Editing Gansu (section)

== Economy ==
Despite recent growth in Gansu and the booming economy in the rest of China, Gansu is still considered to be one of the poorest provinces in China. For several years, it has [[List of Chinese provincial-level divisions by GDP per capita|ranked as one of the provinces with lowest GDP per capita]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=解读甘肃经济指标：最难堪的数字 越来越实的数字_共话陇原|url=http://www.gs.xinhuanet.com/ghly/temp2018/tj01/index.htm|access-date=2021-04-05|website=www.gs.xinhuanet.com|archive-date=19 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210919210039/http://www.gs.xinhuanet.com/ghly/temp2018/tj01/index.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Its nominal GDP for 2017 was about 767.7&nbsp;billion yuan (US$113.70&nbsp;billion) and per capita of 29,326&nbsp;RMB (US$4,343). The province also has a large difference in wealth between regions and urban versus rural areas. The poorest areas are Dingxi, Longnan, Gannan and Linxia.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Liyan Xu|date=December 2018|title=Economic Geography Analysis of Gansu Province|url=http://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/173411553605180846/pdf/Analytical-Report-in-Support-of-Project-Design-of-Gansu-Revitalization-and-Innovation-Project.pdf|publisher=[[World Bank]]}}</ref> According to analysts, the local economy failed to gather momentum while other provinces did manage to increase their economic growth.<ref name=":0" />

=== Agriculture ===
[[File:5920-Dongxiang-County-Daxiahe-valley-fields-seen-from-Linxia-County.jpg|thumb|Farmland in [[Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture|Linxia]]]]
Due to poor natural conditions such as aridness, Gansu is one of the Chinese provinces with smallest per  capita  area of arable  land.<ref name=":1" /> Agricultural production includes [[cotton]], [[linseed oil]], [[maize]], [[melons]] (such as the [[honeydew melon]], known locally as the [[Bailan melon]]), [[millet]], and [[wheat]].{{citation needed|date=December 2020}} Gansu is known as a source for wild medicinal herbs which are used in [[Chinese medicine]]. However, pollution by heavy metals, such as [[cadmium poisoning|cadmium]] in irrigation water, has resulted in the poisoning of many acres of agricultural land. The extent and nature of the heavy metal pollution is considered a state secret.<ref name="Caixin030113">{{cite news|title=The Poison Eaters of Gansu Province: Pollution is not a problem some western farmers can choose to ignore, as many say they have suffered from chronic bone pains for decades|url=http://english.caixin.com/2013-03-01/100496199.html|access-date=1 March 2013|newspaper=Caixin|date=1 March 2013|author=Liu Hongqiao}}</ref>

=== Industry ===
The industrial sector in Gansu was developed after completion of the [[Longhai railway]] in 1953 and blueprinted in the first [[Five-year plans of China|five-year plan of China]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Gansu Province|url=https://chinafolio.com/provinces/gansu-province/|access-date=2021-04-05|website=Chinafolio|language=en-US}}</ref> It was a major recipient of China's investment in industrial capacity during the [[Third Front (China)|Third Front]] campaign.<ref name=":6">{{Cite book |last=Lan |first=Xiaohuan |title=How China Works: An Introduction to China's State-led Economic Development |publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan]] |year=2024 |isbn=978-981-97-0079-0 |translator-last=Topp |translator-first=Gary |doi=10.1007/978-981-97-0080-6}}</ref>{{Rp|page=298}}

Until 2014, the industrial sector contributed the most to Gansu's economy.<ref name=":1" /> The most important industries are petrochemicals, [[non-ferrous metal]]lurgy, machinery and electronics. The province is also an important base for wind and solar power.<ref name=":2" /> As a result of environmental protection policies, the industry sector is not growing.<ref name="甘肃经济全国落后的原因，仅有一个城市在发展，其它城市不思进取">{{Cite web|title=甘肃经济全国落后的原因，仅有一个城市在发展，其它城市不思进取|url=http://www.sohu.com/a/226508330_99981350|access-date=2021-04-05|website=www.sohu.com|language=en}}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The manufacturing sector has been shrinking for several years and has low investment numbers.<ref name=":0" />

In 2023, [[TMSR-LF1]], an experimental [[molten salt reactor|molten salt]] nuclear [[breeder reactor]], achieved [[Criticality (status)|criticality]].

As stipulated in the country's 12th Five Year Plan, the local government of Gansu hopes to grow the province's GDP by 10% annually by focusing investments on five pillar industries: renewable energy, coal, chemicals, nonferrous metals, pharmaceuticals and services.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}

==== Mining ====
{{See also|Mining industry of China}}
A large part of Gansu's economy is based on [[mining]] and the extraction of [[minerals]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Natural resources in Gansu|url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/m/gansu/2013-11/02/content_17063345.htm|access-date=2021-04-05|website=www.chinadaily.com.cn}}</ref> especially [[rare earth elements]].  The province has significant deposits of [[antimony]], [[chromium]], [[coal]], [[cobalt]], [[copper]], [[fluorite]], [[gypsum]], [[iridium]], [[iron]], [[lead]], [[limestone]], [[Mercury (element)|mercury]], [[mirabilite]], [[nickel]], [[crude oil]], [[platinum]], [[troilite]], [[tungsten]], and [[zinc]] among others.  The oil fields at Yumen and Changqing are considered significant.

Gansu has China's largest nickel deposits accounting for over 90% of China's total nickel reserves.<ref name=":2" />

=== Services ===
[[File:兰州中心七里河区.jpg|thumb|Shopping mall in Lanzhou]]
Since 2014, the service sector is the largest economic sector of Gansu.<ref name=":1" /> Tourism is a sector that is becoming of increased importance.<ref name="甘肃经济全国落后的原因，仅有一个城市在发展，其它城市不思进取"/>

===Economic and technological development zones===
The following economic and technological zones are situated in Gansu:
*Lanzhou National Economic and Technological Development Zone was established in 1993, located in the center of Lanzhou Anning District. The zone has a planned area of {{convert|9.53|km2|abbr=on}}. 17 colleges, 11 scientific research institutions, 21 large and medium-size companies and other 1735 enterprises have been set up in the zone. Main industries include textile mills, rubber, fertilizer plants, oil refinery, petrochemical, machinery, and metallurgical industry.<ref>[http://rightsite.asia/en/industrial-zone/lanzhou-economic-technology-development-zone/ RightSite.asia] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611124453/http://rightsite.asia/en/industrial-zone/lanzhou-economic-technology-development-zone |date=11 June 2010 }}, Lanzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone</ref>
*Lanzhou New & Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone, Lanzhou Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone, one of the first 27 national hi-tech industrial development zones, was established in 1998 covering more than {{convert|10|km2|abbr=on}}. It is expected to expand another {{convert|19|km2|abbr=on}}. The zone mainly focuses on Biotechnology, chemical industry, building decoration materials and information technology.<ref>[http://rightsite.asia/en/industrial-zone/lanzhou-hi-tech-industrial-development-zone/ RightSite.asia] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120717180648/http://rightsite.asia/en/industrial-zone/lanzhou-hi-tech-industrial-development-zone/ |date=17 July 2012 }}, Lanzhou Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone</ref>