Guangzhou comes out on top among Chinese cities in terms of quality of life with a score of 64.07, followed by Shanghai's 60.5 and Nanjing's 59.49, according to the first China Urban Quality of Life Index Report jointly released by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and the Capital University of Economics and Business (CUEB) on Saturday.

According to the report, 15 cities have a score above 55, higher than the average index of 54.49. The national capital, Beijing, received a score of 56.23, which ranks eighth and is well below other mega cities like Guangzhou and Shanghai. Beijing was also surpassed by other provincial capital cities such as Hohhot and Shijiazhuang.

The report surveyed 30 provincial capitals and municipalities in China for their quality of life, based on an array of objective determinants and subjective indicators, with the latter weighing 40 percent. The determinants include elements such as wealth per capita, inflation rates, green area and Engel coefficient. The subjective indicators are focused on the urban residents' perception about their satisfaction with their income, living cost, medical care, living environment and pace of life.

Factors such as high inflation, soaring housing price, low social security and quickening urban life rhythm have been influencing people's life satisfaction level.

Following are the top 10 Chinese cities with the highest quality of life as compiled by the CASS and the CUEB: