Based on panel data of 31 large and medium-sized cities and national high-tech zones from 2001 to 2016, this paper studies the spillover effect of FDI on the development of high-tech zones in China. It finds that FDI significantly promotes the development of enterprises in high-tech zones and has a significant spillover effect on high-tech zones and the spillover effect is stronger after the global financial crisis in 2008. The spillover effect of FDI on high-tech zones in the eastern cities is more intense than that in the central and Western cities. The greater the intensity of foreign investment, the better the spillover effect. The number of talents in high-tech zones is conducive to the spillover of FDI to high-tech zones. Continuing to open up, promoting investment liberalization, attracting more foreign investment to the central and western regions, and attracting more talents can better promote the development of China's high-tech zones.