Beijing gained the top slot with a score of 82.75, followed by Guangdong province at 48.52 and Zhejiang province at 47.5. Others listed were Jiangsu, Shandong, Shanghai, Tianjin, Hunan, Fujian and Liaoning.

Many factors were included in the evaluation criteria, such as cultural market development and cultural innovation. The research team picked the top 10 cities and provinces that had excelled in the development of cultural industries.

"Besides policy support, Beijing has long enjoyed the advantage of being the country's cultural center, which provides a foundation for developing the cultural industry," said Jin Yuanpu, a professor at Renmin University of China.

Researchers also said development of the cultural industry has a connection with economic growth, as the majority of the top 10 cities and provinces were concentrated in the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta areas.

In recent years, China has stepped up its efforts to develop its cultural sector. Last year, the Ministry of Culture released a cultural development plan that specifies guiding principles, strategies, goals and policy support for the cultural industry from 2011 to 2015.

The cultural industry is expected to see annual growth of more than 20 percent until 2015, according to the ministry.

wanghongyi@chinadaily.com.cn