Over the past three years, Baotou's GDP has risen rapidly among China's top 100 cities. This remarkable achievement has garnered widespread attention. In the first three quarters of this year, the city's GDP reached 333.3 billion yuan ($45.8 billion), marking an 8.03-percent year-on-year growth rate that ranks first among China's top 100 cities.

In the blade production plant of Mingyang New Energy Intelligent Manufacturing Industrial Park in Baotou, the world's largest onshore fan blades are stepping up production. [Photo/Baotou news network]

Baotou has prioritized economic development, focusing on building key industrial clusters.

The city's steel industry, its first 100-billion-yuan sector, has undergone a green and innovative transformation. This industrial powerhouse has embarked on a path of sustainable development, showcasing the renewed vitality of traditional industrial bases.

The crystalline silicon photovoltaic industry, another pillar of Baotou's economy, has grown despite market adjustments. Baotou is accelerating its carbon footprint service system, using the photovoltaic sector as a pilot to overcome Chinese and international certification barriers, solidifying its position as the "World’s Green Silicon City".

Baotou's rare earth industry has established China's largest rare earth materials base, with applications accelerating toward a 100-billion-yuan target.

With 66 years of industrial foundation, Baotou is also developing a 100-billion-yuan aluminum industry cluster, positioning itself as a significant aluminum production hub in North China.

Emerging industries, including hydrogen energy, energy storage, modern fluorine materials, high-performance carbon fiber, and new energy heavy trucks, are driving Baotou's industrial transformation. These five strategic clusters are flourishing, marked by growing scale, innovation, comprehensive support systems, and a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem.