Baiyin (simplified Chinese: 白银; traditional Chinese: 白銀; pinyin: Báiyín; lit. 'White-Silver') is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Gansu province, People's Republic of China. Established in the 1950s as a base for mining non-ferrous metals, its mines are becoming exhausted in recent decades, requiring the city to reinvent its economy.[3][4] Located around 60 km (37 mi) from Gansu's capital Lanzhou, it is part of the Lanzhou-Baiyin Economic Belt.[5]

Baiyin
白银市
Clockwise from top: Xicheng District at night, the Yellow River Stone Forest, Yinfeng Lake, Wenyuan Pavilion at night, and an ore train from the Baiyin zinc mine to the refinery.
Nickname: 
铜城 (Copper City)
Location of Baiyin Prefecture within Gansu
Location of Baiyin Prefecture within Gansu
Baiyin is located in Gansu
Baiyin
Baiyin
Location of the city center in Gansu
Baiyin is located in China
Baiyin
Baiyin
Location of the city in China
Coordinates (Baiyin municipal government): 36°32′42″N 104°08′20″E / 36.5451°N 104.1389°E / 36.5451; 104.1389
Country China
RegionGansu
Municipal seatBaiyin District
Area
20,100 km2 (7,800 sq mi)
 • Urban
3,345 km2 (1,292 sq mi)
 • Metro
3,345 km2 (1,292 sq mi)
Elevation
1,698 m (5,571 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[1]
1,512,110
 • Density75/km2 (190/sq mi)
 • Urban
538,514
 • Urban density160/km2 (420/sq mi)
 • Metro
538,514
 • Metro density160/km2 (420/sq mi)
GDP[2]
 • Prefecture-level cityCN¥ 43.4 billion
US$ 7.0 billion
 • Per capitaCN¥ 25,410
US$ 4,080
Time zoneUTC+8 (CST)
Postal code
730900
Area code0943
ISO 3166 codeCN-GS-04
Vehicle registration甘D
Websitewww.baiyin.cn

Geography and climate

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Yellow River Stone forest canyon

Baiyin is part loess plateau, part desert. Elevation ranges from 1,275 to 3,321 meters (4,183 to 10,896 feet) above sea-level. The prefecture-level city has either a cool arid climate (Köppen BWk) or a cool semi-arid climate (BSk) is very arid with only 110–352 mm (4.3–13.9 in) of annual precipitation. Annual evaporation is 2,101 mm (82.7 in) resulting in a net loss of approximately 1,800 mm (71 in). The Yellow River flows from south to north for 214 km (133 mi) through Baiyin.

The area is 20,100 km2 (7,800 sq mi), 3,345 km2 (1,292 sq mi) of that urban.

