Commonly known as Haitan, Pingtan (Lan for short) consists of 126 islands and 702 reef rocks, with a land area of 392 sq.km and a sea area of 6,064 sq.km. The main island—Haitan, expands 324 sq.km, making itself the 5th largest island in China and the largest in FujianProvince. It, facing Taiwan across the Taiwan Straits, is the closest placeon the mainland tothe island of Taiwan with a crow-fly distance of 68 nautical miles to Hsinchu, Taiwan. In 2009, Pingtan was designated as a pilot zone for the cross-Straits integration and the blueprint of a common homeland for compatriots on both sides.

China inaugurated the Pingtan area of the China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in April, 2015,  focusing on building a free port.

With rich natural tourism resources and distinctive culture, Pingtan is well-known for its sand beaches and sea erosion landforms. In August 2016, the State Council approved a plan that would see Pingtan's development as an international tourism island, aiming to make it a popular international tourist destinationafter Hainan in China.

As a result, Pingtan is on three national strategic missions of growing itself into a comprehensive pilot, a free trade zone and an international tourism island.