Since the advent of the reform and opening-up policy, the establishment of national-level new areas has had varying degrees of impact on regional development. Shenzhen Special Economic Zone has contributed to the development of the Pearl River Delta, Pudong New Area has facilitated the growth of the Yangtze River Delta, and the Binhai New Area has supported the development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. The starting point and situation of Qingdao West Coast New Area bear many similarities to Shanghai’s Pudong New Area. Quantitative analysis was employed to reveal that industrial structure, innovation, leadership in openness, and domestic trade are the primary influencing factors of the inherent mechanisms of development and openness in Pudong New Area, as well as its role as a regional growth pole. It also offers policy recommendations for Qingdao West Coast New Area to establish itself as a regional development growth pole.

growth poles  /  growth pole evaluation indicator system  /  ridge regression  /  Pudong New Area  /  Qingdao West Coast New Area