Shanghai has become the traveling and residential paradise for most Chinese people,and it's especially popular among the young generation,a nationwide survey conducted at the yearend indicates.

Nearly two-thirds of the people younger than 19 say Shanghai is their favorite city in China.Of the whole population surveyed,the percentage is lower,but still near the 50 percent level.

The survey,conducted by a local data research company,the DataSea,said that the result came from 1,232 random samples they collected in three big cities,Shanghai,Beijing and Guangzhou.The survey was done on February 3and February 4 of 2002.The 1,232 people polled were surveyed by telephone and their phone numbers were selected randomly from the yellow book.A wide range of questions are grouped into seven categories,asking about people's life,the country and the Spring Festival.Among the questions,there were some asking about people's attitude towards different cities in China.

On the whole,most people say they love the city which they are living in most.But the percentage varies between cities.Eighty-five percent of the Shanghai residents say they love Shanghai most,79 percent of the Beijing residents choose the capital city as their favorite,and only 50percent Guangzhou people say their favorite city is the one they live in.

Of the people who choose non-native cities as their favorites,Shanghai also enjoys the highest rate.Apart from a small portion of the Shanghai residents who say they love Beijing most,the Beijing and Guangzhou residents who betray their own city all choose Shanghai as their favorite.

Among the people below 19years old,61 percent say they love Shanghai most.

The survey also tracked the reason why most people would choose Shanghai as their favorite.

In their eyes,Shanghai is first considered as a metropolis that integrates fashion,beauty and good taste.Then,it is also cited as an ideal city to reside in because people can enjoy comfortness there.Thirdly,the many new and fashionable urban constructions in the city have also added attractiveness to Shanghai.

( eastday.com February 19, 2002)