1988: Zhongguancun Science Park, China's first State-level hi-tech industrial development zone, was officially set up under approval from the State Council. Zhongguancun Science Park now includes 10 sub-parks and has posted a growth rate of over 25 percent for 20 consecutive years.

1991: A total of seven hi-tech development zones were set up in the country's major cities, including Shanghai, Dalian, Taiyuan, Xi'an, Xiamen, Haikou and Chongqing. These hi-tech development areas played a leading role in the country's technology development with preferential government policies attracting both domestic and foreign businesses and the latest technology.

1992: Following suit, Suzhou, Jiangsu province, set up its Suzhou Hi-tech Park and Kunming, Yunnan province, also set up the Kunming National Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone.

1996: Shenzhen, a pioneer of the country's opening-up and reforms, set up its hi-tech industrial park.

2001: Guangdong Zhongshan Torch Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone, the sixth State-level hi-tech zone in Guangdong, was launched, giving the province the most hi-tech zones in the country.

2008: At the turn of the century, the central government has streamlined the nationwide development of hi-tech zones because it believed a rampant development of this kind of zones resulted in a waste of land resources and the appearance of some illegal taxation activities. At present, China has 54 State-level hi-tech development zones. The total output value of these zones contributed at least 6 percent to the nation's gross domestic product last year.

(China Daily 03/31/2008 page2)