A view of Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo/WeChat account: qdfbwx]

The eastern coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province was recognized as one of the top 10 "cities of admiration" in China during the list-release gala of the China Good Life City (2020-21) event held in Chengdu, Sichuan province on April 23.

Other listed cities included Shanghai, Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Kunming, Lhasa, Chongqing, and Xiamen.

The event, which has been held for the past 15 years, was put on by the Central Radio and Television Station, the National Bureau of Statistics, China Post Group, and Peking University's National School of Development.

During the forum, city leaders, analysts, famous entrepreneurs, and cultural scholars shared their experiences in the development of "good life" cities, as well as discussed social, economic, and cultural development trends based on the latest survey data.

Five city lists were released at the event: "cities of great beauty," "cities of elegance," "cities of yearning," "cities of admiration," and "cities of comfort."

Qingdao is a picturesque vista of red-tiled roofs nestled between green hills and a blue sea. Its mild climate and spectacular scenery make the city a popular health and holiday destination.

According to the survey, Qingdao topped the list in employment environment. Many female residents feel happy living in the city, ranking second among Chinese cities included in the survey.

Ni Zijun, deputy director of the Management Committee of the Social Psychological Service Research Center of Tsinghua University, said that her hometown Qingdao is a beautiful city with wonderful natural views, historic cultural attractions, and a livable environment based on its flourishing tourism industry.

Ni added that Qingdao performed well in improving the employment security system and providing policy guarantees for enterprises and talents who have come there to start their own businesses.