10. Shanghai

GDP: 3.87 trillion yuan

Growth rate: 1.7%

Although hampered by COVID-19 and a global economic recession, Shanghai overcame these difficulties and took concrete measures to push its economy back on track from a 6.7 percent fall in the first quarter. Shanghai expects GDP growth of more than 6 percent this year and will keep its urban unemployment rate at no more than 5 percent.

9. Hunan

GDP: 4.17 trillion yuan

Growth rate: 3.8%

With a complete industrial system, Hunan province has 10 advantageous industrial clusters, including engineering machinery, electronic information, new materials, petrochemical engineering, and automobiles and auto parts, as well as lead and zinc cemented carbide and its deep processing.

8. Hubei

GDP: 4.34 trillion yuan

Growth rate: -5%

Since the lifting of the epidemic-induced lockdown in Wuhan on April 8, the economic recovery of its parent province has been better than expected. Hubei province's GDP growth increased from -39.2 percent in the first quarter of the year to -19.3 percent in the first half of the year, and -10.4 percent in the first nine months. Despite the short-term slowdown due to the COVID-19 epidemic, Hubei's economic recovery has been solid.

7. Fujian

GDP: 4.39 trillion yuan

Growth rate: 3.3%

A coastal province in the southeastern part of the country, Fujian has seen rapid development over the past five years. It is actively promoting an open economy of higher standards amid the country's ongoing reform and opening-up. It is also stepping up its overseas investment, as it endeavors to seek further involvement in the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

6. Sichuan

GDP: 4.85 trillion yuan

Growth rate: 3.8%

Historically known as the "Province of Abundance", Sichuan has one of the largest economies in western China. The province has been accelerating its industrial transformation and upgrading, developing five pillar industries–electronic information, equipment manufacturing, food and beverages, advanced materials and energy, and chemicals – and promoting the integrated development of the digital economy and the real economy.

5. Henan

GDP: 5.49 trillion yuan

Growth rate: 1.3%

Henan's economic volume has ranked first among those of the provinces and regions in the central and western region and among the top five in China for several consecutive years. As an economic heavyweight with many advantages, it is a good destination for foreign investors.