In the process of building a socialist economy with Chinese characteristics, China has established numerous characteristic economic zones leveraging regional advantages, including Economic Development Zones (经济开发区), High-Tech Industrial Development Zones (高新技术产业开发区), Border Economic Cooperation Zones (边境经济合作区), and Special Customs Supervision Zones (海关特殊监管区). In August 1988, the Torch Plan - China's national high-tech industrialization development program - was implemented. By 1992, the State Council approved the establishment of the first border economic cooperation zone. As crucial platforms for attracting foreign investment, these economic zones have significantly contributed to China's economic development during the reform and opening-up era.
Both national and provincial-level economic zones typically implement policies involving infrastructure construction, enterprise support, and tax/land incentives (基础设施建设、企业扶植与税收土地优惠). Depending on regional characteristics and establishment purposes, they carry distinct historical significance. After joining the WTO, China's economy became more integrated with the global market. Development zones attracted multinational corporations, facilitated large-scale foreign investment inflows, and introduced advanced technologies, equipment, and management concepts, substantially accelerating China's industrial modernization. However, issues emerged including excessive proliferation of development zones, haphazard land occupation, and ineffective development. To address problems such as disorderly farmland acquisition under the guise of development zones and infringement of farmers' interests, the State Council initiated a nationwide cleanup and rectification campaign starting July 2003. By early 2007, the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Land and Resources, and Ministry of Construction jointly released the China Development Zone Audit Catalog (2006 Edition). After three years of rectification, as of December 2006, the number of development zones nationwide was reduced from over 6,000 to approximately 1,000, with planned area decreasing from nearly 40,000 km² to around 9,000 km².
After decades of development, these zones have become engines for rapid regional economic growth. China continues to promote comprehensive development through enhanced planning and quality improvement to achieve sound development.
CnOpenData has compiled basic statistical indicators data for China's development zones, covering critical metrics such as GDP, fixed asset investment, and industrial output value (GDP、固定资产投资、工业总产值) from 2017 to 2023, providing significant value for research in regional economics and industrial economics.
Time Coverage
2017-2023. Note that not all development zones have complete annual indicators. Please contact customer service for detailed information.
Field Display
Sample Data
Relevant Literature
- Lu Fangwen, Sun Weizeng and Wu Jianfeng. 2023, "Special Economic Zones and Human Capital Investment: 30 Years of Evidence from China", American Economic Journal: Economic Policy.
- Tian, Xuan and Xu, Jiajie, 2018, "Do Place-Based Policies Promote Local Innovation and Entrepreneurship? ", Review of Finance.
- Simon Alder, Lin Shao, and Fabrizio Zilibotti, 2016, "Economic reforms and industrial policy in a panel of Chinese cities.", Journal of Economic Growth.
- Hua Yue, Ye Yun, 2023: "Carbon Emission Reduction Effects of Green Location-Based Policies: Evidence from National Eco-industrial Demonstration Parks", Quantitative & Technical Economics Research 4.
- Li Ben, Wu Lihua, 2018: "Establishment of Development Zones and Enterprise Growth: Heterogeneity and Mechanisms", China Industrial Economics 4.
- Bao Qun, Tang Shi, Liu Bi, 2017: "Local Competition, Homogeneous Leading Industries, and Domestic Overcapacity", The Journal of World Economy 10.
- Wang Bing, Nie Xin, 2016: "Industrial Agglomeration and Environmental Governance: Catalyst or Obstacle? Evidence from Quasi-natural Experiments of Development Zone Establishment", China Industrial Economics 12.
- Wang Yongjin, Zhang Guofeng, 2016: "Sources of Productivity Advantage in Development Zones: Agglomeration Effect or Selection Effect?", Economic Research Journal 7.
- Li Lixing, Shen Guangjun, 2015: "Economic Development Zones, Regional Comparative Advantages, and Industrial Restructuring", China Economic Quarterly 3.
- Zheng Jianghuai, Gao Yanyan, Hu Xiaowen, 2008: "Enterprise Clustering, Technology Upgrade, and Economic Performance: Empirical Analysis of Agglomeration Effects in Development Zones", Economic Research Journal 5.
Data Update Frequency
Annual updates