Population: 2,709,378 (2020)
Area: 27,768 square kilometers
Location: The west part of Inner Mongolia autonomous region, adjacent to the Republic of Mongolia to its north and the Yellow River to its south
Economy
Baotou plays a key role in the economic expansion of Inner Mongolia autonomous region and the implementation of China's Belt and Road Initiative, which involves the revival of the ancient overland and marine Silk Road routes. It serves as a part of the Inner Mongolia economic circle together with Hohhot and Ordos.
In 2018, Baotou had a year-on-year increase of 6.8 percent in GDP, while the per capita disposable incomes of urban and rural residents were 47,407 yuan ($6,998) and 17,435 yuan, up by 7.2 percent and 9.7 percent respectively.
Baotou is the largest industrial city in Inner Mongolia autonomous region. The city is also home to many large-scale enterprises involved in steel, aluminum, equipment manufacturing and rare-earth processing industries. It contains important bases for energy, raw materials, rare earth, new-type coal chemical and equipment manufacturing industries.
Administrative divisions
Baotou has nine banner counties and one national rare-earth hi-tech industrial development zone - Kundulun district, Qingshan district, Donghe district, Jiuyuan district, Shiguai district, Bayan Obo mining district, Guyang county, Tumd Right Banner, Darhan Muminggan Joint Banner and Baotou Rare Earth High-Tech Industrial Development Zone.
Sister cities