Which are China’s cities of the future?   

By Gabriel Crossley, China correspondent, The Economist

Until very recently, China’s young people, investors, consumers and creators flocked to just four cities: Beijing, the capital; Shanghai, a financial hub; Shenzhen, a tech centre; and Guangzhou, an export powerhouse. With giant populations, superior public services and gleaming infrastructure, these were dubbed “first-tier” cities by the government. But in 2025 China’s smaller cities will start to steal their thunder.