Economic level could be an important factor which influences energy efficiency and it's generally accepted that high level of economic development can lead of high energy efficiency. However, the situation may be different when economic factor is put aside. In the paper, nine regions in China are chosen to compare their energy efficiency at similar economic level between 1995 and 2007. Based on the result, the nine regions can be divided into three categories--early developed regions with low

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... ergy efficiency, late developed regions with high energy efficiency and late developed regions with low energy efficiency. Three possible reasons for the result (the technology "leapfrog", energy mix and industrial mix) are discussed. The adoption of the latest technologies, low portion of coal-driven energy in energy mix and high portion of light industry in industrial mix can be the reason for high energy efficiency of late developed regions in China.