In addition, vehicle imports and exports in the free trade zone amounted to 10,161 units, with 4,021 imported, 78 times the number from the same period last year. It plans to form a high-end imported vehicle industrial chain in three to five years, with annual vehicle imports of 100,000 units and exports of 200,000 units.

The first import auto expo held at the Zhangjiagang Free Trade Zone, in July, was a functional and positioning upgrade of the zone. The zone aims to achieve economic growth by promoting an automobile industrial chain.

The booming red wine market is another highlight of the zone. In the first half, the zone has been the largest wine import base in the province, with 1.9 million liters of imported wine, a rise of 181 percent. More than 1,000 varieties of wine from France, Australia and Germany were displayed and traded here, and transported to other places.

Inside the imported wine warehouse in Zhangjiagang Free Trade Zone.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The service industry in the zone has also maintained sustainable development. From January to June, the industry's added valued came to over 14 billion yuan ($2.27 billion), and investments topped 2.97 billion yuan ($481.65 million), up 8 percent and 2.3 percent, respectively, from the same period last year.