City Introduction of Qinghai, China: Haixi Region

Major Economic Indicators (2007)

Source: Haixi Region Economic and Social Development Report 2007

Introduction

Haixi Region is located in the western part of Qinghai Province, bordering Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Gansu Province and Sichuan Province. It covers a vast land area of 325,800 sq km and has a population of 560,000.

Haixi has a typical continental plateau climate with an extremely cold winter and a large temperature difference between day and night. Average temperatures and average annual precipitation vary greatly among the different counties under administration of the region.

Haixi is rich in mineral resources. Reserves of crude salt, potassium, magnesium, lithium, strontium, asbestos and mirabilite rank first in China, while reserves of bromine and boron rank second in the country. The total potential value of all the minerals amounts to RMB 15 trillion.

Haixi has convenient access to transportation. The Qinghai-Tibet Highway, the Qinghai-Xinjiang Highway, and the Dunhuang-Golmud Highway intersect within Haixi. Golmud Airport, which is located in Golmud County, operates flights to major cities such as Xining and Xi'an.

Economic Features

Haixi realized GDP of RMB 20.2 billion in 2007, representing a rise of 17.3% year on year. The region's GDP accounted for approximately 26.5% of Qinghai's total and ranked second out of eight in the province.

The value-added output of the agricultural sector increased by 5.8% year on year to RMB 571 million in 2007, contributing 2.8% of the region's GDP.

In 2007, the value-added output of secondary industry (industry and construction), the largest contributor to the region's economy, amounted to RMB 15.5 billion and accounted for 77.1% of the region's total. The value-added industrial output generated by the industrial sector reached RMB 14.2 billion, up 20.1% year on year. 

Oil and natural gas production, electricity, non-ferrous metals, salt-chemicals and coal mining are the pillar industries. Haixi-based PetroChina Qinghai Oilfield Company realized value-added industrial output of RMB 7.9 billion in 2007, accounting for 55.4% of the industrial sector's total, while local Qinghai Salt Lake Group and Western Mining Co generated value-added industrial output of RMB 1.8 billion and RMB 937 million during the same year, contributing 12.6% and 6.6% to industrial sector's total, respectively.

In 2007, the service sector generated value-added output of RMB 4.0 billion, contributing 20.1% of the region's GDP. Retail, an important pillar of the sector, realized sales of RMB 1.6 billion, up 11.6% compared to the previous year.

Tourism is also an important part of Haixi’s service sector. In 2007, 1 million tourists visited the region, up 4.8% year on year, while tourism income totaled RMB 223 million, representing a rise of 37.7% over last year.

Cultural Highlights

Haixi is known for its multi-cultural history. There are many ethnic groups, including the Han, Tibetans, the Hui, Mongols, and the Tu, living here. Among the minority ethnic groups, Tibetans and Mongols account for 10% and 7% of the total population, respectively.

Various minority ethnic groups, retaining their own folk customs, live harmoniously and happily in the region.

Tourist Attractions

Haixi is rich in beautiful tourism resources. Tourists should visit Kunlun Mountain, SanjiangYuan Natural Reserve, Shell Mountain, Tuotuo River, and Tanggula Mountain.

Kunlun Mountain is widely appraised as the most supernatural Mountain in China, while the Kunlun Cultural Tourism Area has been given a rating of AAAA, the second highest level.

When it comes to local special snacks, Zanba (a Tibetan food made from roasted qingke barley flour), milk tea, yogurt, horse milk wine, hand grabbed mutton, and buckhorn-shaped moss (a primitive plant with high nutritional value), are really unique and attractive for tourists.

In addition, local folk porcelain, brede, and Thang-ga, a traditional sort of Tibetan painting, can be very good souvenirs for tourists to take home.