Beijing was the best sports city in China in 2016, according to a ranking list released by the People's Daily Online's public opinion monitoring center and its sports column.

The "2016 Best Sports Cities" list was based on a thorough analysis of four aspects: games held in the cities, situation and utilization of venues, mass physical exercise, and development of the sports industry, and Beijing won three.

It showed that Beijing held 49 games in 2016, followed by Shanghai where 33 games were presented, with the marathon being the most popular.

As for the professional league, Beijing owns 13 teams, Shanghai owns 12, and Jinan and Tianjin own seven each.

Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai have the best venues with a higher usage ratio, followed by Chengdu, Nanjing, Changchun, Guangzhou, Jinan, Urumqi, and Hangzhou.

Mass physical exercise in Chongqing is the best, followed by Chengdu and Xi'an. Bodybuilding, fishing, square dancing, jogging, and aerobics are the five most popular exercises.

Beijing also topped the list regarding the vitality of the sports industry which has significantly boosted its economy.

It is noteworthy that among the top ten best sports cities, eight were ranked in the country's top 10 GDP list.

The following is the full list of the top ten best sports cities in China.

10. Hangzhou

9. Chongqing

8. Wuhan

7. Shenzhen

6. Nanjing

5. Chengdu

4. Guangzhou

3. Tianjin

2. Shanghai

1. Beijing