The 10 Fastest-Changing Cities in China

China’s economy has been growing rapidly in last decades, and the landscape has changed drastically with the rapid development. As of 2012, China’s urbanization rate has surpassed 50%, great changes can be easily found in many fast-growing cities. Below are the 10 fastest-growing cities in China and you can witness the great changes through these pictures.

1. Shenzhen

Shenzen was a small fishing village before 1980, now it has become a booming metropolis. Established in 1980, Shenzhen is the country’s first special economic zone. Shenzhen is one of the country’s most developed cities and one of the fastest-growing cities in the world.

2. Guangzhou

As one of the early cities open to the outside world, Guangzhou’s economy develops vigorously since 1980. Today 170 Fortune 500 companies have investments in Guangzhou. Guangzhou is considered one of the first-tier cities together with Beijing and Shanghai.

3. Hong Kong

Hong Kong is known as one of the world’s leading international financial centers. It has been the world’s freest economy and has been one of the world’s most competitive economies for years.

4.  Shanghai

Shanghai is dubbed “Pearl of the Orient”. Since the country`s opening in 1980s. Shanghai has expanded to a major business center for many companies from around the world. Today Shanghai is one of the world’s top destinations for finance, economics and urban tourism.

5. Beijing

Beijing is one of the most developed cities and economic centers in China. Beijing has the second largest number of Fortune Global 500 companies’ headquarters in the world, according to the business magazine Fortune.

6. Dalian

Dalian is the second biggest city in Liaoning province next only to the provincial capital Shenyang city. Dalian is a regional financial center and an important global shipment center and logistics hub in Northeast Asia.

7. Nanjing

Situated in the Yangtze River Delta economical region, Nanjing has long been one of China’s most important cities. Nanjing is the second-largest business centre in the East China area after Shanghai.

8. Xiamen

Xiamen is a major city on the southeast coast of China. Its economy has grown significantly since it was named as one of China’s Special Economic Zones in the early 1980s. Xiamen is ranked as one of China’s “most suitable city for living” as well as China’s “most romantic leisure city.”

9. Tianjin

Tianjin is a metropolis in northern China and one of the country’s 5 major cities. Not only is it an international shipping harbor and heavy industrial center in northern China, but it is also well-known for its historical and cultural heritage.

10 Chongqing
Chongqing is one of the largest and fastest growing modern urban centres in the world. The dense forest of newly-built skyscrapers are sprouting up in every direction, now this mountainous city has become one of China’s leading municipalities in mid-west regions