Major Economic indicators (2007)

Source: Xingtai Economic and Social Development Report 2007

Introduction

Xingtai is located in the southern part of Hebei Province on the North China Plain. The city borders Shandong Province in the east, Handan City in the south, Taihang Mountains in the west, Hengshui City in the northeast and Shijiazhuang (the capital city of Hebei Province) in the north. It covers an area of 12,486 km² and has a population of 6.9 million. The capital city of China, Beijing, is just 396 km to the north.

The city has a comprehensive transportation system. The Beijing-Guangzhou Railway, the Beijing-Kowloon Railway and the Beijing-Shenzhen Highway run through the city from north to south, while the Xingtai-Jinan Highway, the Xingtai-Heshun Highway and the Xingtai-Changzhi Highway go across the city from east to west. The Handan Airport, open since 2007, is merely 30 minutes' drive from Xingtai.

Xingtai enjoys a temperate monsoon climate. The winters are usually dry and cold, while the summers are always rainy and damp.

Economic Features

Xingtai is the 6th largest economy in Hebei in terms of 2007 GDP. The GDP of Xingtai soared 13.0% from the previous year to RMB 89 billion in 2007, accounting for 6.4% of Hebei's GDP. The industry sector is the largest contributor to GDP. The value-added output from the industry sector rose 13.5% to RMB 49.6 billion, comprising 55.7% of Xingtai's GDP.

Heavy industry realized RMB 22.9 billion in industrial value added output, while light industry generated RMB 6.5 billion in industrial value-added output. The value-added output from heavy industry and light industry comprised 77.9% and22.1% of the city's total, respectively. Xingtan's major industries consist of steel and steel products manufacturing, silicon and silicon products producing, coking coal, textiles, and electricity production and supply. The total industrial value-added output from the five major industries amounted to RMB 21.1 billion, making up 72% of Xingtai's total.

Hebei Jinniu Energy Resources, Xingtai Iron & Steel, and Xingtai Longhai Steel Group are the leading companies in Xingtai. Hebei Jinniu Energy Resources, established in 1999, is a major coal, cement, and thermoelectricity supplier in Xingtai. It was founded with registered capital of RMB 42.5 million. The company's annual coal production capacity surpassed 9.9 million tons in 2007.

Xingtai Iron & Steel began as Xingtai Iron and Steel Factory, which was set up in 1958. It was reconstructed into Xingtai Iron & Steel in 1996. The company is capable of producing 1.3 million tons of pig iron and 1.5 million tons of steel billets annually. Xingtai Longhai Steel Group, set up in 1999, is a large iron and steel products manufacturer. With 7 subsidiaries, the group has annual production capacity of 7 million tons of iron and steel products in total.

In 2007, the foreign trade value in Xingtai rose 26% year-on-year to US$ 1.1 billion, including US$299.9 million in exports and US$788.5 million in imports. Steel and iron products and textiles are the major export products in Xingtai. The countries and regions of APEC, the E.U., and ASEAN are the largest foreign trade partners of Xingtai, accounting for over one half of Xingtai's total trade value.

Xingtai attracted US$150.6 million FDI in 2007, down 7.2% year-on-year. The utilized FDI in the city rose 53.2% year-on-year to US$250.7 million. Large multinational companies, including Siemens, Cabot and SMI, have invested in projects in the city.

Cultural Highlights

Xingtai has a long history. During the Shang Dynasty (BC1600-1046BC), Xingtai was the capital city. It acquired its current name during the Zhou Dynasty, when the state of Xing was founded in the area. After that, it had several names, such as Xianguo in the Warring States Period (476BC-221BC), Xindu during the Qin Dynasty (BC221-206BC), Longgang during the Tang Dynasty (AD618-907) and Xingtai during the Song Dynasty (AD960-1279). Yangge Songs (a kind of folk song with dance) and Meihuaquan (the Plum Blossom Fist style of kung fu) are the most characteristic cultural highlights in Xingtai.

Tourist Attractions

Xingtai has many recommendable scenic spots, such as the White Cloud Cave of Mount Kong, the Gorges of the Taihang Mountains, Qingfeng Tower, and Qiannanyu Ecological Tourist Zone. The White Cloud Cave of Mount Kong is a scenic spot well-known for a landscape combining mountains, waters, historical ruins, caves and forest. Qingfeng Tower, originally built during the Tang Dynasty and reconstructed during the Ming Dynasty, is about 20 meters high. The best seasons to visit these spots are the spring and the autumn, when it is neither too cold nor too hot. Special local snacks in Xingtai include Mingdu Da Bao (Mingdu Paozi), Pagao (a kind of sweet pastry) and sesame candy.

Honors

National Green Model City (2006)
---Central Afforestation Committee of P.R. China

Province-level Historical and Cultural City (2005)
---People's Government of Hebei Province