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| Introduction |
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Jiuquan is a famous satellite launch centre in People's Republic of China (PRC). Since it was established in 1958, the center has turned the desert zone, in which it is located, into an eco-friendly city.
Jiuquan is in the northwest of Gansu Province and neighbors Zhangye in the east within the province. It covers an area of 167,996 sq km. Population of the city amounted to 1.02 million by the end of 2009.
Jiuquan has a continental desert climate. Average temperature of the city is between 4? and 6?. The city is dry and seldom rainy throughout the year. Average annual precipitation is 84 mm, while average annual evaporation amounts to 4,000 mm.
Jiuquan is rich in natural resources. There are 15 main rivers running through the city with average annual runoff of 3.2 cubic meters. Reserves of mineral resources include oil, chromium, vanadium, tungsten, gold, asbestos, coal, lead, zinc, copper, iron, limestone, glauber's salt, magnesium and silica.
Transportation in Jiuquan is very convenient. State Highway 312 (Shanghai-Yining) and the Lanzhou-Urumqi Railway run through the city. In addition, it only takes half a day to its neighbor city Zhangye by coach.
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| Economic Features |
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Jiuquan realized GDP of RMB 40.5 billion in 2010, representing a rise of 18% year on year. The city's GDP accounted for approximately 9.5% of Gansu's total and ranked second out of fourteen prefecture-level cities in Gansu province.
The agricultural sector, the smallest contributor to the city's economy, generated value-added output of RMB 5.42 billion in 2010, accounting for 13.4% of the city's GDP.
In 2010, secondary industry (industry and construction) , the largest contributor to the city's economy, realized value-added output of RMB21.02 billion, accounting for 25.1% of the city's total.
During 2010, value-added industrial output of industrial sector amounted to RMB 17.3 billion, while total value-added industrial output of the enterprises above designated size reached RMB 14.04 billion, accounting for 81% of industrial sector's total.
Equipment manufacturing, agricultural products processing and construction materials are pillar industries of the city. As a whole, they realized value-added industrial output of RMB 10.7 billion, contributing 61% to the industrial sector's total. The largest contributor, equipment manufacturing generated value-added industrial output of RMB 5.43 billion, accounting for 31% of the industrial sector's total.
The service sector generated value-added output of RMB 14.07 billion, accounting for 34.7% of the city's total GDP in 2010.
Tourism is also an important pillar of the service sector. During 2010, 4.06 million tourists visited the city, up 16.4% year on year, while tourism income totaled RMB 3.77 billion, representing a rise of 59.8% compared to the previous year.
In 2010, import and export value of Jiuquan amounted to US$59 million, down 8.2% year on year (comprising export value of US$55.3 million and import value of US$3.68 million). Agriculture and sideline products are major export goods of the city. The U.S, the U.K., Germany, the Netherlands and Japan are major export destinations of the city.
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| Cultural Highlights |
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Jiuquan, a major stop on the "Silk Road" northwestwards from Lanzhou, capital of Gansu Province, was developed by commissioners and high-ranking officers dispatched by the rulers of Western Han Dynasty from the second century BC.
The prefecture of Jiuquan was established more than 1,600 years ago to protect this vital artery as the traffic along the "Silk Road" became busier and more important.
On a triumphant expedition, as legend has it, Huo Qubing, a celebrated commander of the Western Han army, visited the town with his troops. Emperor Wudi had decreed that they feast on wine, but there was not enough to go round. Commander Huo then poured his cup of wine into a spring so that it could be shared with his soldiers. That was how the city's name came from.
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| Tourist Attraction |
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The city's Drum Tower, built in 343 A.D., used to be called "Night Watchman's Tower" on the east city gate. It is the only remaining structure of the many Marco Polo praised in his writings.
The Jiayuguan Pass, the western end of the Great Wall, is a few miles from the city. The Great Wall used to end at Yumen (about 50 miles to the west of Jiayuguan) before the pass was abandoned during the Ming Dynasty.
In a tomb chamber at Dingjiazha, Jiuquan, are some of the country's earliest murals, which can be dated back to the East Jin Dynasty.
In Jiuquan, Huguo, which is made from Chicken soup, horsebean paste, noodle and meat, are the most popular breakfast among local people.
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