Experiences and lessons learned from China's shale gas development: 2005–2019

China has become the second-largest producer of shale gas after the United States. This paper aims to explore other unique factors resulting in China's success by reviewing the history and experience of Chinese developers. The following findings were obtained. (1) The development of shale gas is less related to company size and is more related to a company's goals and motivations. (2) Construction of state-level demonstration zones is an efficient way to accelerate shale gas development. (3) Hopes for opening the shale gas market by auctions were dashed in China. (4) Technology localization is the key to shale gas development. •There are some unique factors for China's success in exploiting shale gas.•What matters most is the developers' motivation, whatever the size of the companies.•Construction of the state-level demonstration zones speeded up shale gas development.•Technology localization is the key to shale gas development in China.•Hopes for opening the shale gas market by auctions were dashed in China.