Core Insights - The 2025 "Charm Ranking" released by the New First-Tier Cities Research Institute shows a reshuffling of 70 third-tier cities, with Zhongshan ranked 3rd, Nanyang 11th, and Shantou 16th, highlighting their competitive advantages in industry, population, and consumption [1][8]. Group 1: Zhongshan - Zhongshan's rise to 3rd place is attributed to its advantageous location as "Shenzhen West," with the Shenzhong Passage expected to open next year, reducing travel time to 20 minutes [3]. - The city has attracted 210 high-end manufacturing projects from Shenzhen, with a total investment exceeding 180 billion yuan, while also modernizing traditional industrial clusters, leading to the highest industrial profit growth rate in the province for two consecutive years [3]. - With housing prices only one-third of Shenzhen's and an increase of 80,000 permanent residents in six months, Zhongshan's commercial appeal has significantly increased [3]. Group 2: Nanyang - Nanyang, ranked 11th, has transformed from a "Central Grain Warehouse" to a "Central Medicine Valley," leveraging its reputation as the hometown of traditional Chinese medicine [5]. - The city has developed three trillion-yuan industrial chains in traditional Chinese medicine, mugwort, and meat products, with a national-level traditional Chinese medicine high-tech zone established [5]. - Nanyang's transportation infrastructure, including the intersection of the Jiaotang and Nanjin high-speed railways, facilitates access to major cities, contributing to a significant influx of labor and a notable increase in the local consumer market [5]. Group 3: Shantou - Shantou, ranked 16th, capitalizes on its dual strengths of being a "Hometown of Overseas Chinese" and a port city [7]. - Over the past decade, Shantou has introduced 460 overseas Chinese-funded projects, and the second phase of the Guoao Port has been put into operation, achieving an annual throughput of over 4 million TEUs [7]. - The city has successfully turned local specialties like Chaoshan cuisine, toys, and underwear into popular live-streaming products, with its express delivery volume ranking in the top 20 nationwide, fostering entrepreneurship among young people [7].

Core Insights - The 2025 "New First-Tier City Charm Ranking" reveals the vitality rankings of 70 third-tier cities in China, with Zhongshan, Urumqi, and Lanzhou taking the top three spots [1][3][15] - The ranking serves as an important window for observing the development tiers of Chinese cities [1] Group 1: City Rankings and Characteristics - Zhongshan ranks third among third-tier cities, benefiting from its position as a key node in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and leveraging the historical opportunities brought by the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link [3][15] - Urumqi and Lanzhou occupy the first and second positions, respectively, showcasing their competitive advantages [1][15] - Handan, ranked tenth, represents a northern industrial city undergoing transformation, focusing on green and high-end upgrades of traditional industries while fostering new growth sectors [5][7] Group 2: Economic and Industrial Development - Handan is positioned as a significant player in the regional industrial chain reconstruction, reflecting the determination and initial success of old industrial bases [7][15] - Fuyang, ranked fourteenth, is emerging as a stronghold in central China, converting its population dividend into talent and market dividends, with rapid development momentum [7][8] - The introduction of new industries in Fuyang, such as renewable energy and electronic information, indicates a growing industrial layout [9] Group 3: Common Characteristics of Third-Tier Cities - Third-tier cities exhibit distinct common characteristics, acting as regional engines, with cities like Ganzhou, Yichang, and Wuhu playing crucial roles in their respective provincial or regional developments [11][13] - These cities are focusing on unique development paths, such as tourism in Guilin and Sanya, industrial development in Liuzhou and Zibo, and leveraging policy and location advantages in Haikou and Yinchuan [13] - The dual role of these cities as both important receivers of industrial spillover from core city clusters and as battlegrounds for local industrial upgrades underscores their significance in supporting resilient economic development in China [13][15]