On October 20, the China Small and Medium-sized Cities Development Index Research Group and Guoxin Small and Medium-sized Cities Index Research Institute released the "2023 Research Report on the Development of Top 1000 Towns in China". The economy of Lilin Town of Zhongkai High-tech Zone again attracted the gaze of people including but not limited to the circle, and the town was listed as one of "2023 Top 1000 Towns in China ", ranking 502 with its comprehensive strength. Lilin is on the ranking list among towns set by provincial grade administration again since it became the only town set by provincial grade administration in Huizhou on the list of "2023 Top 500 Town in Economic Performance and Top 50 in the West".

　　It is found that the research objects of this report were the towns set by provincial grade administration and that with the characteristics of small and medium-sized cities. The selection of 2023 Top 1000 Towns focuses on the evaluation of comprehensive strength, and the selected towns include those with industrial strength, those strong in speciality agriculture and in science and technology, and those driven by metropolitan circle. According to the evaluation system, the comprehensive strength index of the towns set by provincial grade administration across the country consists of 5 first-level indicators including economic development, innovation vitality, development potential, ecological livability and affluent life as well as 25 second-level indicators.

　　Lilin Town is located in the southwest of Zhongkai High-tech Zone, within the one-hour living circle of Huizhou City in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. It is known as the "West Gate" of Huizhou City and the "Western Corridor" of Zhongkai High-tech Zone. The town covers a total area of 48.29 square kilometres. With a total population of more than 70,000, it has 10 village committees and 1 community. It borders Xiegang Town and Qiaotou Town of Dongguan City. The ways such as Ganzhou-Shenzhen High-speed Railway, Chaozhou-Dongguan Expressway, Boluo-Shenzhen Expressway and Dongguan-Huizhou intercity railway pass through the city, and the comprehensive transportation system is interconnected and has great development potential. In addition, the town is rich in natural resources, having a forest area of 1852.21 hectares and with a forest coverage rate of 38.68%; It has jurisdiction over Shigu Reservoir and Huangpiling Reservoir; 1 town-level forest park and 13 village-level parks are located in the town.

　　In recent years, Lilin Town has closely focused on the development blueprint for "reshaping the industrial town and creating a vibrant Lilin", and promoted the integrated and coordinated development of urban and rural areas with the development idea of "north-south strategy and the rise of central area". Nowadays, the modern industrial new city in the north has begun to take shape. Touring southern countryside landscape of mountains and rivers in Lilin and experiencing its charm are becoming increasingly enjoyable. The “old” Xu town in the centre has showed a "new” look, presenting a new atmosphere of a strong and vibrant town.