Tai'an was recognized as a city with a developing international image in the Report on the International Image of Chinese Cities, which was released by the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies on June 17 in Fuzhou, Jiangxi province.

A city's international image reflects the overall impression and evaluation of the city from a global perspective. The report formulated the City International Image Index (CII) based on five indicators: influence in international media, reach on overseas new media platforms, interest from international netizens, the development of city-focused international websites, and the establishment of international networks.

A comprehensive evaluation of the international image of 337 Chinese cities was conducted based on these criteria.

Cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, and Guangzhou were recognized as cities with leading international images. In addition to Tai'an, cities including Wuhan, Hangzhou, Chengdu, and Nanjing were recognized as cities with developing international images. Cities with potential for international image growth included Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture, Changsha, Kunming, Pu'er, and Dongguan.

The research indicated that a city's international image is closely linked to its overall development trends.

The report also highlighted significant progress in integrated media communication for cities. Over the past decade, the number of accounts opened by Chinese cities on overseas social media platforms has increased steadily. In 2013, only 20 accounts were opened on three major platforms. By 2023, the number had grown nearly 14-fold compared.