FACTBOX-China's up-and-coming cities for property investors

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By Langi Chiang and Kevin Lim

BEIJING/SINGAPORE July 14 (Reuters) - China's efforts to
speed up economic development in the western, central and
northern regions have helped second-tier cities such as Tianjin
and Chongqing grow faster than cities like Shanghai and
Beijing.

Following is a brief description of the up-and-coming
cities most favoured by property industry executives:

Tianjin

Population: 11.76 mln; GDP Growth: 16.5 pct

Port city in northeastern China about 120 km from Beijing.
Under China's 11th five-year plan, Tianjin -- one of China's
four autonomous municipalities* -- will be the centre for the
revitalisation of the northeast once China's industrial base.
Western firms with large operations in the city include
Airbus (EAD.PA) and Boeing (BA.N) while Singapore conglomerate
Keppel Corp (KPLM.SI) is leading the development of a 30-sq km
ecological township in the Binhai area.

Property consultancy Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) says Tianjin
has the greatest potential to become China's fifth Tier-1
municipality after Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

Dalian

Population: 6.13 mln; GDP Growth: 16.5 pct

Northern port city with a strong indigenous IT industry.
Intel (INTC.O) recently announced the construction of a $2.5
bln chip plant that is expected to employ 1,500 people when
completed in 2010. Some people in Dalian speak Japanese and
Korean and the city has several call centres serving the two
countries.

Foreign investors in Dalian include Taiwanese property and
construction group Farglory (5522.TW) and Morgan Stanley
(MS.N).

Chengdu

Population: 12.71 mln; GDP Growth: 12.1 pct

Capital of Sichuan province and well connected to the rest
of western China through network of roads and rail. The central
government has named Chengdu and Chongqing key centres for the
development of China's western region. International firms with
operations in the city include IBM (IBM.N) and Nokia
(NOK1V.HE).

Sichuan is home to China's pandas and has strong potential
for international tourism.

Chongqing

Population: 28.39 mln; GDP Growth: 14.3 pct

China's most populous city and one of the country's four
autonomous municipalities. Property prices in Chongqing are
lower than most big Chinese cities, offering investors
potentially higher returns behind other cities.

Most Hong Kong developers, including Hutchison Whampoa
(0013.HK) and Sino Land Co (0083.HK) have a presence in
Chongqing.

Nanjing

Population: 7.59 mln; GDP Growth: 12.1 pct

Provincial capital city of eastern Jiangsu, one of China's
richest provinces. It is next to Shanghai, China's wealthiest
city and main financial hub. Property prices in the city soared
in recent years, driven by rising income and higher prices in
Shanghai.

CB Richard Ellis said Nanjing offered opportunites for
office and retail development because of the limited supply of
Grade A office and prime retail space.

Wuhan

Population: 9.1 mln (2006); GDP Growth: around 15 pct

Capital of Hubei province and scientific and education
centre of central China. Wuhan is also one of China's main
steel-producing areas. CBRE describes Wuhan as "the most
important transportation hub in inland China" because of its
strategic location and hence a good spot for investments in
factories and warehouses.

Hangzhou

Population: 7.97 mln GDP Growth: 11 pct

Hangzhou, a popular tourist destination about 200
kilometres from Shanghai, is already one of China's richest
cities with a per capita income comparable to Tier-1 cities of
Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. The city is an
important manufacturing base and logistics hub for China's
eastern seaboard.

Xiamen

Population: 2.49 mln GDP Growth: 11.1 pct

Port city in southeastern China that is right across the
narrow strait of water separating Taiwan from China. It is one
of China's important manufacturing bases in the southern
region, mainly for electronics products. Major foreign
companies with large operations in the city include Dell
(DELL.O), Panasonic (6752.T) and ABB.

* China's four autonomous municipalities are Beijing,
Shanghai, Tianjin and Chongqing

Sources: local govt websites, Jones Lang LaSalle, CB
Richard Ellis, Reuters

Figures are for end-2008 unless otherwise stated
(Reporting by Langi Chiang and Kevin Lim; Editing by Valerie
Lee)