Immigrant numbers rise in cities

Business opportunities, better living conditions are seen as key attractions on Chinese mainland

Major cities on the Chinese mainland are attracting a growing number of immigrants from around the world, although the rate is still very low compared with major international metropolises such as Singapore, Sydney and New York.

Wang Huiyao, president of the Center for China and Globalization, said the number of people born in foreign countries who are working and living in Beijing had increased by more than 50 percent from 2000 to 2013 and now account for about 0.5 percent of its total population.