Shanghai women felt happier than most women in other cities in China, second only to women in Harbin, according to an annual survey about women's quality of life. Beijing women's happiness ranked the third, Beijing Morning Post reported today.

The survey, developed by the National Women's Federation, was carried out in eight big cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Changsha, Chengdu, Nanning, Harbin and Xi'an, about 10 aspects of women's lives last year, like working condition, mental and physical condition, marriage, housing condition, consumption condition and overall quality of living.

The survey said women in Changsha were the most satisfied with their housing conditions, while Beijing and Xi'an women felt the least satisfied due to the small residence areas.

Beijing women spent an average of 46 minutes commuting to work, followed by 41 minutes for Guangzhou women, more than other cities, the survey said.

The survey showed 77.3 percent of married women controlled the spending choices for the families' meals, clothing and daily goods, and 51.3 percent of married women combined their incomes with their husband's, while only 2.2 percent handed their incomes directly to their husband's.

Married women felt happier than single ones.

(Shanghai Daily March 1, 2006)