BEIJING - Hong Kong topped the list ranking the competitiveness of cities in China, followed by Taipei and Beijing, according to a report published by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences on Monday.

Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Hangzhou, Qingdao and Changsha rounded out the top 10, according to the "Report on the Competitiveness of Chinese Cities in 2011."

The report analyzed the competitiveness indices of 294 cities in the mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao. Those indices include the overall growth, size and effectiveness of the economy, development costs, industry levels and quality of life, among other factors.

A group of mainland Chinese women from Shenzhen and Guangzhou pick up bags of coupons during a shopping tour arranged on International Women's Day in Hong Kong March 8, 2012.??[Photo/Agencies]