ABSTRACT
Situated in the western part of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China, Baotou is the largest industrial city in this region. It is an important industrial base for metallurgy, machinery, chemical production, and energy generation and enjoys world fame as the capital of rare earth. At present, the industrialization of Baotou City is still at a low level. However, in the future, the city will face huge environmental pressure and challenges arising from the reconstruction of old industrial bases and the treatment of pollutants. These include grassland destruction and extinction of grass species, serious damage to forests and vegetation, a decrease in forest coverage, and serious eco-environmental destruction due to water erosion, wind erosion, soil and water losses, deserti”cation, and salinization. Therefore, the government has proposed that the development of Baotou should follow the eco-city model. This could make Baotou a model city in northern China for the harmonious coexistence of ecological protection and industrial development.
