Head to head · 2025
Nanjing vs Hangzhou
Similar scale, different digital reach — useful when choosing a Yangtze base.
Hangzhou leads by 10.8 points. The gap comes mostly from policy access (30.0 points).
| Metric | Nanjing | Hangzhou |
|---|---|---|
| Entry index0–100, relative to the scored set | 63.8 | 74.6 |
| Rankof 51 scored cities | #12 | #5 |
| Digital reach | 67.9 | 76.8 |
| Consumer depth | 74.8 | 77.2 |
| Market scale | 72.0 | 83.6 |
| Policy access | 20.0 | 50.0 |
| Population | 9.6M | 12.5M |
| GDP | $261B | $324B |
| GDP per resident | ¥193.7k | ¥183.8k |
| Disposable incomeurban residents, per year | ¥69.0k | ¥74.0k |
| Real GDP growth | 5% | 5% |
| WeChat penetration% of internet users | 95% | 96% |
| Douyin penetration% of internet users | 76% | 76% |
| Xiaohongshu penetration% of internet users | 50% | 58% |
Where the scores separate
- Policy access: Hangzhou leads Nanjing by 30.0 points (50.0 against 20.0).
- Market scale: Hangzhou leads Nanjing by 11.6 points (83.6 against 72.0).
- Digital reach: Hangzhou leads Nanjing by 8.9 points (76.8 against 67.9).
Pillar scores are percentile ranks inside the published set; policy is scored on an absolute 0–100 scale. A gap under three points should not drive a decision. How the index is built.
Nanjing 南京
Jiangsu · T1_5 · east
Key industries
Software & IT · Automotive · Education (top univer… · Finance
Commercial districts
Xinjiekou, Deji Plaza (luxury), Confucius Temple (tourism), Hexi CBD.
Consumption profile
Historic capital with strong university culture (Nanjing University, SEU). High education spending, refined taste for culture and premium brands.
Full Nanjing profile →Hangzhou 杭州
Zhejiang · T1_5 · east
Key industries
E-commerce (Alibaba) · Digital economy · Fintech · Biotech
Commercial districts
Hubin & West Lake, Wulin Square, Future City (tech), Hangzhou Tower.
Consumption profile
Wealthiest new tier-1 city per capita. Highest e-commerce and Xiaohongshu density — digital-native consumers with strong premium-brand spending.
Full Hangzhou profile →Questions people ask
- Is Nanjing or Hangzhou the better first city for a brand?
- Nanjing scores 63.8 and Hangzhou scores 74.6 on the YIVA China City Entry Index, out of a 51-city set. Hangzhou leads overall. The score compares reach, spending power, size and policy access only — it cannot see competition, media cost or whether your category has demand in either city, so treat it as a shortlist filter rather than a verdict.
- Which is bigger, Nanjing or Hangzhou?
- By gross regional product, Hangzhou is larger ($324B against $261B) and has a population of 9.6M versus 12.5M for Nanjing. Market size is only 25% of the entry index.
- Are these scores comparable with last year's?
- No. Digital reach, consumer depth and market scale are percentile ranks within the published city set, so adding or removing a city moves every score. Compare two cities inside the same release, never across releases.
Other comparisons
Cite this page
YIVA Digital. “Nanjing vs Hangzhou: China City Entry Index comparison.” YIVA Digital, 2025. https://yivadigital.com/tool/china-market-guide/compare/nanjing-vs-hangzhou
Scores are relative to the published city set in this release and are not comparable across releases.