Pudong in 1985. [Photo by Lu Jie / for China Daily]

Launched in November, the 400-page book details the rapid growth and significant developments that took place in this part of Shanghai. To write the book, He interviewed more than 100 people, including locals, officials and businessmen who were involved in Pudong New Area's development since the country's central government announced the initiative in April 1990 to turn the area into an experimental zone for piloting opening-up policies.

He also examined a host of government files and meeting minutes to recount how China's leaders such as Deng Xiaoping decided to single out Pudong as a special zone, how Shanghai's mayors carried out the plan and how Pudong district officials bargained with international companies to attract investment without sacrificing the country's interests.

Hu Wei, governor of the Pudong New Area from 2000 to 2003, praised the book for being so thorough in its research.

"In the early years of Pudong's development, we said that there should be a book to document this progress. We even invited a writer to attend all our close-door meetings and write a book, but unfortunately that book project did not become a reality," Hu said.

"There were books about Pudong afterward, but they don't carry the same weight as He's book. On behalf of all who contributed to the development of Pudong, I pay tribute to He for writing down their dreams and glories in Pudong Epic.”

Pudong in 2003 was already home to some landmark sites such as the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and Jinmao Tower. [Photo by Gao Erqiang / China Daily]