China, like the United States or Europe, is a diverse land with different cultures and languages.
As someone who has traveled the country extensively, I have seen firsthand how unique one province can be from another.
Economically, China has developed spectacularly over the past half-century, and a middle class has emerged; however, this evolution has not occurred at the same rate across the country.
A company’s marketing campaign and popular products may qatar whatsapp number differ from region to region, not merely due to culture but because of the economic level of the citizens.
Therefore, before entering the Chinese market, it may be a good idea to understand the layout of the country so your business can be familiar with its target market.
This article will address the following questions:
What is China’s city tier system, and why should foreign companies be aware of it?
How does this city tier system relate to China’s regions?
Table of Contents
China’s City Tier System
China’s Different Regions
Eastern China
Direct-administered Municipalities
The Southern Coast
Northeast China
Central China
Henan
Summary
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China’s City Tier System
China’s cities are often categorized by a tier system.
While there is no official list denoting which cities are which, it is generally understood that statistics regarding the following play a role:
Development
Economics
Education
Transportation systems
Tier 1 cities (T1) are regarded as the most developed cities while tier 3 cities (T3) are seen as less so. Depending on the source, some lists define cities as tier 4 (T4) level and lower.
One can generally assume that the higher-tier cities will exist in more developed provinces, especially on the coast where China’s economy has made the most from international trade.
Another easy-to-remember tip is that provincial capitals tend to be higher tiers compared to other cities in a given province.
Here’s a guide to how Chinese cities are ranked.