Two Chinese cities were honored by the United Nations (UN) for their substantial efforts in improving their people's living conditions, a UN official said Wednesday in Weihai, Shandong Province.

The municipal government of Xiamen in east China's Fujian province was awarded the UN Habitat Scroll of Honor in 2004, said Anna Tibaijuka, official with the UN Human Settlement Program.

Tangshan city in north China's Hebei province won the Dubai International Award for the Best Practices to Improve Living Conditions, she said at a press conference in the first International Habitat Festival ongoing here.

The UN Habitat Scroll of Honor is the highest award in the field of improving human habitations worldwide.

Established in 1989, the award targets governments, organizations, personnel and programs, which make eminent contributions to the development of human living conditions.

Chinese cities have won the award eleven times in the past dozen years since 1990.

The Dubai International Award for the Best Practices to Improve Living Conditions was set up in 1996.

"Human beings are facing great challenges brought by the fast urbanization," Tibaijuka said, adding China set a good example for developing nations, as it kept a balance between development and decent living conditions.

Source: Xinhua