QINGDAO -- Qingdao City in east China's Shandong Province and its sister city Nantes in France share a lot of similarities after having scooped awards over the years for being among the most livable cities in their respective regions.

Nantes was voted the most livable city in Europe by Time Magazine in 2004 and Qingdao was selected as the most livable city in China by a Chinese Academy of Sciences study in 2017. The two started their sister city relationship in June 2005, and both have relaxing environments, rich activities, convenient transportation and great facilities.

Qingdao is known as a tourist city, the beer city of the world and an international port city.

As one of the imported international ports in China, Qingdao port has modern facilities and advanced technology. As a tourist city, the Zhanqiao bridge and Wusi Square are its iconic attractions.

The echo of the city's skyscrapers and the sea is what makes Qingdao unique. The city is also known for its convenient transportation, with the Qingdao North Railway Station being an important transportation hub.

People who live in Qingdao shared their view points on what makes the city tick.

As a big city, the convenient public transportation is what keeps Qingdao traffic running smoothly. And for young people, the good entrepreneurship environment has been one of the main pull factors to the city.

The French city of Nantes is known for rich historical and artistic atmosphere.

Nantes' Castle, which built at the end of the 15th century, offers a beautiful view of Nantes.

The Place Royale is the center of Nantes. It was rebuilt after it was bombed in WWII. Many tourists pass through here every day, and there's a Christmas market in December.

The Nantes Museum of Art was built in 1801, and it has a wide range of collections and exhibitions of artwork, from classical to contemporary styles. Nantesans like to come here on the first Sunday of the month, a free-admission day.

In Nantes, the center of the city is made up of pedestrian streets and they choose the streetcar as a mode of transport. The best part is that public transportation is free on weekends, giving people much-needed downtime in the area.

Apart from colorful cultural activities, the pleasant climate, the beautiful green environment, also contribute to the livability of the city.