Shenzhen ranks first among 15 key "cities of opportunity", according to a study released on March 20.

The Cities of Opportunity study, a joint venture of the China Development Research Foundation and PricewaterhouseCoopers, covers 15 Chinese cities: Tianjin, Shenyang, Dalian, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Xiamen, Qingdao, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Nanning, Chongqing, Xi'an and Urumqi.

The rated cities are important hubs for regional development in China, as well as primary gateways for international economic exchanges. Because Beijing and Shanghai are large international Chinese cities, they were excluded.

Through a statistical analysis of 60 variables from 10 indicators, the report evaluated competitiveness, influence and potential of the 15 cities. It also explored the direction of the cities' development and their key challenges.

The 10 indicators are intellectual capital and innovation, regional city gateway, technology readiness, health, safety and security, transportation and urban planning, sustainable development and natural environment, demographics and livability, economic clout, and ease of doing business and cost.