The index, conducted by the Renmin University of China, surveyed the Chinese mainland's 31 provinces and divided them into four categories in terms of their development level.

Beijing, capital of China, and Shanghai are the only two cities in the top section. Tianjin, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Guangdong and Fujian follow in the second category.

Jilin, Shandong, Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Shanxi, Heilongjiang, Hunan, Henan, Hubei, Xinjiang and Shaanxi are in the third and Chongqing, Hainan, Guangxi, Ningxia, Sichuan, Anhui, Gansu, Yunnan, Guizhou and Tibet, are in the fourth.

Figures of life expectancy, infant mortality, GDP per capita and the adult illiteracy rate are key factors. The jobless rate and even road coverage per capita are also considered.

The health index differs significantly in terms of disparity in location while the social environment index varies little.

"It was a definitely independent survey, with no consideration of the university's own profits or fame," President Ji Baocheng said today.

"The index is fair and instructive. We will keep on to further perfect the evaluation system," Ji said.

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