Xining was briefly known as Huangzhong in ancient times. As the provincial seat of Qinghai, Xining is the political, economic, cultural, science and education, transport and communication center, as well as the important industrial base of the province. As a well-known summer resort, Xining is called “the summer capital of China”. In 2007, Xining’s GDP totaled RMB 34.309 billion, with a per capita GDP of RMB 16,029 and a per capita disposable income of RMB 10,636. By the end of 2008, the population of permanent residents amounted to 2.1779 million.

Xining is the biggest distribution center and commercial and trade center of the province. It is a place that the southbound Silk Road and the Tang-Tibet Ancient Road must go through. It is the end of the Lanzhou-Qinghai railway and the start of Qinghai-Tibet railway and Qinghai-Tibet Highway. Xining has formed the industrial system with machinery, light textile, chemical industry, building materials, metallurgy, leather and fur making, and foodstuffs. Xining has rich resources of plateau animals and plants, natural minerals, hydropower and energy.