Abstract: Provincial sub-central cities are an inevitable product of urban development at a certain stage and an important manifestation of the general laws of urban development. Provincial sub- central cities in middle and western China such as Xiangyang in Hubei, Ganzhou in Jiangxi, Zunyi in Guizhou, and Yueyang in Hunan fully utilize their own advantages, actively seek national policy support, and strive to achieve the construction goals of strong comprehensive urban strength, good industrial foundation, high urban level, and excellent internal quality, providing a model and demonstration for the construction of provincial sub central cities. Learning from and drawing on the experience of constructing provincial sub-central cities in the middle and western China is of strategic significance and practical value for accelerating the construction of sub-central cities in Yunnan.

Key words: urban economy, provincial sub-central cities, mid-west region, Qujing