Suzhou of Jiangsu province has been rated as China's best third-tier city in terms of economic performance by US independent think tank Milken Institute.

 

It is the first time the institute compiled such ranking. The list ranks 266 Chinese cities, 232 of which are third-tier.

 

Seven of the top 10 best-performing third-tier cities are in Jiangsu province, as they have benefited from Shanghai's proximity and an influx of talent and technology.

 

The rankings are based on economic performance, including job and income growth, gross regional product, and foreign direct investment, as well as the strength of high value-added industries.

 

Here are the top 10 third-tier cities compiled by Milken Institute.

 

 

1. Suzhou

Overall ranking in China: 1

Total population: 6.54 million

 

2. Nantong, Jiangsu province

Overall ranking in China: 3

Total population: 7.67 million

 

3. Yangzhou, Jiangsu province

Overall ranking in China: 4

Total population: 4.6 million

 

4. Suqian, Jiangsu province

Overall ranking in China: 5

Total population: 5.72 million

 

5. Taizhou, Jiangsu province

Overall ranking in China: 6

Total population: 5.08 million

 

6. Qingyang, Gansu province

Overall ranking in China: 8

Total population: 2.64 million

 

7. Changzhou, Jiangsu province

Overall ranking in China: 10

Total population: 3.66 million 

 

8. Wuxi, Jiangsu province

Overall ranking in China: 13

Total population: 4.72 million

 

9.Ji'an, Jiangxi province

Overall ranking in China: 16

Total population: 5.09 million

 

10. Yichang, Hubei province

Overall ranking in China: 17

Total population: 4 million