ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti ˈeɪt, ˈæftɚ ðɪ ɪstˈæblɪʃmənt ʌv ʃˈɛnʒən spˈɛʃəl ˌiːkənˈɑːmɪk zˈoʊn ˌɛsˌiːzˈiː, jˈænʃən æz ɐ pˈɑːɹt ʌv ljuːˈoʊhuː dˈɪstɹɪkt, təɡˌɛðɚ wɪð sˈɛvɹəl ˈʌðɚ dˈɪstɹɪkts ɪn bˈeɪɑːən kˈaʊnti, fˈɔːɹmd ðə nˈuː spˈɛʃəl ˌiːkənˈɑːmɪk dˈɪstɹɪkt.
In 1978, after the establishment of Shenzhen Special Economic Zone(SEZ), Yantian (as a part of Luohu District), together with several other districts in Bao'an County, formed the new special economic district.