Baiyin
Baiyin () 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. Located around from Gansu's capital Lanzhou, it is part of the Lanzhou-Baiyin Economic Belt. Geography and climate. Baiyin is part "loess" plateau, part desert. Elevation ranges from above sea-level. The climate is very arid with only of annual precipitation. Annual evaporation is resulting in a net loss of approximately . The Yellow River flows from  south to north for through Baiyin. The area is , of that urban. Administration. Baiyin has 2 urban districts, 3 counties, 64 townships, 18 towns, and 7 sub-districts with a total population of 1,746,800(2011). Economy. 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. 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. Transportation. Baiyin is directly served by the Baotou–Lanzhou railway, China National Highway 109, China National Highway 341 and G6 Beijing–Lhasa Expressway.