In a landmark administrative transformation, Chongqing Liangjiang New Area has been formally inaugurated as a fully-fledged administrative entity, marking a significant milestone in China’s regional development strategy. This establishment on January 25, 2026, represents the first national-level new area in central and western China to achieve this elevated administrative status.
The restructuring follows a major governmental overhaul implemented in November 2025, which dissolved the former Jiangbei and Yubei districts of Chongqing municipality. These territories have now been comprehensively integrated into the newly formed Liangjiang New Area, creating an expansive administrative region covering approximately 1,360 square kilometers with a population of 3.52 million residents.
Strategic positioning designates Liangjiang New Area as the primary hub for Chongqing to execute major national initiatives, foster innovative productive capacities, deepen institutional reforms, and expand high-level international openness. The area is poised to serve as a critical testing ground for governance innovation and economic modernization, potentially establishing new benchmarks for regional development models across China’s western regions.
This administrative evolution reflects China’s continuing efforts to optimize territorial governance structures while enhancing economic coordination mechanisms. The consolidation aims to eliminate previous administrative barriers, creating more efficient resource allocation and policy implementation frameworks that could accelerate regional development and improve public service delivery across the newly unified jurisdiction.