCO World Heritage sites) and unique culture. Visitors who love the night sky must not miss out on the Qin Huai River, a place which offers its visitors the most spectacular night scenery. The city's favourable environment and convenient living make it one of the best places to live in China.

5 Tianjin

Located in northeastern China, adjacent to Beijing, Tianjin is a rapidly developing municipality. About 300 of the 500 companies on the Fortune Global list had set up sub-companies there by the end of 2010, turning the area into a base for advanced industry, financial reform, and innovation. With the city's surging economy, people's living conditions there have been improving as well.

What city is your personal favourite and for what reasons?