Baotou

City and port in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, northern China, situated on the Huang He River 100 km/62 mi west of Huhhot; population (1994) 1,255,100. Local products include aluminium, sugar, textiles, motor vehicles, and chemicals. There is also a large iron and steel complex, which uses local coal, limestone, and iron ore. Baotou is the centre of the world's largest known reserves of rare earths, and processing of these is an important industry.

In the 1880s Baotou was a small commercial centre. Its industries expanded when it was part of the Japanese state of Meng-chiang (1937-45). China resumed control of the town in 1945. It became a base for heavy industry in the 1950s.

Baotou's modern growth resulted largely from its rail connections, the line from Beijing having reached the town in 1923 and extending further west to Lanzhou in Gansu province in 1958. This section of the line opened up areas rich in minerals, which contributed to Baotou's industrial development. Coal came to the city from Shizuishan in Ningxia, for example. The first blast furnaces began operation in 1958 and formed the basis for what is a considerable iron and steel industry.