Beijing Reigns Supreme as Six Chinese Cities Crack Top 10
China has cemented its scientific dominance with six cities now ranking among the world's top 10 research hubs, according to the Nature Index 2025 Science Cities report released this week. Beijing retains its crown as the #1 science city globally for the ninth consecutive year 🏆, while Shanghai and Nanjing round out the top five.
🚀 Rapid Growth Outpaces U.S. Counterparts
Chinese cities showed explosive growth in research output:
Shanghai’s scientific contributions surged 20% from 2023-2024
Beijing increased its output by 9.14% during the same period
U.S. hubs like New York and Boston saw declining shares
"This isn’t just about quantity – China’s focusing on quality innovation," the report notes, highlighting leadership in chemistry, environmental science, and physics.
With Wuhan and Hangzhou now joining the elite list, China’s scientific footprint continues expanding – a trend reshaping global innovation landscapes in 2025.
