A book series highlighting Yantai's achievements since reform and opening-up policy in 1978 is launched on Nov 21. [Photo/iqilu.com]

The coastal city of Yantai in East China's Shandong province has made substantial progress thanks to China's reform and opening-up policy being introduced 40 years ago.

Yantai was approved as one of the first batch of cities to open to the world in 1984. After several decades of development, it has developed from an obscure coastal town into having one of the top 20 fastest growing local economies in China.

To mark its historical development over the past 40 years, the Yantai government launched a book series on Nov 21, which showcases its achievements in politics, economy, culture, and the development of the city.

The series consists of 210 topics covering 109 municipal departments, units, enterprises and 16 counties and districts.

With a total of more than 6.6 million words, 16 folio books and 10 volumes, it is a large-scale series of books with a comprehensive display of content showing the highlights and achievements in the past 40 years of reform and opening up in Yantai city.

"After it is released, the fruitful results of Yantai achieved over the past 40 years will be widely publicized to expand the city’s reputation and power to further build a civilized, harmonious, and beautiful Yantai," said Chen Haitao, the director of Yantai municipal Party history research office.

The book series was edited by Yantai municipal Party history research office.