Hsinchu City scored the highest this year on a happiness index ranking the cities and counties of Taiwan.

The city also improved the most of the 22 counties and cities, from 10th last year to first in this year's survey, the results of which were released Tuesday.

Hsinchu Mayor Lin Chih-chien (林智堅) said the city had "three highs" - high salaries, high education levels and high birthrates - while also being the youngest city or county in Taiwan, with an average age of 37 years.

"(We) hope to boost tourism by introducing more urban aesthetics and good designs in the future," Lin said.

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