The　low-carbon　pilot　city　project　is　a　critical　policy　experimentation　in　China,　which　is　designed　to　implement　policy　instruments　and　local　initiatives　for　low-carbon　development　targets.　However,　some　scholars　have　argued　that　local　pilots　have　not　met　the　central　government＇s　expectation　of　policy　innovation.　The　current　literature　mainly　focuses　on　pathways　at　the　national　level　and　few　studies　have　discussed　how　subnational　authorities　respond　to　the　national　goals.　Through　a　case　study,　we　present　the　actions　and　the　political　will　of　the　local　authorities　and　discuss　the　logic　involved　in　the　local　government＇s　response　to　the　low-carbon　pilot　city　project.　We　conclude　that　the　bottom-up　initiative　has　become　a　top-down　policy　implementation　process,　which　contributes　little　to　the　design　of　new　and　appropriate　policy　instruments　and　initiatives.　The　local　government　only　＂package　up＂　the　low-carbon　related　policies　responding　to　the　country＇s　requirement,　showing　less　enthusiasm　and　political　will　toward　low-carbon　development　initiatives.　This　study　contributes　to　subnational　pathways　of　low-carbon　development　and　explores　the　responses　and　the　political　will　of　local　government　to　policy　experimentation.