Core Insights - The report published by the New First-tier Cities Research Institute ranks Chengdu as the top new first-tier city in China for 2025, achieving a perfect score of 100 [1] - Chengdu leads in various dimensions such as resource aggregation, urban hub characteristics, and future potential, while it ranks lower in new economic competitiveness [8] Resource Aggregation - Chengdu and Chongqing significantly outperform other new first-tier cities like Hangzhou and Wuhan in terms of commercial resource aggregation due to their unique geographical advantages [3] - The time lag for brand introduction in Chengdu is only 1.5 months compared to Shanghai, while other cities like Hangzhou and Nanjing remain within a six-month range [3] Urban Hub Characteristics - Chengdu, Xi'an, and Hangzhou form the top tier in urban hub characteristics, with Chengdu slightly ahead [4] - In 2024, Chengdu's international air hub passenger throughput is expected to exceed 87 million, ranking third nationally and among the top 20 globally [4] - Chengdu serves as a critical junction for the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the Silk Road Economic Belt, with over 5,700 China-Europe freight trains operated last year, the highest in the country [4] Urban Activity Levels - Chengdu exhibits significantly higher urban activity levels compared to other new first-tier cities, even surpassing major first-tier cities like Guangzhou and Shenzhen [5] - During the Spring Festival, Chengdu ranked first in national ticket sales for flights and car rentals, second in hotel bookings, and third in movie box office revenue [5] Future Potential - Chengdu leads in future potential among new first-tier cities, hosting 65 universities with over 2.8 million enrolled students [7] - The city is home to 16 national laboratories and major scientific facilities, with R&D expenditure intensity projected to reach 3.2% in 2024 and patent authorizations exceeding 200,000 [7] - Chengdu has 68 top-tier hospitals, the highest in Western China, and a higher number of practicing physicians per capita compared to the national average [7] New Economic Competitiveness - Chengdu's score in new economic competitiveness is 80.46, ranking seventh nationally and third among new first-tier cities, trailing behind Suzhou and Hangzhou [8] - The city has developed three major industrial clusters: electronic information, equipment manufacturing, and pharmaceutical health, with leading companies like BOE Technology Group and Huawei [8] Other Cities - Wuhan has surpassed Suzhou to rank eighth nationally due to its advantages in resource aggregation, urban hub characteristics, urban activity levels, and future potential [10] - Hefei has made the most significant progress, rising four positions, while Wuxi has seen the largest decline, dropping four positions [10]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the 2025 "New First-tier Cities Charm Ranking," highlighting the top cities and the criteria used for ranking, emphasizing the importance of commercial development and living conditions over GDP alone [1][3][12]. Ranking Overview - The top four cities remain Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou, classified as first-tier cities. The new first-tier cities ranked from 5th to 19th include Chengdu, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Wuhan, Suzhou, Xi'an, Nanjing, Changsha, Zhengzhou, Tianjin, Hefei, Qingdao, Dongguan, Ningbo, and Foshan [1]. - Wuxi has dropped to 21st place, while Foshan has risen to 15th place among new first-tier cities [1]. Criticism of the Ranking - Critics argue that the ranking does not accurately reflect economic totality (GDP) or development level (per capita GDP) [2][3]. - The debate around city rankings often involves personal biases, with individuals favoring their hometowns or chosen cities [2]. Understanding the Ranking Criteria - The ranking focuses more on the "city" aspect, particularly the central urban area, rather than the entire city including suburban areas [3][4]. - Cities with larger central urban areas tend to rank higher, as seen with Chengdu, which has a significant population in its central districts [4]. Economic and Demographic Insights - The article compares the GDP and retail sales growth of "high-ranking" and "low-ranking" cities from 2015 to 2024, noting that "high-ranking cities" generally show stronger growth in both GDP and retail sales [9][10]. - The population growth in "high-ranking cities" is significantly higher than in "low-ranking cities," indicating a trend of urban migration towards more vibrant economic centers [10][11]. Conclusion on Investment Potential - The article suggests that the "New First-tier Cities" ranking serves as a leading indicator for future economic performance, with cities that attract more residents likely to perform better in the long run [12]. - For individuals considering relocation or investment, the ranking provides valuable insights into urban dynamics and economic opportunities [12].

Group 1 - The 2025 "New First-tier Cities Charm Ranking" lists Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou as first-tier cities, while Chengdu, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Wuhan, Suzhou, Xi'an, Nanjing, Changsha, Zhengzhou, Tianjin, Hefei, Qingdao, Dongguan, Ningbo, and Foshan are classified as new first-tier cities [1] - Wuxi has dropped to 21st place among all cities, ranking second among second-tier cities, while Foshan has risen to 15th place among new first-tier cities [4] - The ranking has sparked debates online, with critics arguing that it does not accurately reflect economic total (GDP) or the level of development (per capita GDP) of cities [5][6] Group 2 - The "New First-tier Cities" ranking emphasizes the importance of commercial consumption and living conditions over GDP, suggesting that cities with vibrant commercial sectors rank higher [9][10] - The ranking focuses on the central urban areas of cities, which can lead to discrepancies between GDP rankings and the new first-tier cities ranking [8][11] - The data indicators used in the ranking reflect a value system that prioritizes commercial vitality and livability, indicating that cities with strong third industries and attractive living conditions tend to perform better [17][29] Group 3 - A comparison of 18 cities from 2015 to 2024 shows that "high-ranking cities" have outperformed "low-ranking cities" in terms of retail sales, GDP growth, and population increase [19][20][21] - "High-ranking cities" have seen a significant increase in average housing prices compared to "low-ranking cities," indicating stronger market performance [22][23] - The overall performance of "high-ranking cities" in attracting population, capital, and housing prices has been notably superior to that of "low-ranking cities" [24][25] Group 4 - The "New First-tier Cities" ranking serves as a leading indicator, suggesting that cities with higher rankings are more capable of attracting residents and investments [26][28] - The ranking reflects a trend where cities with strong central urban areas and developed third industries have consistently performed better over the years [29]