This study addresses the unbalanced and inadequate regional economic development in China by constructing a comprehensive index system to assess the quality of economic development across six dimensions: innovation dynamic, coordinated development, market governance, green transformation, open economy, and people’s welfare. The authors employ a modified dynamic Spatial Durbin Model to dynamically measure China’s High-Quality Economic Development Index (HQEDI) and analyze its spatial interaction patterns. The findings reveal a persistent upward trend and expanding cycle of HQEDI, with significant spatial agglomeration effects. The spatial correlation structure shows an imbalanced distribution, with Shanghai and Beijing as the primary centers, the eastern coast as secondary centers, and the central and western regions in subordinate positions. Under different spatial weights, China’s HQEDI exhibits conditional β convergence and positive spillover effects, with convergence rates decreasing in the order of “Central-West-Northeast-East,” and corresponding convergence cycles increasing in this order. The study highlights the importance of understanding the actuality and structural distinctions within the high-quality development of various regional economies in China, offering insights for both theoretical and practical applications.This study addresses the unbalanced and inadequate regional economic development in China by constructing a comprehensive index system to assess the quality of economic development across six dimensions: innovation dynamic, coordinated development, market governance, green transformation, open economy, and people’s welfare. The authors employ a modified dynamic Spatial Durbin Model to dynamically measure China’s High-Quality Economic Development Index (HQEDI) and analyze its spatial interaction patterns. The findings reveal a persistent upward trend and expanding cycle of HQEDI, with significant spatial agglomeration effects. The spatial correlation structure shows an imbalanced distribution, with Shanghai and Beijing as the primary centers, the eastern coast as secondary centers, and the central and western regions in subordinate positions. Under different spatial weights, China’s HQEDI exhibits conditional β convergence and positive spillover effects, with convergence rates decreasing in the order of “Central-West-Northeast-East,” and corresponding convergence cycles increasing in this order. The study highlights the importance of understanding the actuality and structural distinctions within the high-quality development of various regional economies in China, offering insights for both theoretical and practical applications.