Multinational companies might now have an easier time encouraging expatriate employees to accept assignments in China's second-tier cities.

Living conditions in those towns - once considered "hardship" postings - have experienced the biggest improvements in Asia in recent years, according to the latest location ranking by ECA International, an international human resources consultant.

The ECA survey compares living standards in 254 locations around the world based on categories that include climate, the environment, health services and infrastructure. Human-resource managers use the scores to set allowances for expat staff who work in difficult locations.

Living standards throughout China achieved an average 28-position rise in the rankings over the past five years, according to the new survey. The China improvement was double the average increase across Asia.

Chinese locations that improved the most included Chongqing, Dalian, Wuhan and Xi'an. Within Asia, Wuhan and Xi'an experienced the biggest jump, both moving up 46 places to world rankings of 147 and 160.

"With the general improvement in living conditions in China over the past five years, we now recommend lower hardship allowances in many places," said Lee Quane, general manager of ECA International Hong Kong. He said the lifestyle enhancements would make many job assignments to China more cost-effective.

Ranked 76th in the world and 11th in Asia, Shanghai justified its position as the best city on the Chinese mainland for foreigners because of its superior infrastructure and facilities.

Beijing dropped one spot to third place in the rankings on the Chinese mainland due to its high pollution and less favorable climate.

Despite the dramatic leap forward, many of the second-tier cities remained the least-favorite places in China for foreigners to work because of the lack of suitable living facilities and harsh climates.

The survey reported that Xi'an, Chengdu, Wuhan, Chongqing and Shenyang made up the bottom five out of the 13 Chinese mainland locations included in the survey.

An earlier survey by Cendant Mobility, a provider of global mobility management, suggested that family adjustments and concerns about a spouse's career and children's education were big barriers for expats to work on China's mainland.