A view of Nanjing (CFP)

Five Chinese cities - Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Guangzhou and Wuhan - were among the top ten cities on the Nature Index 2024 Science Cities ranking, recently released by Springer Nature at the Forum on Global Innovation Hubs and Science Cities, part of the Zhongguancun Forum series, in Beijing.

Notably, Nanjing rose one spot to claim fifth place compared to its 2023 ranking.

The ranking highlights the world’s leading cities and metropolitan areas based on research outputs published in the journals tracked by the Nature Index, providing insights into global scientific development trends. It shows that China’s provincial capitals are increasingly establishing themselves as globally competitive centers for research.

Chinese cities have maintained or solidified their leadership in most disciplines tracked by the Nature Index. Nanjing ranks third globally in chemistry and, for the first time, surpasses Boston and New York to secure third place in physical sciences. Additionally, the city has consistently held the second position in Earth and environmental sciences over the past four years.