Why Qujing is known as the vital throat of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau
In short: Positioned as the gateway between Yunnan and Guizhou, Qujing has long served as a strategic crossroads. Today, this prefecture-level city is evolving into a major industrial hub, balancing its historical role as a regional transit point with ambitious plans to become a modern metropolitan center at the Pearl River's origin.
Located about 130 kilometres east of Kunming, Qujing sits on the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau. Its geography has historically earned it titles like the Key between Yunnan and Guizhou and the Throat of Yunnan. This strategic positioning remains relevant today, as the city is integrated into the Central Yunnan Metropolitan Region plan, which spans from 2016 to 2049.
The city's economy is anchored by tobacco, automobiles, power generation, and chemical engineering. A significant driver of this growth is the Qujing Economic and Technological Development Zone, established in August 1992. This zone, which covers 106 square kilometres, acts as an economic supervisor at the prefecture level, tasked with expanding the urban footprint and supporting a growing population.
Demographically, the city is predominantly Han, who make up 92.95% of the population, while ethnic minorities account for 7.1%. Residents enjoy a mild subtropical highland climate, characterized by warm, rainy summers and short, dry winters. While frost can occur, daytime temperatures in winter typically hover around 15 °C, rising to 25 °C during the summer months.
Connectivity has transformed the city's accessibility. While National Highway 320 provides a three-hour drive to Kunming, high-speed rail has drastically reduced travel times. Since the completion of the Shanghai–Kunming high-speed railway in December 2016, the trip to Kunming South station takes only 45 minutes. These infrastructure improvements support the government's long-term vision to develop Qujing into a major city, solidifying its status as the second-largest urban center in Yunnan.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Qujing
- Also: Wikidata — Qujing · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — Qujing · CC0
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/places-qujing.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Major world cities · More in Countries & Cities · Latest · A–Z · All topics
