Yantai was recently ranked top among all cities in Shandong in terms of business environment. It also won accolades for being a top investment destination and an innovative city for business environment.

The city has in recent years focused on improving its business environment and increasing the benefits provided to enterprises through reforms that have streamlined administrative procedures, and improved governmental services, according to local officials.

"Initiatives include streamlining multiple evaluation procedures into one process and enabling the handling of administrative affairs by facial recognition. All these efforts have helped reduce the time businesses spend in completing such affairs by 80 percent," said Fan Zhongli, deputy secretary-general of the Yantai city government.

A new integrated service model also allows entrepreneurs to set up or wind down their businesses conveniently.

City officials have also implemented significant measures that include regulating enterprise law enforcement, preventing and controlling legal risks, and providing legal services for enterprises.

A staff explains procedures to a citizen. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A photo of a 220 kV onshore voltage station for the integrated development of offshore wind power and marine ranching in Laizhou. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

In addition, Yantai is planning to incorporate the optimization of the business environment into its "1+233" work system, improve people's livelihoods and risk prevention and control, and roll out more preferential policies and innovative services in the future.

Researchers conduct experiments in the laboratory of the Bohai Rim China Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery in Yantai. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]