The happiness of Chinese cities

China’s unprecedented economic growth has significantly improved the living standards of its citizens. Higher living standards, however, do not necessarily lead to greater happiness felt by the people. In this research, we present regional variations in self-reported happiness across Chinese cities based on a large scale, nationally representative survey. Further, we explore regional factors associated with the happiness of Chinese cities. Regression analysis identifies human capital as a negative predictor of residents’ happiness and population size as a positive predictor, findings notably distinct from comparable studies in the U.S. context. Other relevant regional factors include wage and some local public services.