Qingdao officially started an urbanization pilot program for small-sized cities, according to a government work conference on March 26.

Five suburban towns in the affiliated county-level cities of Qingdao, including Ligezhuang Town in Jiaozhou City, Nancun Town in Pingdu City, Jiangshan Town in Laixi City, Lancun Town in Jimo City and Poli Town in Huangdao District, undertake the mission to grow into mini-cities with an average population of 100,000 by 2016.

Each of the five cities will reach an area of 10 square kilometers, with annual GDP reaching 10 billion yuan (US$1.61 million).