High-salaried professionals in seven of China's largest cities say Shanghai is the most desirable place to live and invest on the mainland, a survey published this week indicates.

China Merchants Bank and Progress Strategy Corporation surveyed 1,616 randomly selected white-collar workers in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Cheng-du, Xi'an and Shenyang last month about their investment plans and habits.

About one-fourth of the individuals surveyed said Shanghai is the most suitable mainland city to live in and 42.8 percent of them said they would be willing to invest in the city.

"Shanghai is valuable for its position as the nation's economic center. To have property here indicates a person's wealth and social status," said Zhang Yiran, a shoe-seller from Wenzhou. "Many of my friends and I have been trying to sell our products in Shanghai, particularly at shopping centers with prime locations. That adds value to the products."

Beijing was listed as the second-best city to live in, followed by Guangzhou.

Respondents said they are more interested in investing in property than stocks or bonds, with more than 20 percent of those questioned saying real estate is their preferred investment.

Nelson Wong, head of China research for Jones Lang LaSalle, said Chinese cities are increasingly being marketed as products.

"Shanghai is a mega city with dynamic commercial hubs that scored high in traditional measures such as economic growth and infrastructure development. That will guarantee its investment potential." Wong said.

Meanwhile, the international business community is increasingly recognizing Shanghai as a good place to invest in. During a recent investment forum held in South Korea, Shanghai's investment environment was picked as the best in the region, Jiang Sixian, vice mayor of Shanghai, said yesterday.

Today, the financial hub will mark the opening of the 10,000th overseas-invested company in Pudong. Shanghai is home to more than 30,000 such companies.

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