Once a sleepy mudflat in the suburbs of the coastal city of Qingdao, Jiaozhou has grown into one of China's most outstanding economic development zones.

Over the past 20 years, Jiaozhou has attracted 15 Fortune 500 enterprises and some 636 other companies from around the globe, which brought in foreign investment worth $520 million from 2006 to 2010, and the number continues to grow.

Located to the west of downtown Qingdao along the Jiaozhou Bay, the zone topped the list of Shandong's 147 provincial-level development zones in terms of overall economic strength in 2011, and it has been among the top three zones for five consecutive years.

Approved by the provincial government in 1992, the zone has been recognized as a demonstration area for scientific development and among the best investment destinations in Shandong.

The 17.7 sq km zone is supported by sound infrastructure, convenient transportation and an eco-friendly environment, as demonstrated by the zone's 30 percent green coverage rate.

The 41.58 km Jiaozhou Bay Bridge, the world's longest as of July 2011, has reduced the driving distance from the zone to downtown Qingdao to only 15 minutes.

There are three railways, five expressways and one national highway linking Jiaozhou to other places in the province and the country.