Finally, the wages in China continue to rise especially in the Special Economic Zone. this has forced many foreign firms to locate their investments towards the west of China where wage rates are lower by more than 50%. Minimum wages are also set at a level that is not less than half as the average wage in each province. According to Pun, as of August 2004, the top five
Special Economic Zone have the highest minimum monthly wage RMB660 in Guangzhou, RMB635 in Shanghai, RMB620 in Nanjing, RMB610 in Shenzhen and RMB520 in Hangzhou.