Jinchang City

At latitude 38"30'N and longitude 102"10'E, Jinchang City lies in the eastern sector of the Hexi Corridor, at the north foot of the Qilian Mountaints and on the southern edge of the Arasan tablelands. Its topographic conditions incline from west to northeast, mainly covered by mountains, but also deserts, plains and grasslands, spreading from north to south. In the southern part, Qilian Mountain is a good pastoral area, with natural forest and grass covering 75% of it. In the middle, the plains and grasslands are the main agricultural production area, and the northern part is the deserts and oasis. The climate is the temperate continental with an average annual temperature of 4.8C, annual rainfall of 173.3mm, and annual frost - free period of 134 days.

Jinchang borders on Wuwei City in the east, Minle and Sandan County in the west. Sunan Yugu Nationality Autonomous county of Qinghai Province in the south and inner - Mongolia Auionomous Region in the north. Jinchang municipality administers Yongchang county and Jinchuan district with a total coverage of 9,593 square kilometres. In 1995, it had population of 416.400, comprised of 27 nationalities, with 176.800 non-farming personnel  and Han Nationality 98.8%.

Natural Resources 

Jinchang is abundant in mineral resources, and rich reserves. The proven ores are more than 45 sorts such as nickel, cobalt, copper, uranium, gold, sliver, iron, aluminium, zinc, stibium, platinum. palladium, osmium, iridium, ruthenium, rhodium, petroleum, coal, sulphur, fluorite, bentonite, quartzite, marble, granite, dolomite, alpha-mud, clay, tin, crystal, agate etc, etc. Its nickel sulphide reserve, already explored, is the second largest in the whole world. The precious platinum group metal takes the first place of China, the reserve of copper, cobalt is the second largest of China, and the non-metal reserves also play an important role. There are about 470 kinds of wild plants and animals in Jinchang, among which there are 11 kinds of grade 2 or 3 animals under the state protection, and over 30 kinds of rare medical herbs. Including 107,600 hectares of arable land, the total cultivated area is 959,300 hectares 34.6mu per capita, which is higher than the average number of the whole  province and the country. Here, wheat, bean, and castor-oil plant grow very well on the vast and fertile land. The 30,400 hectares of grassland is closed and rich, but the 37,400 hectares of forestland is too withered and scattered. With 452.300 hectares of uncultivated land, Jinchang has a certain potential in exploiting agriculture land resource. Jinchang has over 200 places of historic interests and scenic points, such as the ruins of the double dam built in the New Stone Age, the Great Wall built in Han and Ming Dynasty, and the tombs group of Han Dynasty. The drum-tower and the clock-tower, which were built in Ming Dynasty, are famed as "the pillar of the Hexi Corridor." The Beihaizi Pagoda and ancient architectures group are famous scenic spots. The Phoenix City in the West River is a wonderful place for holiday. Industry Jinchang is regarded as the nickel and cobalt production base, and platinum group metal (PGM) refinery centre in China. The output of nickel accounts for 88% in China and PGM takes up at least 90% of China's production. Jinchuan Non-ferrous Metal Corporation has completed its 2nd-phase project with a total investment of 2,660 million Yuan. It has had a comprehensive capacity of producing 40,000 nickel, 20,000T copper, 400,000T sulphur, gold, PGM etc, which strengthen its leading position in nickel industry.

In recent years. Jinchang has been updating out-dated equipment of the Hexi Iron-smelters. Now, its annual producing capacity is soda ash 120,000T, salminac 120, 000T, synthetic ammonia 100,000T, carbon ate 60.000T, compound fertilizer 150,000T, super phosphate 400,000T, (standard) coal   50,000T, cement 50,000T. A four main industries of smelter chemical, power, building materials, chemical industry have been initially formed. In 1995 , the total industrial output was valued at 4,475 million Yuan.

Agriculture

Great efforts having been put into, and great changes have taken place in agricultural producing condition of Jinchang. One after and another, it has constructed 5 reservoirs , the total volume of which is 13 million cubic metres. And it has also built 3,209 km. of canal, 1.517 mechanical wells with the total capacity of 59,390 KVA. Besides, 2.786 km. of electric wires for agriculture have been set up. The electrification has been realized in the suburb and town. The agriculture bases, such  as grain , oil bearing plants vegetables husbandry and etc, has improved the comprehensive farm-producing level of the whole city. In 1996, the yearly total agricultural yield reached ? million yuan, the total yield of grain and oil crops are Tanel T. And the township enterprises have been developing very quickly, with the total asset of 2-3 million yuan.

Energy Supply

Jinchang has a very favourable energy source conditions. Also, it has plenty of electric power supplement with a total installed  capacity of 200.000kw. In Yongchang electrical Machinery Plant, and two power transforming substations with the capacity of 330 KVA and 220 KVA. It has set up a relatively integrated high and low voltage electric network. Besides, the local potentials of developing hydropower station is very enormous. In theory, the reserves of the water energy is 107.792kw, and the total installed capacity reaches 30,881 kw. At present, only 30% of the resources is being used. Its coal resource is very rich and the reserves gets 79,890 thousand tons. And the Xidayao Coalfield, which is easy to mine, has almost 1,000 million tons.

Traffic, Post & Communications

The constructed urban area is 34,9 square km. , which occupies 83% of  overall planned area. There are complete foundations and facilities accompanied with the highway, water and electricity supply. It has finished transforming the Jinchang sector of the Lanxin double tracking railway and the Jinchang Railway station. It also built up 312 state road, the Jinchang sector of the provincial road, Jinchang and Yongchang Bus Stop. There are 14 railways, about 100 Km. in length, for special use, such as the line between Hexipu and Jinchuan corporation. The amount of freight transport on railway and highway are 1,405,000T and 2,190,000T, and it can transport 276,000 passengers by train and 3,173,000 people by bus .

Jinchang has advanced telecommunication facilities with fibre optics, microwave and program-controlled exchanges as the mainstay. In 1995,it has opened 42,100 telephone channels.

Science & Technology

The city boasts 14 scientific and research institutes, and have more than 10,000 researchers and personnel. Since 1985, it have achieved 128 scientific results. Jinchang Corporation's researches, which are mainly about making comprehensive use of resources, have got 160 important results. 98 items of them got the provincial prize, 124 items are being used in the production, and 9 items have reached the international advanced standard. It also set up Jinchang High Technical Development Zone, which gets a good effect of developing new and advanced technology. All of the towns in the city have the Science- popularizing Association, which play an important role in spreading agricultural technology.

Foreign Trade

Since 1990, the whole city solicited foreign investment US $ 24 million actually and has seen rapid growth in its foreign exchange earning from export. Except 14 foreign -- affair organizations, Jinchang has also established sister city relations with 5 cities.