Shenzhen was ranked behind Shanghai and Beijing in a new report, but ahead of Chengdu, Guangzhou and Tianjin
Shenzhen ranked as China’s third most globally influential city
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Shenzhen has earned third place in a report on China’s most influential cities in 2025 jointly published by China Daily, Peking University and Tsinghua University last week.
The International Communication Influence of Chinese Cities listed Shanghai and Beijing in first and second place respectively.
Other cities featured included Chengdu (4), Guangzhou (5), Tianjin (6), Hangzhou (7), Chongqing (8), Wuhan (9), Xiamen (10), Qingdao (11) and Suzhou (12).
How was the influential city ranking determined?
According to China Daily, each of the cities were ranked by analysing prime metrics such as visibility, media attention, online discussion, regional influence and international reputation, as well as nine secondary ones that included social media mentions, mainstream media coverage, post views, reporting by foreign language media and social media engagement.
In terms of scoring, Shenzhen earned 89.53 points out of 100, with Shanghai and Beijing recording a total of 92.42 points and 92.00 points respectively.
Notably, the report stated that the listed Chinese cities were no longer simply relying on population scale and economic measurements to exert influence. Instead, they were also boosting their global reputation through their unique city identities, distinct narratives and increasing connection to the world.
What is Shenzhen excelling at?
Shenzhen’s high ranking is not surprising, given that the city has been making strides across various areas, most notably technology and innovation.
According to the Shenzhen Robotics Industry Development white paper published in April 2026, the local robotics industry’s 2025 output reached a record-breaking total of roughly 242.6 billion yuan (US$35.5 billion), an increase of 20.56 percent year-on-year.
The city’s reputation as a leading tech centre was also highlighted by the 2026 Fortune Global 500, which featured Shenzhen tech giants such as Huawei, BYD, Tencent and China Electronics.
[See more: Shenzhen’s humanoid edge: how the city is leading the robot world]
Shenzhen’s education sector has been making strides as well, with the 2026 Academic Ranking of World Universities listed four Shenzhen universities. They included Shenzhen’s top-ranked tertiary institution, Southern University of Science and Technology (101-150), Shenzhen University (151-200), the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (401-500), Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology (801-900).
What other Chinese cities are growing in influence?
Aside from the top 12 cities listed, the 2026 report mentioned three new growth drivers in China.
Innovation was being advanced by cities such as Hefei and Jinan, which were excelling in areas like the low-altitude economy and sustainable urban development. Changsha and Datong were singled out for advancing China’s cultural influence. Changchun, Ningbo and Nanning were praised for their openness.
The report noted that Changchun was transitioning from an industrial hub to a global manufacturing connector. Moreover, Ningbo was shifting from being a port city to an international gateway for connectivity, while Nanning was said to be turning from a border city into a link for regional cooperation.
