Evaluating the effectiveness of land use master plans in built-up land management: A case study of the Jinan Municipality, eastern China

•Land use master plans are implemented in China to control urbanization.•The 2006–2016 land use plan of Jinan was assessed using three sets of indices.•Scale management, annual growth rhythm control, and spatial layout were assessed.•The scale and annual growth of Jinan were within the limits of the master plan.•The spatial layout of Jinan should be improved to conserve arable land.