Two years ago, China's central government worked with local officials to create Dalian's Jinpu-New-District. It's a business center and port dedicated to revitalizing China's rust belt. We went to Jinpu to see how it has helped transform China's old industrial base.

Registering a business in China can be time-consuming, but in Jinpu new district, the headache of administrative process is the least that one should be worried about. You get the stamp and license needed to launch your new business in a breeze.

"I submitted the required files yesterday afternoon, and I already received the new stamp this morning," said Wang Yanyan, assistant of East Hotel, Dalian.

With simplified regulations, the new district puts an end to unnecessary government intervention and bureaucratic complications. It's been greatly facilitating the market.

"Our aim is to reduce those regulations which are not compulsory in getting administrative approval, figures from the first quarter show a 30% increase in the number of new businesses registered," said Chen Guomin, vice president of Administration Service Center of Jinpu New District.

The district has the largest land area among the 13 national economic districts. Situated in the heart of the northeast Asia economic circle, it enjoys geographical advantages. And what interests us the most is it has a cross-border e-commerce hotspot where young entrepreneurs meet and brainstorm.

"What we are doing is to help those companies in the northeast which are keen to expand into the foreign market, by offering assistance like posting their products on Ebay and organizing trade Expos. This is where idea was turned into real business," said Kong Yongze, director of Cross-border E-commerce Business Park, Jinpu New District.

Dong Chao is a case in point. When the prices of iron slumped, he came up with the idea of producing cat litter with bentonite - a byproduct from iron ore mining. He muscled into the US market, after launching his startup in the business park.

"The business park has an official web-page on Ebay, it's totally free for companies in the park to post products on that page...they've also assisted us in tax refund for exported goods," Dong said.

At the forefront of China's reform and opening-up policies in the northeast is Jinpu New District -- where you can hardly see any traces of legacy from the planned economy. With advanced infrastructure and simplified regulations, the district is leading the region's revitalization effort.