Wuxi has once again been recognized as one of China's happiest cities.

According to a recent ranking of the top ten happiest cities in China for 2026, Wuxi secured the sixth position nationally. This recognition is more than just a ranking; it serves as proof of the city's high quality of life for its residents.

A Robust Economic Foundation Supported by Industry

The city's economic strength is solidly backed by its industrial base. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Wuxi's GDP crossed four major thresholds of 100 billion yuan each, rising to 1.68 trillion yuan. The per capita GDP exceeded $30,000, with the total output value of industries above a designated scale reaching 2.7 trillion yuan. The scale of its modern industrial clusters surpassed 1.88 trillion yuan.

Wuxi also made a strong appearance in the 2025 Hurun China 500 list, which identifies the country's most valuable non-state-owned enterprises. Furthermore, it ranked fifth on the list of manufacturing bases most favored by companies in the Hurun China 500. The city's per capita GDP consistently ranks among the highest in the nation, underpinned by a tangible economy and numerous industrial clusters that form the bedrock of its prosperity.

Urban Warmth Woven Through Services

The happiness in Wuxi is also reflected in a key concept: sufficiency. It is not about ostentatious displays of wealth, but rather the reassuring feeling that what you need is readily available.

In education, an increase in school placements has brought tangible benefits. This year, the supply rate of general high school placements in the city increased from 68.23% last year to 70.03%. The urban area plans to offer 29,325 high school placements, an increase of 2,558 compared to the previous year. To help students more accurately target their preferred high schools, the voluntary application process for middle school graduates has also been optimized this year.

Over the past two years, the establishment of branch campuses by high schools has accelerated rapidly, leading to a wider distribution of high-quality educational resources. In September this year, four new municipal high school campuses will officially open: the Taihu New City Branch of Wuxi No.1 High School, the Liangxi Branch of Wuxi No.1 High School, the Xinwu Branch of Jiangsu Tianyi High School, and the Binhu Branch of Jiangsu Xishan Senior High School.

Simultaneously, the Dacheng Branch of Jiangsu Xidong Senior High School and the Huishan New City Branch of Wuxi Luoshe High School are also about to commence operations and begin enrollment. With these additions, the number of high school branch campuses in Wuxi's urban area has increased to nine, significantly boosting both the quantity and quality of available high-quality placements.

In healthcare, the main structure of the Wuxi Medical and Health Industrial Park, which includes the Municipal Women and Children's Center project, has been successfully completed. Work is now progressing at full speed on interior mechanical and electrical installations as well as decoration, with the project expected to be finished by the end of 2027, marking a continuous upgrade in Wuxi's medical infrastructure.

On June 29th, the unveiling ceremony for the Wuxi Medical Center's Brain-Computer Interface Innovation Platform and Wuxi's High-Level Hospitals was held. Brain-computer interface technology, a future industry prioritized by the state, has been strategically planned for in Wuxi. The city has already established a national clinical application demonstration project for brain-computer interfaces and the Wuxi Brain-Computer Interface Medical Innovation Research Center, achieving full-chain coverage of non-invasive, semi-invasive, and invasive brain-computer interface technologies. Several municipal and district-level medical institutions have successively opened brain-computer interface clinics, rehabilitation centers, and clinical research wards, bringing this cutting-edge technology closer to ordinary citizens.

In transportation, the 14th Five-Year Plan period marked the most significant investment, the most notable development achievements, and the fastest enhancement of capacity in the city's transportation history. During this time, cumulative investment in transportation infrastructure construction exceeded 100 billion yuan, ranking among the highest in the province. Wuxi has been designated as a national comprehensive transportation hub city, a national logistics hub supporting production services, and a city receiving policy support for strengthening and supplementing the national comprehensive freight hub chain.

Specifically, in road transport, sections such as the Changzhou to Wuxi segment of the Southern Su-Xi-Chang Expressway, the Zhushan Lake Tunnel of the Yima Rapid Corridor, and the Fengxiang Road-Xicheng Road were opened to traffic. The total mileage of expressways and national/provincial trunk highways reached 326 kilometers and 808 kilometers, respectively.

In rail transport, the Shanghai-Nanjing Yangtze River High-Speed Railway and the Xicheng S1 Line commenced operations. Wuxi became the first pilot city in the province to operate China-Europe Railway Express relay services. The operating mileage of railways and urban rail transit reached 323 kilometers and 141 kilometers, respectively.

In waterway transport, the "Three to Two" dredging project of the Sunan Canal Wuxi section was the first in the province to pass the handover inspection. Wuxi (Jiangyin) Port has established shipping connections with over 600 ports in more than 200 countries and regions worldwide.

In air transport, Wuxi Shuofang Airport successfully joined the ranks of "10-million passenger" airports. In 2025, its cargo and mail throughput doubled compared to 2022, representing the fastest growth rate among airports in the Yangtze River Delta region.

A Livable Daily Life Framed by Mountains and Waters

What makes Wuxi most enviable is arguably its natural environment. Mountains are within the city, lakes are by its side, and rivers flow through it. One opens the window to greenery and steps outside into scenery. When it comes to such natural beauty, Wuxi stands out.

By the beginning of 2026, over 3,000 beautiful and happy rivers and lakes had been developed in the city, with both the number and proportion ranking first in the province.

In spring, one can visit Yuantouzhu to see the cherry blossoms, with a pink floral sea spreading along the shores of Taihu Lake. In summer, a walk by Lihu Lake is pleasant, with the evening breeze carrying the fragrance of lotus flowers. In autumn, hiking up Huishan Mountain and taking a photo with the iconic heart-shaped tree at the summit is a popular activity. In winter, Meiyuan (Plum Garden) offers the sight of wintersweet, its delicate fragrance drifting in the cool air. When feeling down, sitting by the lake for a while can be healing. This is the extra advantage nature provides for the people of Wuxi.

The happiness of Wuxi is not about grand narratives. It is about quietly living a good life: having financial security, access to services close at hand, and the beauty of mountains and waters outside the window.