An aerial view of Quzhou in East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/qz123.com]

Quzhou ranked 33rd on the recently released 2023 China Brand Evaluation Comprehensive Influence Index. This is the highest the city has ever ranked.

The list used national statistical data from the past two years to conduct standardized analysis of 293 prefecture-level cities (excluding cities at a higher administrative level than provincial capitals) across the country. The final ranking was based on each city's comprehensive brand influence index.

In recent years, Quzhou has worked hard to turn itself into "a model city of virtue". In 2018, Quzhou officially released its city brand "Home of Southern Confucianism, A Model City of Virtue.” In 2019, the city ranked 45th in the China Brand Evaluation for the first time. In 2021, it ranked 35th on the list.

The evaluation was based on five major development concepts of innovation, coordination, greenness, openness and sharing, using the five primary indicators of quality, service, innovation, tangible assets and intangible assets and 37 secondary indicators.

The evaluation reduced the weight of city size and GDP and increased the weight of green and shared development. It aimed to encourage cities to take a differentiated path of high-quality development according to local conditions and create highly recognizable Chinese cities.