Resource Advantages

    Xinjiang features a vast territory, moderate climate, and complex and diverse geomorphology, thus it is not only endowed with beautiful scenery but also rich specialty resources. Between lofty mountains, Gobi and oasis conceal numerous grains, meat, oil, and coal reserves to be discovered. Primary Zhou Enlai once appraised Xinjiang as “a land of treasure” in China.

    Xinjiang boasts medicinal resources of 2200 kinds in terms of plants, animals and minerals, 104 kinds of which are enlisted in the national major medical material variety, accounting for about 30% of the local traditional Chinese medical materials varieties. 27 species thereof, e.g. licorice, ephedra, medlar, carthamus tinctorius, cartialgenous, gromwell, snow lotus, ferula asafoetida, and cistanche are the influential staple varieties all over the country. Numerous rare and valuable animals inhabit in dense forests, lakeside, Gobi and grassland. According to the survey, there are 700 species of wild vertebrates which include over 340 species of birds, as well as 44 species of furbearers of economic value. The sable in Altay Mountains, red deer in the plains of Tarim, muskrat at Bosch lakeside, marmot and Mongolian gazelle in vast grassland, brown bears, snow leopards, stoats, lynx and foxes in dense forests, hares in the desert, snow chicken in snow-capped mountains are all wild animal resources in China. Animals, like red deer, muskrat, snow chicken and minks are under artificial reproduction and breed. Wild animals provide Xinjiang with a large quantity of valuable fur and raw materials for medical and chemical purposes. Mink, muskrat fur and marmot fur are the best sellers at the international market. Cartialgenous, antelope’s horn, musk and Remiz nest are precious medical materials.
    Xinjiang is one of hometowns of Mongolian wild horses. The wild horse is a kind of relict species which is on the brink of extinction and is even more precious than panda. In order to search for wild horses in Xinjiang, scientists made an arduous journey. The Wild Horse Protection Area has been established. Other precious wild animal include those animals under the state first-class protection, such as, chigetai, camels, beavers, saiga tatarica, red-crowned cranes, black-necked cranes, white cranes, wild yak, Xinjiang tigers, snow leopards, Tibetan snow chicken, white stork, black stork, peregrine, pelecanus philippensis, whooper swans, grouse, argali, great bustard, pelican, Haliaeetus leucoryphus, and Horsfield’s Tortoise.

    The vast territory in Xinjiang also boasts bountiful wild plant resources. According to the preliminary survey, the plants of edible, craft, sand-fixing and ornamental value reach up to 132 families, 856 genus and over 3500 varieties, of which over 1000 varieties are of economic and medical value, and there are over 100 rare plants. At present, Xinjiang is setting up a production center for medical materials with fritillary, licorice, and carthamus tinctorius as dominance. Licorice resource ranks first among Xinjiang’s traditional Chinese medical materials. Due to the special status of licorice, the extensive medical and edible value together with the social and economical benefits they bring about, the industrialization of licorice constitutes an important part in Xinjiang’s industrialization of traditional Chinese medicine. Xinjiang boasts widespread licorice resources. With a distribution area of about 2.17 million acres and reserves of 1 million tons, 82 counties among 86 counties and cities in the whole autonomous region plant licorice, accounting for 70% of the licorice resources in the whole country. The licorice in Xinjiang features thick and solid rootstock, high acid content, and superior quality. The ecological environment, climate conditions, bountiful reserves, and superior quality lay down a foundation for the establishment of large licorice center and licorice industrialization.

    At present, licorice production is faced with favorable development opportunity, providing more marketing channels and business opportunities to licorice, also known as green herb, favored by foreign pharmaceutical businessmen. Japan, the Republic of Korea, Southeast Asia, Western Europe and Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan regions are in high demand, with an annual demand of 500,000 kg to 800,000 kg of first-class licorice. However, China can only provide 60% currently, suffering from a large gap. In the domestic market, as one of common staple varieties, licorice amount will be increased year by year due to the industrialization of traditional Chinese medicine. Moreover, medical departments of all kinds and prescriptions of traditional Chinese medicine usually use licorice, leading to its price rise. In terms of intensive processing of licorice, advanced technology used in traditional Chinese medicine field, like supercritical fluid extraction, molecular distillation, supersonic extraction, countercurrent extraction at a low temperature, superfine grinding provides technological assurance for yielding high-quality licorice products. Licorice is characterized by drought resistance, cold resistance, and barren resistance. It can grow at wastelands, slopes, Gobi and desert where there are only thin soil layers, serving as the first choice for sand-fixation and afforestation.

    Xinjiang has 202 species of Uyghur medicine listed in National Formulary while there are only five enterprises producing 149 species of Uyghur medicine with an annual output value of less than 20 million Yuan.

