Renowned for its pristine air, this southern Chinese city has become known for “Nanning Blue”, a reference to both its air quality (ranking #50) as well as its draw of talent and investment. Also dubbed China’s Green City, Nanning boasts a forest coverage rate of 43.81%, securing #30 in our Tree Cover subcategory. The city’s commitment to green living is further facilitated by its year-round mild climate as much as by its sustainability kudos—which include being named China’s inaugural National Ecological Garden City and a pilot metropolis for “sponge city” rainwater and flood management projects and investments. As China’s closest provincial capital to the headquarters of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Jakarta, Nanning has carved out a vital role as the gateway for China-ASEAN co-operation, propelling the city to an impressive #54 in our overall Prosperity index. In recent years, Nanning has been on a transformative journey, reshaping its urban landscape with the development of its metropolitan area. The city has identified electronic information, advanced equipment manufacturing and biomedicine as the engines driving its economic ascent. With the completion of the Pinglu Canal in 2026, Nanning will unveil the most efficient sea route to the Beibu Gulf, setting the stage for a new era in urban form and industrial innovation.