On Dec 20, the Happiest Cities Forum 2024 hosted by Xinhua News Agency's Oriental Outlook was held in Shanghai, unveiling its "2024 Happiest Cities" lists, with Taicang topping the 2024 list of the happiest county-level cities.

An aerial view of Taicang's cityscape. [Photo/WeChat account: tcfbgw]

Taicang stands out with its robust industrial base boasting 1,377 industrial firms and 1,175 high-tech enterprises. The city is home to 150,000 market entities, which are currently experiencing significant growth, and nearly 30,000 highly skilled professionals.

An aerial view of Taicang Port. [Photo/WeChat account: tcfbgw]

In 2023, Taicang Port ranked 20th globally in terms of container throughput, with 476,000 automobile vehicles exported.

Taicang is actively engaged in both domestic and international cooperation. On the one hand, it maintains strong industrial chain connections with Shanghai, with about 70 percent of its enterprises linked to its larger neighbor.

On the other hand, it is deepening cooperation with Germany, establishing seven offices in Berlin, Stuttgart, and other key locations. It also built the first Sino-German vocational education industrial park in China that implements a German dual system.

Taicang boasts much green space. [Photo/WeChat account: tcfbgw]

In addition, Taicang excels in rural vitalization, pioneering medical insurance initiatives, promoting high-quality and balanced development in compulsory education, and fostering a green environment.