The Chinese city tier system (Chinese: 中国城市等级制; pinyin: Zhōngguó chéngshì děngjízhì; lit. 'Chinese city hierarchy') is an unofficial hierarchical classification of Chinese cities in the People's Republic of China (PRC). There are no such official lists in the country, as the Chinese government does not publish or recognize any official definition or a list of cities included in the tier system. However, it is frequently referred to by various international media publications for purposes including commerce, transportation, tourism and education, among others.
Given the rapid development of Chinese cities ever since the economic reform and the ever-changing dynamics among the country's cities, the tier system has gained wide popularity in recent years as a point of reference, such as among investors and tourists. Cities in different tiers often reflect differences in consumer behavior, income level, population size, consumer sophistication, infrastructure, talent pool, and business opportunity, among others. The tier system typically includes cities in mainland China only. The special administrative regions (SARs) of Hong Kong and Macau are not included on the list.
