Best Quality of Life Cities in China? Ranked?

Hi Everyone,

I cannot say how much I appreciate the intellectual debates we have. It just gives my life a deeper meaning.

This post is not about where to make money, or where to travel, but places with the highest quality of life.

Can we post?

My GPT's take is:

Chengdu
Relaxed lifestyle and vibrant culture.
Renowned for its cuisine and green city initiatives.

Hangzhou
Scenic beauty, especially West Lake.
Affordable and safe, popular with students and expatriates.

Shanghai
Cosmopolitan lifestyle with diverse cultural options.
High standard of living with improved air quality and green spaces.

Suzhou
Classical gardens and canals.
Combines historical charm with modern amenities.

Hong Kong
Highly developed infrastructure and global city status.
Excellent public services and life expectancy.

Nanjing
Rich in history, culture, and green spaces.
Affordable and offers strong educational and healthcare facilities.

Shenzhen
Modern and innovative with a thriving tech industry.
Offers a dynamic urban lifestyle.

I also happen to agree with all of this. Everyone I know who has been to Chengdu says it is the best.

I wonder if Qingdao would also make the list.

Your AI bot doesn't seem to care about affordability.  Some of the cities names are VERY expensive.  For example, Hong Kong is a fascinating place.  I can get to HK very quickly from where I live, but seldom go there.  The reason is that the cost of spending even 24 hours in HK is crazy compared to most of China.

Shenzhen is much less expensive to visit than HK, but housing is on the expensive side for those who want to move in and live in a convenient location.  This applies in a number of the cities named.

Since the question is quality of life, you really need to take long term housing costs and other unavoidable expenses vs. the possibly higher salaries into account.  It does no good to get a job with a BIG salary if your basic cost of living only leave you a tiny amount of money for discretionary spending.