The National Economic-Technology Development Area (NETDA) is a key part of China's economic development after the Reform and Opening Policy in 1978. After more than 30 years of development, NETDA has played a crucial role in facilitating growth of the economy, industrialization, urbanization, and local development in China. NETDA is generally secondary industry focused and is associated with intensive resource and energy consumption and significant pollution emissions, thus requiring more stringent environmental standards. It is a daunting challenge for NETDAs to balance economic development with resource conservation and environmental protection and support the economy by implementing green development. This study established a green development index (GDI) to assess the degree of environmental friendliness of the Chinese NETDA developments, aiming to establish a baseline to facilitate performance improvement. The GDI was created using a multi-criteria ranking method. First, an index system was established, which included four categories:economic development, water and energy consumption, ecological environmental protection, and infrastructure. Second, the original value of each individual metric was normalized in relation to a benchmark, by transferring both industrial added value and GDP to comparable prices of 2007. The metrics were then weighted and aggregated to calculate the GDI. We then used this method to calculate the GDI evolution of 52 NETDAs. A dynamic bulb-diagram flash was designed to present the GDI evolution of each NETDA from 2007 to 2012 and comparisons among different NETDAs. Differences in GDIs for the NETDAs located in East, Central, and West China were analyzed, as well as the effect of a national demonstration program on eco-industrial park development on GDIs. We found that the GDI improved markedly from 2007 to 2012. The NETDAs accredited as national demonstration eco-industrial parks (EIPs) generally outscored NETDAs that were listed as EIP candidates. Non-EIP NETDAs scored the lowest. Finally, the policy implications of GDI for the NETDAs were discussed.