The quantum satellite was sent into space in August in an effort to start "hack-proof" quantum communications by transmitting uncrackable keys from space to the ground.

Launched on Oct. 17, the Shenzhou-11 spacecraft docked two days later with China's first space lab Tiangong-2 where two astronauts lived for 30 days, the longest time Chinese astronauts have spent in space.

Besides space technology, China has seen outstanding achievements in other cutting edge areas during 2016.

In June, China's new supercomputing system Sunway-TaihuLight was named the world's fastest computer at the International Supercomputing Conference in Germany.

In September, a national genebank with more than 10 million bio-samples was opened to work on human health research and the conservation of global bio-diversity.

Aside from major cutting-edge fields, the country's innovation strength can be seen in individual companies in all areas.

According to a report published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), China ranked top in the world for patent applications, receiving over one million applications in 2015.

China joined the ranks of the world's top 25 innovative economies in the Global Innovation Index released by Cornell University, INSEAD and WIPO in August.

"This is in keeping with all the developments that we have seen in China in recent years, including the use of innovation as a major component in the transition of the Chinese economy from 'made in China' to 'created in China,'" WIPO Director General Francis Gurry said.

As a country determined to pursue innovation-driven development, China is ready to make even bigger moves in the future.

Three major steps are to be taken on China's innovation-driven development, according to guidelines unveiled in May.

The guidelines said the country would be an "innovative nation" by 2020, an international leader in innovation by 2030, and a world powerhouse of scientific and technological innovation by 2050.