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| Introduction |
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Aba Prefecture is located in the northwestern part of Sichuan Province, bordering Qinhai Province and Gansu Province. It covers an area of 84,242 sq km and has a population of 0.9 million.
Aba has different types of climate changing with altitudes. The northwestern plateau area has a long, bitter-cold winter and a cool, humid summer with an average temperature of 0.8-4.3°C, while the average temperature of the mountain area is approximately 5.6-8.9°C.
Aba is rich in natural resources. Jiuzhaigou Valley and Huanglong, both UNESCO world heritage sites, and Wolong Nature Reserve, home to giant pandas, are located in Aba. The prefecture has abundant hydro-energy. Reserves of peat amount to more than 7 billion steres, ranking the first in the world.
Transportation in Aba is not as convenient as in other areas of Sichuan. State Highway 213 (Lanzhou-Jinghong of Yunnan) and State Highway 317 (Chengdu-Naqu of Tibet) run through the prefecture. Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport, with annual passenger throughput capacity of 2 million people, officially started operation in September 2003 and operates flights to major cities such as Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan, Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi, and Chongqing.
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| Economic Features |
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Aba realized GDP of RMB 13.27 billion in 2010, representing a rise of 18.1% year on year. The prefecture's GDP accounted for approximately 0.9% of Sichuan's total and ranked 20th in the province. The agricultural sector generated value-added output of RMB 2.51 billion in 2010, accounting for 18.9% of the prefecture's GDP.
In 2010, the value-added output of secondary industry (industry and construction), the second largest contributor to the prefecture's economy, amounted to RMB 5.85 billion and accounted for 44.1% of the prefecture's total. The value-added industrial output generated by the industrial sector reached RMB 4.08 billion, up 41.4% year on year.
The industrial sector realized value-added industrial output of RMB 4.08 billion, up 41.4% year on year, while value-added industrial output of industrial enterprises with designated size or above level increased by 40.1% to RMB 3.49 billion, contributing 85% to the industrial sector's total. Heavy and light industrial enterprises with designated size or above level realized value-added industrial output of RMB 2.2 billion and RMB 99 million, contributing 95.7% and 4.3%, respectively, to the total.
The development of Aba Prefecture's industrial sector lags behind most prefecture-level cities in Sichuan Province. Taking advantage of its natural resources, Aba focuses on agricultural products deep processing, metallurgy, precious stone mining, top grade magnetism materials and graphite.
Currently, Aba has no listed companies. However, Sichuan Minjiang Hydropower<600131>, a company principally engaged in the generation, transmission and supply of hydroelectric power within Sichuan Province, is planning to develop wind power in Aba.
In 2010, the service sector generated value-added output of RMB 4.91 billion, contributing 25.7% to the prefecture's GDP.
The prefecture's total foreign trade amounted to US$14.75 million in 2010 (comprising export value of US$8.56 million and import value of US$6.19 million), representing a rise of 74.2% year on year. Aluminum, silicon products, ferroalloy, and mechanical and electrical products are the major export goods of Aba. Hong Kong, Japan, ASEAN member nations, Germany and France are the major export destinations of Aba.
Tourism is the most important pillar of Aba's service sector. During 2010, 8.5 million tourists visited the prefecture, up 65.5% year on year. There were 131,000 foreign tourists, 16.6% more than in the previous year. Tourism income totaled RMB 7.38 billion, representing a rise of 81.4% compared to the previous year. Income attributable to foreign tourists amounted to US$34.5 million, 19.1% more than in the previous year.
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| Cultural Highlights |
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Aba is the second largest Tibetan living area and the largest Qiang living area in China. Tibetans and Qiang account for 52.3% and 17.7% of Aba’s population, respectively. Other ethnic groups such as the Han and the Hui also live harmoniously in Aba Prefecture.
Aba is known for its revolutionary history. Nine counties and 114 villages under the jurisdiction of Aba once were revolutionary bases.
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| Tourist Attraction |
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Aba is known for its world-class natural scenery. Tourists should definitely visit Jiuzhaigou Valley and Huanglong Scenery Area, Siguniang (Four Girls) Mountain, Wolong National Nature Reserve, and the Roige Plateau Wetlands.
Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong Scenery Area were recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1992. They have been given a rating of AAAAA, the highest level in China. In 1997, Jiuzhaigou was also listed in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves by UNESCO.
Wolong National Natural Reserve is well known as the home of the giant pandas, complete with enthralling scenery that combines mountains, waters, forests, and caves.
When it comes to local special products of Aba, herbal medicine, Tibetan knives, and the embroidery of the Qiang ethnic minority are excellent souvenirs for tourists to take home.
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