Abstract: Since the reform and opening up, the development process of special areas has not only reflected the transition of a major country but also encapsulates the changes in local development models. The delegation of power, overlay of policy tools, and flexible management system have together shaped the formation of special policies for the special development zones. The national spatial selectivity for the special development zones encompasses not only territorial spatial planning in its traditional sense but also reflect in the preferential special policies aligned with spatial positioning, as well as the differentiated management system based on specific spaces. This constitutes the three-fold attributes of China's special development zones: they serve as development spaces that undertake governance tasks, tools for governance with overlapping multiple policy benefits, and stable institutional arrangements. The effectiveness of development and the sharing of risks jointly mold the dual governance logic of China's special development zones.