Chongqing, Chengdu top new first-tier cities by population

Among China's 15 new first-tier cities, two saw their permanent population surpass 20 million, while 11 are over the 10 million mark, Chinese financial media outlet Yicai reported.

According to the latest ranking of Chinese cities for commercial attraction released by Yicai on May 27, China's 15 new first-tier cities are Chengdu, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Xi'an, Suzhou, Wuhan, Nanjing, Tianjin, Zhengzhou, Changsha, Dongguan, Foshan, Ningbo, Qingdao and Shenyang.

Chongqing municipality, with a total permanent population of 32.05 million, took the top spot among 15 new first-tier cities, followed by Chengdu with 20.94 million and Tianjin with 13.87 million.

Due to the rapid development of the new economy and digital economy, the population of Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, experienced a rapid increase, with a total permanent population of nearly 12 million.

Dongguan in Guangdong province, Qingdao in Shandong province and Changsha in Hunan province are newcomers to the 10 million population city ranking, and Dongguan has become the third city seeing its permanent population top 10 million after Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

Over the past 10 years, 13 new first-tier cities saw their permanent population increase by over 1 million, and 10 cities surpassed 2 million, Yicai said.

In terms of population increases, Chengdu grabbed the top spot. Compared with 2010, Chengdu's permanent population increased by 5.82 million. The proportion of the city's population in Sichuan province also rose to 25.02 percent from 18.8 percent in 2010.

According to the Chengdu Bureau Statistics, since the national population census was launched in 1953, Chengdu's permanent population has been on the rise. The city's attraction and gathering effects are also increasing, with optimized urban spatial structure, and a better business and employment environment.

In addition, Xi'an city in Shaanxi province, saw its population increase by 4.49 million or 52.97 percent over the past 10 years. It is the only one that registered a growth rate of over 50 percent among the 15 new first-tier cities.