Britain's InterContinental Hotels, meanwhile, has negotiated licences for two Holiday Inn Express sites in provincial capitals.

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Yet in provincial capitals, it appears to have taken only one or two mayoralties.

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The American retail colossus also has stores in the north-east's other provincial capitals as well as in Dalian.

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Yet overall the centre-left fared relatively well, taking 14 of the 25 remaining provincial capitals where run-offs were held.

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Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Tianjin and Chongqing are generally classified as Tier 1 cities, while provincial capitals are generally classified as Tier 2.

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Daud Ali Najafi, an IEC director, said Sunday that 75 percent of the results from local polling centers have been sent to authorities in provincial capitals.

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Some provincial capitals are also showing signs of improvement.

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Another two criteria addressed cities near provincial capitals, as well as small cities that have had a low degree of compliance with past regulations and the real estate policies of their city governments.

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