2017: China's year in review

New area a 'millennium plan'

China announced it will establish the Xiongan New Area in Hebei province on April 1. The move is aimed at advancing coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

Situated about 100 kilometers southwest of Beijing, Xiongan is another new area of national significance, following the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone and the Shanghai Pudong New Area.

Called by President Xi a "major historic and strategic decision" that would be "crucial for the millennium to come", the move will help phase out functions from Beijing not directly related to the capital and explore a new model of optimized development in densely-populated areas.