Top 9 most-livable cities in China

Pleasant climate, beautiful environment, and delicious food are the three basic criteria that make a city most livable.

Here is a look at the top 9 most-livable cities in China ranked by Mingsheng Weekly.

No 9 Zhuhai, Guangdong province

The average temperature in Zhuhai is around 22.4 degree Centigrade (72.3 degree Fahrenheit). As a peaceful and romantic city, it also has a very pleasant ecological environment.

Life in the city is quiet and relaxed. With the least population and low housing prices in Guangdong, the prefecture-level city is considered one of the best places for retirement in China.

No 8 Chengdu, Sichuan province

Chengdu is famous for its gentle pace of living. You can find everything that a big city has while enjoying the peace that only small towns can provide at the same time.

The city boasts best medical care services in China, particularly compared to other inland cities, with about 20 first-class hospitals. Besides, medical care costs are much lower than mega cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai.

No 7 Yangzhou, Jiangsu province

Yangzhou is an ancient city with very rich history. Some of China's most creative and eye-catching dishes come from the Yangzhou school of cuisine called Huaiyang. Huaiyang cuisine is a distinctive and masterful skill that locals are quite proud of.

No 6 Kunming, Yunnan province

Dubbed as a "Spring City", Kunming's weather, which is neither too hot in summer nor too cold in winter, is very favorable for retirement. Plus, air quality is high and living cost low.

No 5 Xiamen, Fujian province

As an international harbor city, it has one of the best environments and is the most desirable tourist destination in the country. It was once called "Eastern Hawaii" by Richard Nixon, former president of the United States.

Xiamen has subtropical climate and the average temperature here is around 21 degree Centigrade (69.8 degree Fahrenheit). The seafood here is the biggest attraction.

No 4 Dalian, Liaoning province

With favorable weather, the coastal city is considered one of the most livable places in China and beyond. It has been included in the "Global Top 500" list maintained by the United Nations Environment Program.

Chinese netizens selected Dalian as the happiest city in China. The city has oceanic climate with four distinct seasons. But you will never experience severe winter or burning summer here.

No 3 Suzhou, Jiangsu province

Up above there is Paradise, down here there are Suzhou and Hangzhou. That is an old saying used to describe the beautiful and enjoyable environment, both culturally and naturally, in the two cities. Besides, living costs in Suzhou city are relatively low. Suzhou is often dubbed the "Venice of the East" or "Venice of China".

No 2 Haikou, Hainan province

Air quality in the city is best in China. And its housing prices are among the lowest in the country's coastal cities.

The annual average temperature in Haikou is 24.2 degree Centigrade (75.6 degree Fahrenheit).

No 1 Qingdao, Shandong province

With pleasant scenery, the coastal city tops the list of China's happiest cities and was awarded "China Habitat Environment Prize" in 2012.