Geographical Location
Yinchuan Economic and Technological Development Zone (YETDZ) is situated in Yinchuan, capital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The city stands between the Yellow River to its east and Helan Mountain to its west, at the center of the irrigated area of Qingtong Gorge and in the northern part of the autonomous region.

Climate
Yinchuan is located in the dry temperate zone, with a typical continental temperate climate characterized by its long cold winter, short hot summer, low annual precipitation and plenty of sunshine. The average temperature all the year is between 8.3 and 8.6 centigrade with a precipitation varying from 193 to 203 milimeters.

Communication and Transportation
Airport
Helanshan Airport of Yinchuan, approximately 8 kilometers away from YETDZ, has a capacity for landing jumbo jets like Boeing 737. Currently, it has more than 40 scheduled flights to over 10 big cities in China including Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai, and plans to develop international airlines. Another airport, Hedong Airport is on the east bank of the Yellow River, 25 kilometers east to the zone.

Railway
Yinchuan Railway Station lies 6 kilometers east to the development zone, 102 kilometers north to the dividing-line station between Lanzhou and Huhhot Railways. The railway from Baotou to Lanzhou runs through the Yinchuan city from north to south, and connects the city with the nation's arterial railways, through which cargos can be conveyed to the nation's major coastal ports and to the Middle East and European countries.

Road
Yinchuan has developed a highway network of 1088 kilometers, linking up with 4 national highways -No. 109, 110, 211 and 307, 4 provincial highways and other highways to the neighbouring provinces(Inner Mogonia, Shaanxi and Shanxi etc.). Among them, No. 109 and 110 bring Yinchuan into connection with the northern China, No. 211 with the south and No. 307 with the central and eastern. Besides, Shizhong Expressway provides a shortcut through Yinchuan from north to south

Natural Resources
More than 20 minerals have been discovered in the area of Yinchuan, including coal, limestone, sandstone, diabase, and Helan jade. The region is also rich in geothermal energy resources.

Human Resources
Yinchuan boasts an abundance of human resources. It has 169 scientific research institutions and over 76,000 professionals and technicians.

Industrial Structure
YETDZ consists of two parts. Part 1 occupies an area of 2.26 square kilometers and has primarily established its superiority in industries such as special medicine manufacturing, mechanical and electronic integration and information industry. Part 2 covers 5.24 square kilometers and is to be further divided into four industrial parks, the central part of which is respectively for comprehensive objectives of finance, commerce, agency service and entertainment.

Investment Priorities
YETDZ is the unique state-level economic and technological development zone in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. It is designed to develop the hi-tech industry and to upgrade traditional industries through the former. It is also aimed at encouraging the development of information industry based on information technology, special pharmaceutical industry based on bioengineering technology, petrochemical industry based on advanced chemical technology, old-economy industries revamped through new technologies, modern banking services that offer various financial products and derivatives, and agency services.

Administration Committee
Tel: 86-951-5058153
Fax: 86-951-5058658
Email: ycda.edb@ycda.gov.cn
Website: www.ycda.gov.cn (Chinese)

(Source: Ministry of Commerce)