A total of over 200 small cities applied for recognition this year as one of the 2018 top 100 Deep Breath Small Cities in China on the basis of public feedback and appraisal by experts of their overall environment. 

The campaign is carried out by the China Society of Territorial Economists and the Nanping municipal government in the southern coastal province of Fujian. Founded in 1981, the society gathers prestigious experts and government officials together to help the country optimize allocation of territorial resources.

Since 2014, the selection for Deep Breath Small Cities has been conducted annually. The eligible nominees should be a county or county-level city with forest coverage over 50 percent or industrial and functional zones in large or medium-sized cities if they have an outstanding ecological environment. 

The following are the top 10 highest ranked Deep Breath Small Cities in China in 2018 on the list:

10. Lushi county, Henan province