which city is the most affluent in China?

Question

I could only guess Shanghai or Shenzhen. China's rapidly growing economy has changed all the major cities...I lived there for well over five years and the cities have changed to the point where if you were to leave for a few years and come back to that city you would get lost...The development is impressive......I miss my Kung fu teacher, this year I wont't be in China......

Answer 1

From your question, it sounded like you do not consider Hong Kong to be a normal part of China (it seems like your definition of Special Administrative Region excludes Hong Kong from your survey). Otherwise, the top city in China economically would be Hong Kong. Excluding Hong Kong...

Shanghai is now the most affluent city in (Mainland) China by far. According to China's People's Daily Newspaper, out of China's top cities... "Shanghai takes leads in overall economic output, urban infrastructure, basic resources, level of industrialization and many other indicators. " According to the newspaper, the best city in China for universities (a different way to measure afluence) is Beijing. And the top cities for social insurance are in Guangdong Province (Guangzhou & Shenzhen).

Originally, when China first started to open up economically to the world, the government was worried that the result would not be good. So they opened up small pockets within China (called Special Economic Zones). Shenzhen was one of the first such SEZ's, as was Guangzhou (and they benefitted from the proximity to Hong Kong and investors from that city). Both of those cities' economies grew rapidly, much earlier than Shanghai (as Shanghai was still closed to foreign investment at the time). When the government saw that the SEZ system was successful, they opened up part of Shanghai (they didn't want to risk what they felt was their most important city economically). One of the first parts of Shanghai that was open to foreign investment was Hongqiao, which is why that area developed rapidly. Now, the entire city is open to investment, and since it opened up, it has been booming. Part of the reason is the massive amounts of foreign economic investment in Shanghai. But also, the Shanghai government has managed the city well. And Shanghai's already existing infrastructure helped. And the availability of a tremendous population outside of Shanghai in the River Delta area, who have flooded to the city to work - has really given the economic development in Shanghai a strong boost (with lots of cheap labour).

Some indications of economic success are visible in the outlook of the city. Shanghai now has the fastest train in the world - the Maglev (magneticaly levitated - ie, no wheels!). And they are about to complete the world's tallest building (which will probably be surpassed next year by a new building in Dubai), while they already have the Jinmao Tower, one of the tallest buildings in the world. In terms of streets, shopping malls, etc, visiting Shanghai is the top in China. Also, property prices in Shanghai are the highest in mainland China, a sign of affluence (in a way).

You are absolutey right that the pace of development in Shanghai (and in many other top cities in China) is incredible. It's very true that if you leave for even a year and go back, there are continually major changes. That is the result of the 9+% annual economic growth in China. China is now already the 3rd largest economy in the world (it recently passed Germany). And it is growing so quickly that it will probably overtake Japan and the USA within the next 20 years or so.

Maybe you can send your Kungfu teacher an email or give him/her a call to say hi?

If you have any more questions, just let me know.

Answer 2

If you mean where people have most money, then Shenzhen probably.
If you mean general affluence of the city itself to spend on buildings and outdoor development, then right now its Shanghai.

Chongqing may be the most populous city but is far behind other cities on wealth.

Answer 3

excluding Hong Kong, which in my option is one of the best cities in the entire world, it would be Shanghai for sure, the building and buildings themselves are great and impressive as you said, I hope you get a chance to return

Answer 4

Currently Shanghai. It is an amazing place. I was there in Aug. of 2005.

Answer 5

Shanghai, or Hong Kong.

Answer 6

its Chungking. Its one of the newest cities built, but has somehow now become the biggest city in China.