See the 2024 ranking of China’s most attractive cities for foreign talent, from Beijing and Shanghai to rising hubs like Haikou and Yiwu.
The 2024 “Amazing China – The Most Attractive Chinese City in the Eyes of Foreign Talents” ranking was released in Hangzhou on September 28. Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, and Chengdu took the top five spots.
The survey has been held annually for 15 years. It looks at 64 cities with a high concentration of foreign professionals. Participants rated their work satisfaction, living convenience, and the friendliness of the urban environment. The results formed the 2024 Foreign Talent Attractiveness Index.
This year’s top 20 cities include Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Suzhou, Shenzhen, Nanjing, Qingdao, Xiamen, Dalian, Ningbo, Kunming, Haikou, Wuhan, Tianjin, Changsha, Jinan, Zhuhai, and Changzhou.
The study shows that talent hubs are mainly in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta, the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area, and the Chengdu-Chongqing area. Each city highlights its strengths. Guangzhou, Hangzhou, and Shenzhen attract global professionals with industries like new energy and artificial intelligence. Foreign workers also value career opportunities, labour rights, and daily convenience.
Not only are mega-cities in demand. Medium-sized cities are also rising. Haikou, Zhuhai, Changzhou, Baoding, Wuxi, Weihai, Shaoxing, Yantai, Weifang, and Yiwu ranked highest among mid-sized cities. This shows the diverse appeal of different regions and city sizes across China.
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