Shanghai Tops China Foreign Talent Attractiveness Index, Beijing and Guangzhou Follow
On.cc · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Shanghai has been named the most attractive city in China for foreign talent, according to the 2025-2026 China City Foreign Talent Attractiveness Index released on September 28 at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Hangzhou International Talent Exchange and Project Cooperation Conference. The annual ranking, published by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security's Foreign Talent Research Center, evaluated 81 cities and identified clear geographic and economic patterns in talent distribution .
Key Points
- The survey collected 6,258 valid questionnaires from foreign professionals across 81 cities with high concentrations of international talent
- The top 10 most attractive cities ranked as: Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Shenzhen, Suzhou, Qingdao, Nanjing, Chengdu, and Xiamen
- Shanghai and Beijing both appeared in the top 3 of three separate rankings: "City of Opportunity," "Livable City," and "Inclusive City"
- Analysis examined three dimensions: job satisfaction, living convenience, and social inclusivity using quantitative methods
- Five key characteristics define attractive cities: science and innovation hubs in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Yangtze River Delta, and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area; emerging industry clusters; safe and inclusive environments; efficient government services; and county-level cities with distinctive talent incentives
Why It Matters
Over 60 percent of high-level foreign experts surveyed expressed desire for long-term career development in China, signaling the country's growing appeal as a destination for global talent. For Hong Kong, which competes for international professionals within the Greater Bay Area, these rankings highlight both competitive pressures and potential collaboration opportunities in positioning the region as an integrated talent hub .
Over 60 percent of high-level foreign experts surveyed expressed desire for long-term career development in China, signaling the country's growing appeal as a destination for global talent. For Hong Kong, which competes for international professionals within the Greater Bay Area, these rankings highlight both competitive pressures and potential collaboration opportunities in positioning the region as an integrated talent hub .