Can a city built on exhausted mines reinvent itself for a high-tech future?
In short: Baiyin, a Chinese industrial hub established in the 1950s to extract non-ferrous metals, faces a critical turning point. As its copper, zinc, and selenium deposits dwindle, the city is pivoting toward new industries, including high-tech manufacturing, to secure its economic survival in the arid landscape of Gansu province.
Located roughly 60 kilometers from the provincial capital of Lanzhou, Baiyin was founded as a cornerstone of industrial development. Its identity was forged through the extraction of mineral wealth, supported by major infrastructure projects like the Yinguang Group’s chemical facility, which originated as a priority during the nation's first five-year plan. Today, this legacy is shifting as the Baiyin Nonferrous Group contends with the exhaustion of its primary ore deposits, forcing a transition away from traditional mining.
The city's geography presents a formidable challenge to this reinvention. Spanning over 20,000 square kilometers, the region is defined by a harsh, arid climate where annual evaporation rates vastly outpace the minimal precipitation. Despite these environmental constraints, the city maintains a population of over 1.5 million people. Economic diversification is now underway, with development funds fueling a high-tech park that already hosts specialized manufacturing, such as contact lens production, while coal extraction remains a significant activity in the Pingchuan District and Huining County.
Connectivity remains a vital component of Baiyin's strategy to integrate into the broader economy. The city is linked by major transit arteries, including the G6 Beijing–Lhasa Expressway and the Baotou–Lanzhou railway, with further upgrades like the Baiyinnan Railway Station enhancing regional access. As the demographic profile of the city evolves—with over 60 percent of the population currently in the 15 to 59 age bracket—the success of these industrial shifts will determine whether Baiyin can successfully transition from its mining-dependent past to a sustainable, modern economic future.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Baiyin
- Also: Wikidata — Baiyin · CC0
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