Book excerpt: This book is an overview of the development status of China's special economic zones in 2020, including the reform pilot zones and some new special zones over the past year. It analyzes the challenges during the transformation faced by special zones, the use of resources and sustainable development, economic and social development, social security, science and technology innovation, financial system reform, and cultural industry. Also it includes a record and review of the development status of the five traditional special economic zones and Shanghai Pudong New Area and Tianjin Binhai New Area over the past year, with emphasis on case studies of different special zones.