Work continues on construction of the mighty Shanghai-Nantong Yangtze River Bridge on Aug 5. It is the longest cable-stayed railway expressway bridge in the world and is due to start operating in July next year. [Photo/IC]

Nantong was ranked at number 34 on a list of China’s top 100 cities with most potential, according to a report by the Evergrande Research Institute, issued on Aug 23.

The report analyzed development potential in 336 administrative units at or above the prefecture level in China via 27 indicators including population, industries and location.

Shenzhen took the crown as the city with the most potential in China this year, followed by Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Another nine cities in Jiangsu province made it into the top 100, with Nanjing, the provincial capital, ranking sixth, Suzhou ranking 13th, Wuxi ranking 21st, Changzhou ranking 30th, Xuzhou ranking 39th, Zhenjiang at 48th, Yangzhou at 52nd, Taizhou ranking 54th and Yancheng ranking 78th.

The top 100 cities on the list represent 50 percent of China's population and 13 percent of the country's land, the report showed.

The cities also have created about 73 percent of the GDP, and contributed about 62 percent of the country's commercial residence sales.