(Yicai Global) Sept. 21 -- Shanghai, China's largest city, has the best development prospects among the country's provinces and municipalities, according to a government report on economic growth.

The eastern metropolis ranked first in three out of five grading indexes: economic expansion, growth potential and livelihood, the city's official news agency Shanghai Observer reported, citing a report by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Economics and the Social Sciences Academic Press.

The Yangtze River Delta region fared well overall. Zhejiang province ranked second across all measures and Jiangsu province came third, with the two switching places from last year's results. Guangdong, long renowned as China's economic powerhouse, moved from fifth place to fourth, while the capital edged down one place to fifth.

Beijing has the most efficient government, according to the report, with Shanghai coming in second and Zhejiang province in third. The island province of Hainan, in the South China Sea, came top in environmental quality while Beijing came second and Shanghai third.

The two biggest movers were Shanxi in the north and Jiangxi in the southeast, with both gaining three places to 17th and 18th. Four provinces, Henan, Heilongjiang, Hunan and Hebei, fell two places, with all ranking between 14th and 21st overall.

The overall top 10 regions for economic growth prospects were

1. Shanghai municipality

2. Zhejiang province

3. Jiangsu province

4. Guangdong province

5. Beijing municipality

6. Shandong province

7. Tianjin municipality

8. Fujian province

9. Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

10. Liaoning province

Editor: James Boynton