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.

据中国城市竞争力研究会的一项调查，北京被评为中国最美丽的城市；香港名列第二，并被评为全国最安全的城市。

首都北京的历史古迹和旅游景点令人印象深刻，因此以0.756分（总分为1分）位居558个内地城市及两个特别行政区之首。

中国城市竞争力研究会会长桂强芳说：“北京悠久的历史和深厚的文化底蕴对它的发展至关重要。”

该评比考虑了各个城市的城市设计，基础设施，建筑，文化和自然景观。

此外，历史古迹的保护、森林覆盖率、空气质量、市政交通、城市生活、公共空间、及GDP等因素也被考虑在内。

香港凭借摩天大楼、维多利亚港及服务业的发展，以0.666分名列第二。

深圳凭其改革开放窗口的特殊地位以0.664分名列第三。

作为全国的金融中心，上海以0.663分列第四位。

对最安全城市的评选主要基于社会、经济和生态的发展，香港在这项评选中以0.849分名列第一。

此外，城市的犯罪率、金融政策的稳定性、政府的权威、工伤事故发生率、食品安全及污染状况等因素也被考虑在内。

据中国城市竞争力研究会介绍，香港的犯罪率较低，去年工伤事故的发生率仅为18.4‰，每一千个工人中有18.4起。

此外，去年香港共吸引外资427亿美元，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

该协会介绍，2010年世博会之前，上海会建立一个和谐的社会。