Shanghai is once again the top-ranked city within the Yangtze River Economic Belt for the ninth straight year.

This is according to a new survey published in Putuo District, in which Shanghai scored 64.99 out of 100 points among the 110 cities in the area.

Shanghai was followed in the ranking by Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province, Nanjing in Jiangsu Province, Chengdu in southwest Sichuan Province and Wuhan in central Hubei Province.

This was the ninth poll carried out by the Institute of Urban Development at East China Normal University, a major research institute listed by the Ministry of Education since 2015, Shine News reports. 

The findings from this latest poll were based on categories including comprehensive GDP, scientific innovation, economic development, exchange service and ecological support.

Shanghai was at the top of the rankings for scientific innovation, exchange services, and economic development, said Zeng Gang, the director of the institute.

“The Yangtze River Economic Belt exhibits a six-tier olive-shaped structure,” Zeng stated.

Indeed, Shanghai is at the helm of the structure, made up of 10 advanced regional centres, 36 specialised regional cities, 36 key regional cities with strategic advantages, 15 developing local cities and 12 local cities with specific limitations, he went on to add.

Nevertheless, the Yangtze River Economic Belt faces two key challenges, namely uneven development among cities and weak ecological collaboration, Zeng stated.

The results show Shanghai shines in economy and innovation but is trailing in ecology.

Zeng proposed a series of solutions to these challenges, including the promotion of a green economy, boosting innovation, improving ecological cooperation, increasing openness and bolstering regional governance.

The Yangtze River Economic Belt is comprised of 11 provinces and cities along the river, making up half of China’s population and economic activity.