Xiamen in South China's Fujian province was the 19th most economically competitive city in China in 2016, according to a new report evaluating the economic performance of 294 Chinese cities by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
Shenzhen took the first spot in the list, followed by Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taipei, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Beijing, Macao, Suzhou and Wuhan.
Experts said that by making it into the top 20, Xiamen's performance in 2016 was quite impressive.
The city's ranking indicates that its efforts to establish itself as a demonstration city for China's "five development concepts" of innovation, harmonization, sustainability, openness and sharing are paying off.
Xiamen scored particularly highly in metrics related to these concepts, ranking fifth in terms of livability and 15th for sustainability.
This is likely a reflection of the municipal government's people-oriented development strategy, which has focused on improving the lives of local residents by expanding the city's metro system and regulating the property market.
Xiamen has also made significant progress in accelerating the transformation and upgrading of its traditional industries and improving the city's investment environment.
Tourists walk down a street on Gulangyu island in Xiamen, Fujian province. [Photo/VCG]
People ride bikes along a coastal road in Xiamen, Fujian province. [Photo/VCG]
China announced and implemented on May 15 a policy allowing visa-free entry of foreign tourist groups aboard cruise ships via all cruise ship ports along the country's coastline.
China and Georgia are set to waive visa requirements for travelers starting May 28.
