Top 5 Chinese cities to retire in 2013 (4)

English>>China Society

Editor's Pick

Top 5 Chinese cities to retire in 2013 (4)

By Lu Na (China.org.cn) 11:10, August 30, 2013

Email|Print|Comments

twitter

facebook

Sina Microblog

Qingdao, Shandong province (Photo source: china.org.cn)

Grade 1 air quality: 101 days a year

Median home price: 9,494 yuan/per square meter

Also known as the Switzerland of the Orient, Qingdao is a beautiful port city located in the southeastern part of Shandong province. Embraced by water on three sides, Qingdao boasts the biggest beach in all of Asia. Qingdao is also home to the mellow Tsingtao beer, with the Qingdao International Beer Festival held here every year, attracting beer lovers from around the world. Qingdao is also a modern city full of life and activity. A prime location for those looking to live a full and rich life after retirement.

Hangzhou, the city with both a splendid natural scenery and a pleasant climate, claimed, for the third time, the first spot on an annual list of the county's best places for retirement, according to 2013 list released recently by the Chinese edition of Fortune magazine.

The survey started on May 18 and the magazine collected 1,038 valid questionnaires from 25,000 senior executives until June 18. It covers 50 cities of China and features eight grading indexes, which take into consideration quality of life, social welfare, harmony between urban and the natural landscape, cultural atmosphere, service provision and healthcare and housing for retirees.

The ranking suggests that when they retire, instead of residing in the prosperous cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, people look forward to leading a simple and traditional life in the country's second-tier cities. Besides, following the fast development of public welfare, medical facilities and related services, as well as their amazing scenery, these cities will attract more and more elite to retire.

The ratio of people who had plans to spend their life after retirement in another country was 57 percent, down by 5 percent compared to last year's nearly 62 percent. However, they still list Australia, Canada and New Zealand as their top three destinations.