Major Economic Indicators (2007)

Source: Zhongwei Economic and Social Development Report 2007

Introduction

Zhongwei is located in the central part of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. It covers an area of 16,986 sq km. Its population is 1.1 million. The Hui ethnic group accounts for approximately 31.5% of the total population.

Zhongwei has a semi-arid continental monsoon climate and is subject to sand storms. The average temperature is 7.3-9.5 Celsius, while the average annual precipitation is 179.6-367.4 mm.

Zhongwei is replete with mineral resources such as gypsum, silica, coal, clay, and limestone. Reserves of gypsum, clay and coal amount to approximately 7 billion tons, 5 billion tons and 1.2 billion tons, respectively. Additionally, Zhongwei is also rich in tourism resources. Shapotou Tourism and Scenic Desert Area, which is an AAAAA state level (the highest in China) scenery spot, is also located in the city's lands.

Transportation in Zhongwei is very convenient. Zhongwei Airport, 26 km from Shapotou Tourism and Scenic Desert Area, offers flights to major cities including Beijing, Yinchuan, Xi'an, and Lanzhou. In addition, the Baotou-Lanzhou Railway and the Zhongwei-Baoji Railway also run across the city.

Economic Features

Zhongwei realized GDP of RMB 9.3 billion in 2007, representing a rise of 13.9% year on year. The city's GDP accounted for approximately 11% of Ningxia's total and ranked fourth among 5 prefecture-level cities in the autonomous region.

The agricultural sector generated value-added output of RMB 2.1 billion in 2007, accounting for 22.2% of the city's GDP, while secondary industry (industry and construction), realized value-added output of RMB 3.6 billion, accounting for 38.3% of the city's total.

Metallurgy, electricity power, agricultural products processing, paper making, chemicals and building materials are the city's pillar industries. In 2007 they realized value-added industrial output of RMB 536 million, RMB 432 million, RMB 396 million, RMB 334 million, RMB 325 million and RMB 219 million, up 104.7%, down 18.2%, up 2.4%, 2.4%, 36% and 23.1% year on year, respectively. The aggregate value-added industrial output of these industries accounted for 62.3% of the secondary sector's total.

The service sector, the largest sector in Zhongwei's economy, contributed 39.5% to the city's total GDP in 2007. Tourism is an important part of the service sector. During 2007, 1.3 million tourists visited the city, 23.1% more than in 2006, and tourism income totaled RMB 539 million, increasing 20.1% year on year.

In 2007, the total value of imports and exports was US$35 million (comprising export value of US$34.6 million and import value of US$0.4 million), up 12.3% year on year. The city's major export goods are matrimony vine products. Russia and the U.S are the city's most important trading partners.

Cultural Highlights

Zhongwei is a multi-cultural city with 17 ethnic minority groups, including the Hui, Man, Mongols, and Miao. They live together harmoniously and retain their cultural legacy and life practices.

Among the minority groups, the Hui people amount to 350,000, accounting for approximately 31.8% of the total population. The Islamic religion maintains a deep influence on the lifestyle of the Hui people.

Tourist Attractions

Zhongwei, a desert oasis, attracts tourists with its beautiful scenery. The city's lands contain an AAAAA state level scenery spot, Shapotou Tourism and Scenic Desert Area. Gao Miao, a temple that has hosted Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist ceremonies, also attracts millions of domestic and foreign tourists every year.

In addition, Zhongwei is considered to be the Chinese hometown of the matrimony vine. The matrimony vine is edible raw or cooked and plays an important role in traditional Chinese medicine.