Nanyang remains one of China’s top 100 cities

Nanyang in Henan province has appeared for the second time on a list compiling the top 100 cities in China, according to statistics released by the Warton Economic Institute on Oct 20.

Coming in at 90, one place down from last year, shows that the city has performed steadily in the first six months of 2016.

Statistics from the government show that Nanyang had a gross production value for the first half of the year of 123 billion yuan ($18.18 billion), a growth rate of 8.7 percent compared with the previous year – and the third highest growth rate in Henan province.

Nanyang has shown positive achievements and growth in other areas, such as culture. As of 2016, the city has founded 300 culture-related enterprises, reaping revenues of 13.05 billion yuan, a year-on-year growth of 16 percent, and provided jobs for 41,201 people, 24.4 percent up in 2015.

The city has also won great credit for its achievements in environmental conservation while pursuing rapid economic development. The city's Baihe National Wetland Park is ranked the best in the province. In addition, the total land area of organic production came to the top comparing with other prefecture-level cities around the country.

In July 2016, despite its large population of some 10 million residents, Nanyang was voted city with the highest happiness index in Henan province.

The list compiled by the Shanghai-based Warton Economic Institute, is evaluated according to a cities' comprehensive indexes of hard economy and soft economy. The hard economy indexes, which take up 61.8 percent, are taken from per capita GDP data and household savings rates; while soft economy indexes, which take up 38.2 percent, are in light of achievements on science and education, culture, public health and living environment.

Warton Economic Institute is an all-round and comprehensive research institute on macroeconomics, regional economics and enterprises development based in Shanghai. The list of "China's top 100 cities" is one of the authoritative lists demonstrating the current development situation of all Chinese cities, as well as to promote the cities to pursue higher goals.

An aerial view of Nanyang city. [Photo/Nanyang Daily]

Baihe National Wetland Park in Nanyang. [Photo/Nanyang Daily]

A performance is staged in Nanyang to promote traditional culture. [Photo/Nanyang Daily]