    With a history of 2500 years, Uyghur medicine has developed its own theoretical system, pharmaceutical methods and clinical experience through continuous summary and improvement. Seen from the market prospects, annual production and sales in Xinjiang’s pharmaceutical enterprises only account for 10% of the aggregate demand in Xinjiang’s market, thus there is a gap worth at least 2.4 billion Yuan every year in the medical market. Few of the residents in inland China have taken Uyghur medicine; however, they might have better curative effect since they are less medicine-resistant. With a similar natural environment and prescription habit, Uyghur medicine also enjoys a considerable potential market in Central Asian countries.

    It is predicted by experts that annual sales of Uyghur medicine reaches 10 billion Yuan currently. Compared with the present sales, Uyghur medicine will embrace infinite business opportunities in future.

2、 Tourism resources

    Out of China’s 68 basic types of tourism resources, Xinjiang has at least 56 types, accounting for 83% of China’s total, ranking first in China in terms of basic types of tourism resources. Xinjiang hosts 468 scenic spots, ranking first in China in terms of the number of scenic spots. Tourism resources consists of 6 categories including cultural landscape and water scenery and Xinjiang merges the 6 categories into a single whole. Rich tourism resources imply a huge economic vitality. Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang, meaning “beautiful pasture” in the Mongolian language, is a hub of the Second Eurasian Continental Bridge, integrating the Chinese Central Plains Culture, the Indian culture, the Islamic culture, the European Culture and the Central Asian Culture, with rich tourism resources.

    Urumqi focuses on “building a competitive city in terms of economic development, courtesy tourism, and promotion of the development of related industries by tourism”. To this end, the municipal people’s government has made huge investment in several major tourism projects, including ecological park, alpine adventure and winter skiing with Nordic features.

    Xinjiang tourism resources are unique. Xinjiang attracts numerous domestic and international tourists with its colorful natural landscapes and social customs. In Xinjiang, tourists can appreciate vast Gobi, glaciers and snow-capped peaks, alpine lakes, magnificent mountains and rivers and virgin forests, such as Kanas Lake with Nordic features, ancient Gaochang City ruins, Thousand-Buddha Caves, magic Buddhist grottoes, Karez, magic underground irrigation project, Heavenly Lake, an alpine lake, ski resorts, Turpan Land of Fire, hot beaches for physiotherapy and Kumtag Desert, a national key scenic spot. This is an excursion on camel in the desert.

3、 Mineral Resources

    Under the vast territory conceal rich oil and gas, coal, and non-ferrous metals. Mineral reserves of large scale have been discovered, such as copper, gold, sylvine, nickel, and rare earth. Among the 150 kinds of mineral products discovered, reserves of 76 kinds are proved and 8 of them rank first throughout the country and 23 ranks first in the five provinces in northwestern China. The mineral resources have a potential value of 6 trillion Yuan and per capita availcapacity of each natural resource is more than twice as much as that of national average. Xinjiang ranks first in China in terms of quantity of resources.

    Oil and gas and non-ferrous metals represented by copper and gold are most leading-edge mineral resources in Xinjiang. The oil reserves are predicted to be more than 30 billion tons, accounting for 35% of the total quantity in China’s land resources. Xinjiang will rank first among oil land producing areas in China in 2010, surpassing Daqing Oilfield. Over the recent years, the Central Asian countries neighboring Xinjiang have entered a recovery and growth period, with an annual growth rate of more than 7%. Experts predict that the economy in the five Central Asian countries will witness rapid growth, and the secondary and tertiary industries will experience major development, thus providing more space for Xinjiang to participate in the integration of the oil resources in Central Asia and the expansion of the market share of the oil and petrochemical products in Central Asia and its surrounding areas. The natural gas reserves are predicted to be 10.3 trillion cubic meters, accounting for 34% of the total quantity in China. West-East Natural Gas Transfer project plans to export natural gas of about 20 billion cubic meters from Xinjiang to Shanghai crossing 4500 kilometers. In the aspect of oil and gas exploration and development, the two giants, China National Oil Corporation and China Petrochemical Corporation expressed that they would speed up development by joint advantages of contingents, funds, equipment and technology. Mr. Wang Yilin, Deputy General Manager of China National Oil Corporation, said that from 2004 to 2010, this corporation plans to newly increase the proved oil-in-place by 1 billion tons to 1.4 billion tons, and recoverable reserves of natural gas by over 300 billion cubic meters. Oil-gas fields with annual equivalent of 20 million tons will be established respectively in Junggar Basin and Tarim Basin. Mr. Wang Jiming, Deputy General Manager of China Petrochemical Corporation expressed that at the end of 2006 China Petrochemical Corporation accumulated proved geological oil reserves in Xinjiang of up to 800 million tons, crude oil production of 5 million tons, and natural gas of 2 billion cubic meters.

