The Shanghai metropolitan area, which recorded a GDP of 9.1 trillion yuan ($1.33 trillion) last year, is China's most promising region, according to a report published June 20 by Evergrande Research Institute.

The report analyzed 24 metropolitan areas in China, considering their populations, GDPs, and numbers of A-share or H-share listed companies, as well as their numbers of patents.

The Beijing metropolitan area, which ranked second on the list, reflects a shift from one single-core urban sprawl to multi-core intensive development.

The Shenzhen-Dongguan-Huizhou metropolitan area, known for attracting young migrants and home to China's youngest demographic, took third spot.

Let's take a look at the top 10 metropolitan areas in China with the greatest potential.