Rugao, a county-level city in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, recently ranked first among 96 counties in the province in terms of business environment in 2018, topping the list for the second year in a row.

In recent years, the city has put a lot of effort into improving the business environment for companies and entrepreneurs in order to arouse market vitality.

In September 2015, Rugao established Nantong's first county-level administrative examination and approval bureau, and later simplified and improved examination and approval processes and services, greatly enhancing administrative efficiency.

The city provides "one-stop services" for start-ups, enabling new businesses to handle all relevant procedures at a single department and eliminating the need to travel between several different departments.

The city has also launched online service platforms for the public, enabling businesses to register and submit materials online at any time. Ninety-five percent of start-ups are currently choosing this method.