Abstract: The Yangtze Economic Zone is the first class development axis in China that stands side by side with Coastal Economic Zone. Its internal regional economy disparity has been expanded since 1990s; to reduce the gap by promoting the economy of the Yangtze Economic Zone and to achieve the whole harmonious development have been an important task at present. In this paper, we analyzed the regional economic disparity of the Yangtze Zone between the three zones and 41 cities to find out the major factors that affect regional economic disparity. Then we analyzed these factors to look for how to narrow the gap between regions and keep sustainable development. Finally, we forecast the tendency of each region in the Yangtze Economic Zone. There are great economic differences in the Yangtze Economic Zone, and the differences are becoming larger. Its development tendency is well, showing that it is an important growth axis of China.

Key words: Yangtze Economic Zone, regional economic disparity, the situation and character of the development, tendency prediction