    Mr.Gu Zongqin, President of China National Oil & Chemical Planning Institute believes that Xinjiang has vast potentials for oil & petrochemical industry development with the irreplaceable advantages of rich resources of all kinds, vast market prospects and cheap land price.

    Xinjiang beryllium, white mica, nitratine, potter’s clay and serpentinite reserves rank first in China. Coal reserves are predicted to account for 1/3 of China’s total, and oil and natural gas take up over 1/4 of China’s total. Ferrum and gold reserves are large, and gemstone, asbestos Hotan jade are well-known around the world.

    Xinjiang has coal geological reserves of about 1 trillion tons and proven reserves of 94.9 billion tons. The bountiful coal resources provide guarantee to the development of cheap electric power, oil & petrochemical industry and coal chemical industry. Xinjiang will firstly accelerate preparation of state-level energy center and development of Urumqi-Changji Coal Industrial Park and 10-million-ton coal centers, such as Hami Dananhu and Kuqa Ehuobulake Coal Mine in an effort to establish several ten-million-ton large-scale coal conglomerates. Centering on the strategic target of the second channel of West-East Electricity Transfer project, Xinjiang gives priority to the coal-power development, encourages large coal enterprises to construct large pithead power plants and Hami Dananhu Coal Electrification Center, transferring coal transmission into electricity transmission so as to realize on-site conversion of coal resources. Meanwhile, Xinjiang promotes intensive processing and comprehensive utilization of the coal products, develops the advantageous industry on gasification and liquidation of the coal and the development and exploitation of concomitant resources of coal, like coal-bed methane. The conversion of coal into gas can make it better participate in the West-East Gas Transfer. With abundant mineral resources, Xinjiang is reputed as “a land of gold and jade”. The 3 mountains, namely, Altay Mountains, Kunlun Mountains and Tianshan Mountains are all home to treasures. Oil and coal are rich in basins. 138 kinds of mineral products have been discovered in the whole region, accounting for over 80% of China’s total. Five of them rank first and 26 ranks the top five in China. There are over 4000 places of origin, and 1000 odd proved reserves. Altay Mountains abounds in gold, mica, rare metals, and gemstone of all kinds. Tianshan Mountains is rich in ferrum, manganese, coal and nonmetallic minerals. Kunlun Mountains teems with gemstone, jade, asbestos, crystal, and non-ferrous metals. Tarim and Junggar basins contain abundant oil, coal, rock salt and gypsum.

    Coal, oil, ferrum, salt and some rare metals are rich in Xinjiang, taking lead in China.  Basins like Urumuqi, Turpan, Hami and Kuqa have created “underground coal sea”. More than 130 coal resources have already been discovered with coal reserves of 95 billion tons. Hami Sandaoling is the first modern open-pit coal mine in the Northwest. It is estimated that the coal reserves in Xinjiang have reached 1818.23 billion tons, accounting for over 1/3 of China’s estimated gross reserves, ranking first in China. Therefore, Xinjiang will become an important coal center in China’s long-term plan.

    Karamay-Urho Oilfield, well-renowned home and abroad, is the earliest oilfield developed since the founding of New China. As proven oil field continuously expands, and oil layer continuously deepens, together with the superior oil quality, it provides favorable condition to oil center construction in Xinjiang. In the late 1980s, the new discovery of oil and gas in Tarim, Junggar and Turpan-Hami basins is called “black rise” by Xinjiang people. 38 oilfields were discovered in succession in three major basins with proven reserves up to over 30 billion tons. When New China was founded, the refined oil produced by Xinjiang was less than 10,000 tons. Nowadays, Karamay Oilfield alone has an annual crude oil output of 10 million tons. Tarim Oilfield has a crude oil production capacity of 5 million tons and Turpan-Hami Oilfield has a crude oil production capacity of 3 million tons. These three oilfields rank 4th, 8th, and 10th in China respectively.

    With high quality, chromite reserves in Xinjiang are only next to that of Tibet. Xinjiang is rich in high-grade ores. Iron ore, featuring multiple spots, wide facet, and high quality, ranks first in the northwestern. The high-grade ore proportion is ten times as much as the average proportion in China. Xinjiang is also rich in rare metals. Pegmatite related to rare metals is widely distributed in Altay Prefecture. Beryllium, lithium, niobium, tantalum, and caesium reserves take lead in China. Xinjiang not only boasts abundant gold ore but also sand ore that is suitable for exploitation. Altay Mountains has been well-renowned as the origin of nugget since ancient times. The white mica output of Altay Mountains accounts for more than a half of China’s total. Crystal mine in Kunlun Mountains is rarely seen in China. In addition, asbestos in Altun Mountains is distributed in ore belts, and have vast prospecting vision. The northern part of Tianshan Mountains and Junggar Basin will be the large producing areas for sodium bentonite.

