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Profiles of China Provinces, Cities and Industrial Parks



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Content provided by :  China Knowledge
   
29 Aug 2011
Qamdo Prefecture ( Tibet ) City Information

Major Economic Indicators (2010)

Land Area (km2) 110,154
Population (million) 0.6
GDP (RMB billion) 5.8
GDP Composition
Primary Industry 24.2%
Secondary Industry
(Industry & Contruction)		 38.3%
Tertiary Industry (Service) 37.5%
GDP Per Capita (RMB) 9,099
Unemployment Rate 4%
Fixed Asset Investment (RMB billion) 5.2
Utilized FDI (USD million) N.A.
Total Import & Export (USD million) N.A.
Export (USD million) N.A.
Import (USD million) N.A.
Sales of Consumer Goods (RMB billion) 1.2
Source Source: Qamdo Economic and Social Development Report 2009

   

 
Introduction
 
Qamdo Prefecture is located in the eastern part of Tibetan Autonomous Region, bordering Qinghai province to the north. It covers an area of 110,154 sq km and has an average altitude of 3,500 meters. There are 21 ethnic groups, including Tibetans, the Han, the Hui, and the Naxi, living in the area. The population of the prefecture amounted to 0.6 million by the end of 2008. Tibetans account for more than 90% of Qamdo's total population.

Qamdo has various climates. The northwestern parts of Qamdo are cold and dry, while the southeastern parts of the prefecture are warm and humid. It has plenty of sunshine and large difference between day and night. The average temperature is 7.6°C, while the average annual precipitation totals 400-600 mm.

Qamdo is rich in water and mineral resources. Jinsha River, Lancang River, and Nujiang River run roughly parallel within the prefecture. Theoretical reserves of hydro-energy amount to 40.5 million kw. Currently, Qamdo has 102 hydropower stations with installed capacity of 117,000 kw. In addition, mineral resources such as copper, lead, zinc, iron and coal are abundant. Yulong Copper and Molybdenum Mine, located in Jiangda County of the prefecture, has reserves of copper and molybdenum amounting to 6.4 million tons and 148,500 tons, both ranking in the top ten in China.

Transportation in Qamdo is very convenient and mainly relies on highways and airlines. State Highway 317 and State Highway 318 cross the prefecture from east to west, while State Highway 214 runs through the prefecture from north to south. Qamdo Bangda Airport, 130 km from Qamdo County, the political and economic center of Qamdo Prefecture, is the highest airport in the world. It operates scheduled flights to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet Autonomous Region, and Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province.
 
Economic Features
 
Qamdo realized GDP of RMB 5.8 billion in 2009, representing a rise of 12.2% year on year. The prefecture's GDP accounted for approximately 13.1% of Tibet's total and ranked third after Lhasa and Shigatse out of seven in the autonomous region.

The agricultural sector, the smallest contributor to the prefecture’s economy, generated value-added output of RMB 1.4 billion in 2008, accounting for 24.2% of the prefecture's GDP. Total output value of the sector amounted to RMB 2.2 billion, up 5.8% year on year.  

In 2008, secondary industry (industry and construction) realized value-added output of RMB 2.2 billion, accounting for 38.3% of the prefecture's total.  

During 2008, gross output value of industry of the region reached RMB 802 million, up 42.4% year on year. Heavy and light industries at the township level and above realized RMB 407 million and RMB 295 million, contributing 58% and 48% respectively to the total.

The value-added industrial output of Qamdo's construction sector reached RMB 1.8 billion, rising 33.5% year on year.

The service sector, the largest contributor to Qamdo's economy, generated value-added output of RMB 2.2 billion, accounting for 37.5% of the prefecture's total GDP in 2008.  

Tourism is an important pillar of the service sector. During 2008, 312,200 tourists visited the prefecture, up 61.9% year on year, while tourism income totaled RMB 205 million, representing a rise of 66.4% compared to the previous year.
 
Cultural Highlights
 
Qamdo boasts Kangba culture, which is a kind of multi-cultural melding of traditional Han culture, Tibetan culture, Qiang culture and Hui culture. Local Kangba people are said to be honest, frank and always ready to help others.

During the sowing and harvest seasons, the local people usually gather together to drink local Qingke liquor, the famous highland barley liquor, and dance in a circle.

Qamdo is also the birthplace of the Reba, or Rebazhuo, an energetic dance of bells and drums which showcases the long, flowing sleeves of the dancers. It was included in the first batch of National Intangible Heritage Projects.
 
Tourist Attraction
 
Qamdo is rich in tourism resources. It is home to the world famous Kangba Culture and has approximately 210 natural scenery spots and cultural and historical landmarks.

Stretching across Qamdo is the Ancient Chinese Tea-Horse Road, a commercial passage mainly for trading items such as horses and tea between Tibet and the inner regions of China. The parallel Jinsha River, Lancang River, and Nujiang River were accepted by UNESCO as a natural world heritage site in 2003.

Tibetan cuisine is very popular in Qamdo. Butter tea, dried beef, and Zanba, which is made of roasted qingke barley flour are staple foods of local Tibetan people.

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