On September 28, the results of the 2024 “Charming China—The Most Attractive Chinese Cities in the Eyes of Foreign Talent” survey were announced. Organized by the Foreign Talent Research Center of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the study evaluated how foreigners living and working in China view different cities.

How the Ranking Was Done

A total of 5,487 valid questionnaires were collected from foreign professionals. The evaluation focused on three main factors:

• Job satisfaction
• Convenience of living
• Environmental friendliness

64 cities across China (excluding Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan) were included in the survey. From this, the Foreign Talent Attraction Index of Chinese Cities was created.

Top 20 Most Attractive Cities (2024)

1. Beijing
2. Shanghai
3. Guangzhou (+1 from 2023)
4. Hangzhou (-1)
5. Chengdu (+4)
6. Suzhou (-1)
7. Shenzhen (-1)
8. Nanjing
9. Qingdao (-2)
10. Xiamen
11. Dalian (+2)
12. Ningbo (+2)
13. Kunming (+2)
14. Haikou (-3)
15. Wuhan (new entry)
16. Tianjin (new entry)
17. Changsha
18. Jinan (+2)
19. Zhuhai (new entry)
20. Changzhou (-2)

Medium-Sized Cities Rising in Popularity

For the first time, the event also released the Foreign Talent Attraction Index for Medium-Sized Cities, showing that smaller but distinctive cities are becoming increasingly attractive to foreigners. The top ten were:

• Haikou
• Zhuhai
• Changzhou
• Baoding
• Wuxi
• Weihai
• ShaoXing
• Yantai
• Weifang
• Yiwu

Special Awards

Based on different scores, the event also highlighted the top five cities for specific categories:

City of Opportunity

• Guangzhou
• Shanghai
• Beijing
• Hangzhou
• Suzhou

Most Livable Cities

• Beijing
• Hangzhou
• Shanghai
• Guangzhou
• Chengdu

Most Inclusive Cities

• Shanghai
• Beijing
• Hangzhou
• Guangzhou
• Suzhou

Final Thoughts

The rankings highlight how China’s major hubs like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, and Chengdu continue to lead in terms of attraction for foreign talent, while new cities like Wuhan, Tianjin, and Zhuhai are gaining attention. For foreigners looking to work, live, and grow in China, these results provide a clear snapshot of where opportunities and quality of life are highest.

Source: Charming China—The Most Attractive Chinese Cities in the Eyes of Foreign Talent (2024 Survey)
Publisher: Foreign Talent Research Center, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security
Shared by: GBA Community