    Among salt minerals in Xinjiang, nitratine ranks first in China, and mirabilite takes lead in China. Tarim Basin contains abundant halite and gypsum with a thickness of the ore body up to several dozen to even several hundred meters. The sporadically distributed salt lake of different sizes can produce large quantity of industrial raw materials, like salt, sodium sulfate, and sodium sulfide. The exports of sodium sulfate assume large dimensions.

    Valuable gemstone, jade minerals have contributed to the high reputation of Xinjiang since ancient times. Through general investigation, geologists have kept track of more than 50 gemstones and jade minerals in Xinjiang. Primary ore diamond, known as “Gemstone Champion” was firstly discovered in the northwest margin of Tarim Basin. Jade of various kinds produced in Hotan and other regions features beautiful color and luster, and is continuously transported into inland China. They are carved into precious jade wares of all kinds. Over recent years, the jade-exploiting industry in Xinjiang has undergone substantial development.

    In recent years, Xinjiang has spared no effort to implement the transition from resource advantages to economic advantages, soliciting profits from resources. Xinjiang has witnessed gratifying changes in term of economic trend, with the mining industry income accounting for 26.3% of the GNP.

4、 Ligh, Heat and Wind Energy Resources

    Xinjiang is rich in light, heat and wind energy resources, with annual sunshine duration of 2550 hours to 3500 hours, ranking first in China. The annual solar radiation energy in Xinjiang is equivalent to the energy released by about 3,300 tons of high-quality coal. The theoretical annual wind energy reserves amount for about 3 trillion kWh. Force Beaufort is generally five to nine, with maximum ten to twelve. It is estimated that the wind energy resource in near-surface level in Xinjiang can provide electricity of 900 billion kWh all the year round, which is 100 times as much as current electric energy production in Xinjiang.

5、 Wildlife Resources

    Numerous rare and valuable animals inhabit in dense forests, lakeside, Gobi and grassland. According to the survey, there are 700 species of wild vertebrates which include over 340 species of birds, as well as 44 species of furbearers of economic value. The sable in Altay Mountains, red deer in the plains of Tarim, muskrat at Bosch lakeside, marmot and Mongolian gazelle in vast grassland, brown bears, snow leopards, stoat, lynx and foxes in dense forests, hares in the desert, snow chicken in  snow-capped mountains are all the wild animal resources in China. Animals, like red deer, muskrat, snow chicken and mink are under artificial reproduction and breeding. Wild animals provide Xinjiang with a large quantity of valuable fur and raw materials for medical and chemical purposes. Mink, muskrat fur and marmot fur are the best sellers in the international market. Cartialgenous, antelope’s horn, musk and Remiz nest are precious medical materials.

    Wild economic plants are widely seen in Xinjiang, for example, Apocunum venetum (bastard hemp), kok-saghyz, mushrooms, reeds, and achnatherum splendens. In Tarim and Junggar basins grow Apocunum venetum whose fiber can be used to spin high quality spun yarn. It can also be blended with linter to weave high quality apparel fabric, such as Fanchanding and palace. Hemp stalk can be used for papermaking. Reeds enjoy large quantity and wide usage in Xinjiang. Known as “steel-tube reed”, the reeds in Bosten Lake, featuring denseness, tallness and straightness, can be used as building materials. People in inland provinces come here to purchase them every year. Aromatic plants, like wild rose, thyme, sagebrush in Xinjiang, are also abundant, drawing people’s attention as aromatic raw materials.

　　In order to protect the normal reproduction of wild animals and plants and maintain a sound ecological environment, in recent years, Xinjiang has established several dozen natural reserves, with an area of about 10.46 million hectares, occupying 6.3% of Xinjiang’s total, ranking first in China. To name but a few, Tacheng Almond Protection Reserve, Kanas Natural Scenery Protection Reserve, Bulgan Beaver Protection Reserve, Tianshan Mountains Yourdusi Swan (Waterfowl) Protection Reserve, Tumur Peak Natural Protection Reserve, Kalamali Mountainsd Ungulata Animal Protection Reserve, Altun Mountains Natural Protection Reserve, Ili Black Bee Resources Protection Reserve, Yuli Populus Euphratica Natural Protection Reserve and Gongliu Picea Schrenkiana Protection Reserve. All these protection reserves are paradise for free reproduction of wild animals and plants in Xinjiang.