Since the economic reform in 1978

the dramatic increase of Chinese cities hasbeen accompanying the rapid development of economy.This paper focuses on the newly designated cities since 1978.Attention is initially paid to the characteristics of thenew cities

including the increase number and rate

the designation ways

provincial dif-ferences

and spatial pattern etc. Then their impacts on the city distribution are exam-ined.In addition

the problems related to the designation are discussed in hopes of pro-viding the references for improving the designation standards

constituting a rationalcity distribation

and supervising the Chinese urban development。