I recently looked at some data and became very interested in the ranking of the wealthiest cities in China. I found an interesting phenomenon: these cities not only lead in per capita income, but behind them, each also has its own distinct industries that support them.

The top few cities aren’t surprising. Shanghai has a per capita income of 88,300, and Beijing has 85,000; these two first-tier cities still firmly hold the top tier. Shenzhen ranks third with a per capita income of 81,100. As one of the world’s two major tech hubs, all of the tech industry leaders—such as Huawei, Tencent, BYD, and DJI—are gathered here. Guangzhou follows closely with a per capita income of 77,800; as the capital of Guangdong Province, the province’s overall economic support helps this city continue to develop.

What’s interesting is that the cities in the Yangtze River Delta region are also performing exceptionally well. Suzhou has a per capita income of 77,500; it was once the world’s #1 industrial output city and has long been competing with Shanghai and Shenzhen for the top positions. Hangzhou has 76,700; as Zhejiang’s capital, it attracts capital and talent from across the province. Ningbo has 75,000; it has the world’s largest port. Saudi oil, Australian iron ore, Indonesian coal, and American soybeans all pass through Ningbo Port to enter the Chinese market, and its industrial output ranks within the top ten nationwide.

Zhejiang also has an interesting detail: in the ranking of the wealthiest cities in Zhejiang, Shaoxing has a per capita income of 72,900. Although it ranks lower, it is backed by a strong private economy. The owner of Nongfu Spring—the richest person in China—comes from Shaoxing, and so does Jack Ma. Behind these richest cities in China, each one has its own economic story.

Xiamen in Fujian is also worth paying attention to. Its per capita income is 74,200. Wealthy people in Fujian are even more inclined to settle in Xiamen, which has led housing prices to even surpass those in Hangzhou and Guangzhou. Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu Province, has a per capita income of 74,800, and it is also in this tier of the wealthiest cities in China.

Looking at this data, I think that for university graduates, choosing to work in these richest cities in China can indeed lead to higher income. These cities not only have high per capita income, but also have well-developed industrial supply chains behind them. Whether it’s technology, manufacturing, or trade, they offer mature employment opportunities. Interestingly, these cities also show strong economic resilience—during the pandemic, they all performed well. If you’re considering a career development direction, these richest cities in China are definitely worth focusing on. Recently, I’ve also been following some assets related to industries in these cities on Gate—if you’re interested, you can check the market yourself.