Climate data for Baiyin, elevation 1,737 m (5,699 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 11.8
(53.2)
18.8
(65.8)
26.3
(79.3)
32.8
(91.0)
33.5
(92.3)
34.5
(94.1)
39.1
(102.4)
35.7
(96.3)
32.7
(90.9)
26.5
(79.7)
18.9
(66.0)
14.2
(57.6)
39.1
(102.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 0.7
(33.3)
5.0
(41.0)
12.2
(54.0)
18.5
(65.3)
22.6
(72.7)
26.5
(79.7)
28.3
(82.9)
26.9
(80.4)
21.3
(70.3)
15.8
(60.4)
8.7
(47.7)
1.7
(35.1)
15.7
(60.2)
Daily mean °C (°F) −6.0
(21.2)
−2.0
(28.4)
5.0
(41.0)
11.3
(52.3)
15.7
(60.3)
20.2
(68.4)
21.9
(71.4)
20.7
(69.3)
15.2
(59.4)
9.3
(48.7)
2.1
(35.8)
−5.1
(22.8)
9.0
(48.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −10.9
(12.4)
−7.1
(19.2)
−0.6
(30.9)
5.0
(41.0)
9.5
(49.1)
14.3
(57.7)
16.2
(61.2)
15.5
(59.9)
10.6
(51.1)
4.5
(40.1)
−2.6
(27.3)
−9.8
(14.4)
3.7
(38.7)
Record low °C (°F) −21.2
(−6.2)
−18.5
(−1.3)
−15.9
(3.4)
−7.5
(18.5)
−2.5
(27.5)
4.7
(40.5)
7.3
(45.1)
6.5
(43.7)
0.2
(32.4)
−11.1
(12.0)
−14.9
(5.2)
−22.1
(−7.8)
−22.1
(−7.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 1.7
(0.07)
1.3
(0.05)
3.7
(0.15)
9.1
(0.36)
22.3
(0.88)
30.7
(1.21)
48.4
(1.91)
45.4
(1.79)
31.6
(1.24)
14.0
(0.55)
1.7
(0.07)
0.5
(0.02)
210.4
(8.3)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 2.4 1.6 2.7 4.3 6.8 8.6 10.2 9.7 9.6 6.0 1.7 1.0 64.6
Average snowy days 4.7 3.9 3.7 1.4 0.2 0 0 0 0 1.2 2.8 2.6 20.5
Average relative humidity (%) 51 45 41 39 42 47 55 59 63 59 53 52 51
Mean monthly sunshine hours 186.5 191.7 216.3 235.8 252.2 240.2 242.3 227.7 184.8 188.8 188.5 189.0 2,543.8
Percent possible sunshine 60 62 58 59 57 55 55 55 50 55 62 63 58
Source: China Meteorological Administration[6][7]

Administration

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Baiyin has 2 urban districts, 3 counties, 64 townships, 18 towns, and 7 sub-districts with a total population of 1,512,110 as of the 2020 Chinese census, of which 538,514 lived in the built-up (or metro) area made of the 2 urban districts of Baiyin and Pingchuan.

Map
Name Simplified
Chinese
Hanyu Pinyin Population
(2010)
Area
(km2)
Density
(/km2)
Baiyin District 白银区 Báiyín Qū 294,400 1,372 215
Pingchuan District 平川区 Píngchuān Qū 192,398 2,106 91
Jingyuan County 靖远县 Jìngyuǎn Xiàn 454,925 5,809 78
Huining County 会宁县 Huìníng Xiàn 541,273 6,439 84
Jingtai County 景泰县 Jǐngtài Xiàn 225,755 5,483 41

Economy

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The Baiyin Nonferrous operates copper, zinc and selenium mines around Baiyin, although these mines are getting exhausted of ore. Financed by development funds, a high-tech park is being built, which is home to a contact lens factory.[3][8] Pingchuan District and Huining County are the largest coal production bases in Gansu province.

The Yinguang Group, a subsidiary of Norinco, operates a major factory making chemicals for defense and civilian use, the factory was a key project of the first five-year plan.[9]

Transportation

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Baiyin is directly served by the Baotou–Lanzhou railway, Honghui railway, China National Highway 109, China National Highway 341 and G6 Beijing–Lhasa Expressway.

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ "China: Gānsù (Prefectures, Cities, Districts and Counties) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map".
  2. ^ 甘肃省统计局、国家统计局甘肃调查总队 (November 2016). 《甘肃发展年鉴-2016》. 中国统计出版社. ISBN 978-7-5037-7894-0.
  3. ^ a b "Not so grim up north-west". 9 January 2014.
  4. ^ "China, People's Republic of: Gansu Baiyin Integrated Urban Development Project" (PDF). Asian Development Bank. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-05-24.
  5. ^ "Top 8 economic rims in China - China.org.cn". www.china.org.cn. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
  6. ^ 中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  7. ^ 中国气象数据网 (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  8. ^ 全省唯一隐形眼镜自主研发生产企业:甘肃康视达科技集团在银揭牌 (in Chinese (China)). Baiyin People's Government. 4 August 2012. Archived from the original on 30 June 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  9. ^ "甘肃银光化学工业集团有限公司 公司简介". gsyg.norincogroup.com.cn. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
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