In 1985, a young Xi Jinping faced an unprecedented challenge as Xiamen's vice mayor: transforming a modest port city into an economic powerhouse while preserving its cultural identity. Nearly four decades later, the faded pages of China's first 15-year urban development plan reveal how this vision became reality.
The story begins with a blue binder containing 300 meticulously preserved pages – Xiamen's 1985-2000 strategic blueprint. During a recent inspection, President Xi reflected on this document he helped create: "We planted seeds here. Today's harvest surpasses our expectations."
When China expanded Xiamen's Special Economic Zone 16-fold in 1985, officials debated copying Singapore or Hong Kong. Xi championed a different approach. "Modern development demands long-term thinking," he argued in 1986 meetings, establishing China's first municipal 15-year planning office.
The process broke new ground. Xi mobilized 100+ experts from Beijing think tanks to Xiamen University scholars, while launching public essay campaigns inviting citizens to imagine their city's future. The resulting plan positioned Xiamen as:
Southern Fujian's economic nerve center
Key southeastern coastal gateway
Bridge for cross-strait exchanges
Asia-Pacific trade connector
Xi's "three-step" port modernization strategy – from bonded zones to quasi-free ports – became foundational for China's later national free trade initiatives. Today, Xiamen's container port ranks among the world's busiest, handling over 12 million TEUs annually.
"This wasn't just about building infrastructure," recalls Zheng Jinmu, former planning official. "It established systemic, future-oriented development thinking that still guides Chinese urbanization."
As global cities grapple with sustainable growth, Xiamen's transformation offers insights into China's approach to long-term economic planning – balancing bold vision with grassroots participation.
