City Introduction of Tibet, China: Ali Prefecture

Major Economic Indicators (2007)

Source: Ali Economic and Social Development Report 2007

Introduction

Ali Prefecture is located in the western part of Tibetan Autonomous Region, bordering Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, India and Nepal. It covers an area of 304,683 sq km. The average altitude of Ali is approximately 4,500 meters, which is the highest among all the regions of the Tibet. The population of the prefecture amounted to 83,500 by the end of 2007. Tibetans account for over 90% of Ali's population.

Because of the high altitude, Ali has an extremely cold and dry climate. The temperature difference between day and night is very large. The average temperature is 0°C, while the average annual precipitation is 190 mm. Rainfall in May to September accounts for over 80% of the total every year.

Ali is rich in natural resources. The Shiquan River and Yarlung Zangbu Geothermal Area, Kunlun Mountain and Kekexili Geothermal Area, and Gangdisi Mountain and Nianqing Tanggula Mountain Geothermal Area, are located in Ali. Mineral resources such as salt, boron, aluminum, Glauber's salt, chromium, silver and gold are abundant. Grassland occupies approximately 87% of Ali's total area.  

Transportation in Ali mainly relies on highways and is not convenient. There are two highways connecting Ali with Lhasa, capital of Tibet, namely the northern highway and the southern highway, which are 1,760 km and 1,190 km from Lhasa, respectively. The Ali Kunsha Airport, located in the southwestern part of Shiquanhe Town, currently is under construction and is expected to start operation in 2011.

Economic Features

Ali realized GDP of RMB 1.3 billion in 2007, representing a rise of 10.2% year on year. The prefecture's GDP accounted for approximately 3.9% of Tibet's total and ranked the last out of seven in the autonomous region.

Agricultural sector, the smallest contributor to the prefecture's economy, generated value-added output of RMB 285 million in 2007, accounting for 21.2% of the prefecture's GDP. Total output of the sector amounted to RMB 372 million, contributing 4.7% to Tibet's total.

In 2007, secondary industry (industry and construction) realized value-added industrial output of RMB 331 million, accounting for 24.6% of the prefecture's total.  

During 2007, gross output value of industry at the township level and above reached RMB 165.74 million, accounting for only 3.5% of Tibet's total. Heavy and light industries at the township level and above realized RMB 165.69 million and RMB 50,000, contributing 99.97% and 0.03% respectively to the total. Total value-added industrial output of the enterprises above the designated size reached RMB 18.2 million, accounting for only 0.8% of Tibet's total.

The value-added industrial output of Ali's construction sector reached RMB 28.9 million, in 2007, contributing only 2.0% to the autonomous region’s total.

Service sector, the largest contributor to Ali's economy, generated value-added output of RMB 727 million, accounting for 54.2% of the prefecture's total GDP in 2007.  

Tourism is an important pillar of the service sector. During 2007, 77,000 tourists visited the prefecture, while tourism income totaled RMB 42 million.

Cultural Highlights

Ali is famous as a religious faith center in Tibet. Since ancient times, Ali has been known as a religious center of Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Bon, a traditional Tibetan religion.

In addition to traditional Tibetan festivals such as the Bathing Festival, the Tibetan Yoghourt Festival, the Horse Racing Festival and the Sunning of the Buddha Festival, Ali also attaches importance to Daqin Buddhist Celebrations and Kejia Temple Buddhist Celebrations.

In addition, since Ali, headstream of hundreds of rivers, is located at the intersection of Mount Everest, the Gangdise Mountains, the Karakorum Mountains and the Kunlun Mountains, it is called the ancestor of mountains and rivers.

Tourist Attractions

Ali has natural beauty and a charming cultural heritage. Tourist attractions include Kejia Temple, Ritu Cave Ancient Fresco, Gangren Boqi Mountain (which is considered a holy mountain by local people), Tuolin Temple, Holy Mapang Yongcuo Lake, the Guge Kingdom Ruins (which are 1,300 years old), and Bangong Lake.

Traditional Tibetan staple foods such as Zanba, which is made of roasted qingke (a kind of cereal), barley flour, butter tea, and Tibetan Qingke Liquor, are also popular among local Ali Tibetan people.