Chengdu vs Shanghai

Shanghai leads Chengdu by 3 points on the CIRA Index, 73 to 70. Chengdu grades better on 4 measures, Shanghai on 5; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Chengdu 70, Shanghai 73
• OECD: Chengdu 64, Shanghai 66
• UN Tourism: Chengdu 81, Shanghai 74
• UNDRR: Chengdu 64, Shanghai 60

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Chengdu 58, Shanghai 80
• Economy and jobs: Chengdu 75, Shanghai 75
• Climate and hazards: Chengdu 40, Shanghai 35
• Water and environment: Chengdu 94, Shanghai 63
• Community and housing: Chengdu 100, Shanghai 100
• Access and continuity: Chengdu 63, Shanghai 71

Where Chengdu is stronger

• Flood hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
• Water scarcity: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 332.5 kg per resident per year (Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Statistics, 2023 Statistical Bulletin on National Economic and Social Development of Chengdu & 2023 Chengdu Population Bulletin, 2023). At or below 350: grade 4/4.
• Green space: 44.7 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (National Forestry and Grassland Administration of China / Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Park City Construction and Management, 2023). At or above 40: grade 4/4.

Where Shanghai is stronger

• Largest foreign market: 9.7 % of international arrivals or nights (State Council Information Office / Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism, 2025). At or below 15: grade 4/4.
• Average length of stay: 4.8 nights per visitor (Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration / CEIC Data, 'Shanghai: Visitor: Average Length of Stay', 2024). At or above 3.5: grade 4/4.
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 66 % average annual occupancy (Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism (via International Travel & Health Insurance Journal), 2025). Between 65 and 75: grade 3/4.
• Access redundancy: 4 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (Shanghai Municipal People's Government & Shanghai Statistical Yearbook, 2024). At or above 4: grade 4/4.
• Early warning and emergency plan: An updated, tested plan that names visitors and tourism operators, with warnings in several languages (China Daily / Shanghai Meteorological Service, 2025). Grade 4/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• China: #8 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• China: #8 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Chengdu in full · Shanghai in full

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