City Introduction of Shaanxi, China: Baoji

Baoji

Major Economic Indicators (2007)

Source: Baoji Economic and Social Development Report 2007

Introduction

Baoji is located in the south-west of the Shaanxi province, with a land area of 18,175 km² and population of 3.76 million. It has complex geographic features with mountains in the south, west and north, while the Wei River is located in the middle. Mountains and hills occupy approximately 83% of the whole area; the remaining area is occupied by plains.

Baoji is in the warm and sub-humid climate zone, with a dry and cold winter contrasting with a hot and rainy summer. In the autumn season, rain can last for days. The city has the highest recorded levels of rainfall among all the cities in middle Shaanxi.

Baoji owns abundant mineral resources such as gold, copper, zinc and lead, et cetera. Among them, the potential value of the gold mine amounts to RMB 3.7 billion.

Baoji is an important transportation hub, linking Xi'an, Lanzhou, Chengdu, Yinchuan, which are the capital cities of Shaanxi, Gansu, Sichuan provinces and the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region respectively, in its east, west, south and north.

Economic Features

Baoji realized GDP of RMB 58.0 billion in 2007, up 14.7% year-on-year and accounting for approximately 10.8% of the province's total.

Baoji has established equipment manufacturing, non-ferrous metallurgies, food processing and chemical energy as its pillar industries. In 2007, the four pillar industries realized total industrial output of RMB 21.3 billion, contributing 31.8% to the total of that from the enterprises with designated size and above in the city.

Tourism is the pillar business of the city’s service industry. In 2007, the tourist reception of Baoji reached 9.4 million persons, realizing a tourism income of RMB 5.5 billion, up 35.6% year-on-year.

Within the same year, the total foreign trade of the city amounted to US$681 million, adding 12.1% year-on-year. Its major export goods are the production of petroleum equipment, computerized numerical-control machine tools, et cetera, while its key import goods are titanium sponge, electrical and electronic products, mechanical equipment, et cetera. India, Japan and America are the major trading partners of the city.

In 2007, Baoji attracted an amount of contracted foreign direct investment (FDI) and utilized FDI of US$3.1 million and US$25.1 million respectively.

Cultural Highlights

Baoji is the birth-place of the Chinese ancestor, Yandi, and the cradle of Zhou (1046-221 B.C) and Qin (221-206 B.C) dynasties. As one of the cradles of the Chinese civilization, Baoji is called the "Town of Bronze Wares" and the "Town of Folk Handicrafts".

Tourist Attractions

There are many tourist attractions in Baoji, including such scenic spots as the Taibai Mountain National Forest Park, Tiantai Mountain, Honghe Valley, Fengxiang East Lake, Jialing River Headwaters and Guanshan Grassland, et cetera, as well as historical and cultural sites such as the Yandi Temple, Yongcheng (Capital of the Qin State) Site, Zhougong Temple, Famen Temple, the Fishing Platform, et cetera.

Major Development Zones

By the end of 2007, Baoji had one state-level development zone, namely Baoji State-level New High-tech Industrial Development Zone.

State-level Development Zones in Baoji

Source: Baoji State-level New High-Tech Industries Development Zone

Honors

National Garden City (2008)

--- Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of China

National Clean City (2007)

--- Office of the National Patriotic Health Campaign Committee