Guangdong is China's richest province by total GDP, leading for decades, followed closely by Jiangsu, while Shandong ranks third, with these three coastal regions consistently forming China's economic powerhouses. For GDP per capita, more developed cities like Shanghai and Beijing often rank higher, but Guangdong remains the largest provincial economy overall, often compared to major global economies.
Gansu is among the poorest administrative divisions in China, ranking last in GDP per capita as of 2019. The state of Qin originated in what is now southeastern Gansu, and later established the first imperial dynasty in Chinese history.
The report, released by Hurun Report on Monday, lists 3,279 billionaires, with Tesla CEO Elon Musk ranked the wealthiest. China is still the world capital for billionaires, with 814, closely followed by the US with 800. In China, Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen are the top three cities for billionaires.
Jiangsu has the highest GDP per capita and second-highest GDP of Chinese provinces, after Guangdong.
The Most Beautiful Provinces and Autonomous Regions in China
The 16 best places for expats to live in China are Hangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Xi'an, Qingdao, Kunming, Tianjin, Nanjing, and Fuzhou. Read on to learn about what each city has to offer, where it is located, how big it is, and some brief pros and cons about it.
Topping the list of the wealthiest individuals is Zhong Shanshan, with a net worth of $72 bn. Often referred to as “the lone wolf billionaire,” Zhong made his fortune through Nongfu Spring bottled water and pharmaceutical ventures, representing the diversified nature of China's private wealth.
The most expensive city to live in China is Shanghai.
Rankings: Most Polluted Cities in China (2024)
Sichuan Province
Known colloquially as 'heavenly country', Sichuan has some of the most varied and delicious ingredients growing across the province. The largest of all cuisine regions, it has a huge array of dishes and cooking styles, but is most famed for a particular flavor – the Sichuan Peppercorn.
The areas of lowest living cost include Yingchuan,Luoyang, Xining, these cities all located in the northwest China where economy is comparatively lower than other cities, people lived in these cities could reduce the cost of living.
Huaxi Village (simplified Chinese: 华西新市村; traditional Chinese: 華西新市村; pinyin: Huáxī xīnshì cūn), located in the east of the city centre of Jiangyin, in Jiangsu Province, claims to be the richest village in China. Huaxi calls itself a model communist village.
Shanghai
"The very worthy #1, with more luxury brands than any other city in China can come close to matching, not only does Shanghai have innumerable shopping malls and luxury retail locations, but its Bund luxury district is among the finest in the world."
As of 2023, the five largest cities in China by population are Chongqing (31.91 million), Shanghai (24.87 million), Beijing (21.86 million), Chengdu (21.403 million) and Guangzhou (18.827 million).
Huangshan, often hailed as the most spectacular mountain in the world, is beloved for its unique pines, peculiar rocks, sea of clouds and hot springs – collectively known as the “Four Wonders”. With the main scenic area spanning 160 square kilometres, Huangshan is a must-see for anyone visiting China.
The nation of the Chiang family, The party of the Chen family, The sisters of the Soong family, The wealth of the Kung family.
The United States is richer than China when comparing total economic output (nominal GDP) and individual wealth (GDP per capita), but China leads in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) GDP, reflecting its massive domestic market's buying power, and has a larger overall economy by some measures, though the US remains ahead. The US has significantly more millionaires and billionaires, showing greater wealth concentration.
The number 1 billionaire in the world is Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, consistently holding the top spot with a fluctuating net worth in the hundreds of billions (around $600+ billion in early January 2026), followed closely by figures like Larry Page (Google/Alphabet) and Jeff Bezos (Amazon) as their company valuations shift, according to Forbes and Bloomberg reports.
Hangzhou Appraised as the Safest City in China -- china.org.cn. Hangzhou tops the list in an investigation on "safety index" among 37 cities in China , including Hong Kong and Macao . The information was announced by the Hangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau in a news release held last Friday.
China's "3-hour rule" for minors restricts children under 18 to playing online video games for only three hours per week, specifically from 8 PM to 9 PM on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, to combat gaming addiction and improve health. Implemented by the National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) in 2021, the rule mandates gaming companies use real-name verification and facial recognition to enforce limits, though some children bypass it using adult accounts.
Shanghai has the highest density of English speakers in China, thanks to its: Role as a global financial hub. Expat communities.