The importance and special nature of Xiongan can be seen and felt through the words and work of people across the area, from top officials to grassroots workers.

Last year, Wang Dongfeng, Party secretary of Hebei, made at least one inspection tour to the area every month to underline the fact that every project underway in Xiongan must be of the highest quality, Hebei Daily reported.

The Party chief normally works and lives in Shijiazhuang, the provincial capital, about 160 kilometers southwest of the new area.

When Xiongan was established, it was given a national significance similar to economic engines such as the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone in Guangdong province and Shanghai Pudong New Area, according to a government guideline on the development.

On Jan 15, the government released a detailed development plan of the first area constructed in Xiongan.

The plan said the area will be developed into an important part of a world-class cluster in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region as a new engine of the modern economy and a national model of high-quality development.