The　rapid　urbanization　in　China　has　already　put　heavy　pressures　on　imperfect　infrastructure,　especially　for　fundamental　urban　functions　such　as　power　and　water　supply,　traffic,　education,　and　healthcare.　The　emergence　of　smart　cities　can　help　cope　with　the　rapidly　expanding　demands　on　urban　infrastructure.　However,　the　development　of　smart　cities　in　China　is　just　in　its　infancy,　and　there　is　still　a　lack　of　clear　understanding　of　the　development　path　of　smart　cities.　This　article　focuses　on　the　development　of　smart　cities　in　China.　It　aims　to　(a)　judge　whether　there　is　spatial　autoregression　in　the　construction　of　smart　cities　in　83　Chinese　cities　and　(b)　identify　key　influencing　factors　in　the　development　of　smart　cities　in　China　through　a　spatial　econometric　model　developed　by　GeoDa　software.　The　results　show　that　there　exists　spatial　autoregression　in　the　development　of　smart　cities　in　China.　Four　key　influencing　factors　(governmental　support,　innovative　level,　economic　development,　and　human　capital)　are　identified.　Based　on　these　findings,　suggestions　for　future　promoting　development　of　smart　cities　in　China　are　put　forward.　This　research　can　deepen　the　understanding　of　the　spatial　effects　of　smart　cities　and　provide　valuable　decision-making　references　for　policy　makers.　©　2021　Kongling　Liu　et　al.