Despite Shanghai having an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 93, just below the "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" category, the largest Chinese city still remains as the top destination to live for expats in China.

About 20,000 expats participated in a survey conducted in collaboration with International Talent magazine and China Society for Research between July and December of 2014. The results show that Shanghai, for the third time, is the most desirable destination among a list of 10 Chinese cities for expats.

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The survey consisted of 10 different categories to rank each city in and Shanghai was ranked number one in six of those 10 categories including most innovative city, most tolerant, best food, suitable for startup businesses, most fashionable, and most humorous.

The other nine cities after Shanghai, in order, are Beijing, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Qingdao, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Suzhou, Xiamen and Kunming, China Daily reports.

Additionally, resident statistics back up the notion of Shanghai being the most desirable destination, as the city boasts over 88,000 foreign expats, which accounts for one-sixth of the national total.

The survey, however, also showed some negative aspects that expats felt could be improved on in Shanghai. Forty percent of participants felt the air and water quality in the city is not up to par, and just over 14 percent hopes on improving services from the government such as the traffic system.

Furthermore, more than half of the participants in the survey hope Shanghai would improve medical insurance as well as making it easier for foreigners to enter the country.

"Chinese cities' attraction to foreigners will increase dramatically if the government takes a step forward in issues such as medical insurance, visas and green cards," says Wang Huiyao, director of the China Center for Globalization.

Tagsexpats, Pollution, desirable city, tourists