Beijing is the most beautiful city in China and Hong Kong the safest and second most beautiful, according to a study by the China Institute of City Competitiveness.

The capital came in ahead of 558 other mainland cities and the two SARs, with a score of 0.756 points out of one for its impressive historical monuments and tourist attractions.

Gui Qiangfang, the institute's chairman, said: "The capital has a rich history and culture, which have been key to its development."

The assessment took into consideration the cities' urban design, infrastructure, architecture, culture and natural beauty.

Factors including the preservation of historical monuments, forest coverage, air quality, the transportation network, city life, public space and GDP were also considered.

Hong Kong, which ranked second with 0.666 points, won praise for its skyscrapers, Victoria Harbor and the development of its service industry.

Shenzhen took third spot with 0.664 points, scoring highly for its role as the pioneer of China's opening up and reform policies.

Shanghai finished fourth with 0.663 points for being the country's financial center.

In the voting for the safest city, which assessed the social, economic and ecological development, Hong Kong came first with 0.849 points.

In this category, the cities' crime rates, stability of financial policies, authority of the government, industrial accident rate, food safety and pollution situation, were considered.

The institute said Hong Kong had low crime, and the number of work-related casualties is only 18.4 per 1,000 workers last year.

The SAR also attracted $42.7 billion foreign investment last year, up 19 percent on 2005.

Shanghai ranked second in the safe city poll with 0.712 points, followed by Nanjing with 0.666 points.

The institute said Shanghai is developing a harmonious society ahead of the 2010 World Expo.

據中國城市競爭力研究會的一項調查，北京被評為中國最美麗的城市；香港名列第二，并被評為全國最安全的城市。

首都北京的歷史古跡和旅游景點令人印象深刻，因此以0.756分（總分為1分）位居558個內地城市及兩個特別行政區之首。

中國城市競爭力研究會會長桂強芳說：“北京悠久的歷史和深厚的文化底蘊對它的發展至關重要。”

該評比考慮了各個城市的城市設計，基礎設施，建筑，文化和自然景觀。

此外，歷史古跡的保護、森林覆蓋率、空氣質量、市政交通、城市生活、公共空間、及GDP等因素也被考慮在內。

香港憑借摩天大樓、維多利亞港及服務業的發展，以0.666分名列第二。

深圳憑其改革開放窗口的特殊地位以0.664分名列第三。

作為全國的金融中心，上海以0.663分列第四位。

對最安全城市的評選主要基于社會、經濟和生態的發展，香港在這項評選中以0.849分名列第一。

此外，城市的犯罪率、金融政策的穩定性、政府的權威、工傷事故發生率、食品安全及污染狀況等因素也被考慮在內。

據中國城市競爭力研究會介紹，香港的犯罪率較低，去年工傷事故的發生率僅為18.4‰，每一千個工人中有18.4起。

此外，去年香港共吸引外資427億美元，比2005年增加19%。

上海以0.712分名列第二大最安全城市，其次是南京，得分0.666分

該協會介紹，2010年世博會之前，上海會建立一個和諧的社會。