Xinjiang is very abundant in natural resources above and under the ground with local characteristics, constituting a great potential for the development of economy with local characteristics and the formation of a new economic growth point.
The resources of water, soil, light and heat of Xinjiang are well combined, which makes Xinjiang have a great potential for the development of agriculture and animal husbandry. Rich in light energy, Xinjiang ranks the second in China in annual solar radiant quantity. In the number of sunshine hours of plain areas, Xinjiang is among the top ones of our country. So in Xinjiang it is suitable to the growth of sun crops such as cotton. With big daily temperature differences, the land of Xinjiang is appropriate for the growth of cash crops such as sugar-bearing crops and melon and fruit crops. Water resources of Xinjiang are stable and in the entire region 113.6 billion m3 water can be exploited from surface runoff and underground. The volume of the exploited water takes up 41% of the total. The present cultivated land area of Xinjiang is 4.16 million hectares, while the per capita area of cultivated land of Xinjiang is 0.22 hectares, over 2 times that of the country. In addition, there are 4.87 million hectares of reclaimable land, 47.70 million hectares of utilizable grassland and 1.68 million hectares of forestland. The advantages in resources of water, soil, light and heat of Xinjiang result in a high quality of agricultural products with local characteristics such as cotton, hop, safflower, medlar, tomato, Hami melon, Turpan grape, Korla fragrant pear and Hotan pomegranate, all of which enjoy a high reputation at home and abroad. So far, the output of cotton of Xinjiang has taken up over 40% of the total of the country, the output of hop 70%, medlar over 50% and safflower over 60%.
Xinjiang is rich in mineral resources, of which 138 kinds of 9 categories have been found. 43 kinds of mineral resources rank the top ten of the country in reserve. Of these resources, petroleum and natural gas are the two most competitive two, with petroleum reserve reaching 20.86 billion tons and natural gas reserve 10300 billion m3, respectively taking up 30% and 34% of the total reserve on land of China. Presently, the demonstrated reserves of petroleum and natural gas in Xinjiang rank the third and sixth place of China. The prognostic reserve of coal in Xinjiang stands at 2190 billion tons, 40% the toal of the country. Also rich are reserves of such resources as nonferrous metal, rare metal and noble metal, in particular, copper, gold and the newly proven reserve of sylvine have even more competitive edges. Of the 17 discovered copper mines, Asheler Copper Mine in Habahe County and Kalatongk Copper Mine are two mines rare in the country; East Tianshan Copper Mine in Hami is a huge copper mine very rare in China and in this copper mine 28 gold ore belts were discovered with the prognostic reserve of 510 tons. A’xi Gold Mine is a large gold mine prioritized by the state to explore and exploit, possessing conditions to give play to the competitive edge and form an industry with characteristics.
Xinjiang boasts unique tourist resources. With high mountains, glaciers, lakes, grasslands, vast Gobi and deserts, various natural reserves, world famous silk road, historical sites, colorful ethnic customs, culture and arts, Xinjiang attracts more and more tourists.
