The World Cup has kicked off, capturing the world’s attention.
Although the Chinese national team is once again absent from the World Cup, public discussion of Chinese soccer remains as lively as ever.
On November 17, a county-level team from Gansu—Jingchuan Wenhui—knocked Beijing Guoan out of the second round of the Chinese FA Cup.
Overnight fame—they’ve made it to the trending list!
Now, fans can no longer ignore the name “Jingchuan Wenhui.” This match has also sparked widespread curiosity about Jingchuan, a county in eastern Gansu.
"The First City West of Chang'an"
Cultural Tourism and Wellness Industries Gain New Vitality
Jingchuan is known as “The First City West of Chang’an.”
Situated at a key transportation hub since ancient times, Jingchuan has spanned millennia, witnessing Chinese civilization from its infancy to its prime.
The Han Dynasty and the Xiongnu, the Tang Dynasty and the Tubo, the Song Dynasty and the Western Xia...
Jingchuan has witnessed countless clashes and interactions; amidst the clang of swords, romantic tales such as “King Mu of Zhou’s campaign against the Western Rong tribes and his encounter with the Queen Mother of the West in Jingchuan on his return journey” were born.
In recent years, Jingchuan has focused on building a cultural tourism and wellness industry base, promoting the deep integration of cultural tourism and wellness, and establishing the brand “Silk Road Station · Jingchuan in Longshan.”
Nestled at the foot of the mountains and embraced by the Jing River and Rui River, visitors can immerse themselves in the mysterious and profound culture of the Queen Mother of the West and experience the glory and splendor of the ancient city of Jingzhou.
The grand and ancient-looking Beiyun Temple complex to the north of the city offers a transcendent experience. Strolling through its secluded courtyards, paying homage to the Buddha’s true relics, and losing oneself in the sounds of Buddhist chants and temple bells.
In Jingchuan, a series of beautiful new chapters in cultural tourism and wellness development are gradually unfolding...
Investment Promotion Yields Tangible Results
Industrial Boom Drives Major Economic Leap
The historical sites scattered throughout the county serve as the best testament to Jingchuan’s long history.
Emerging from the tapestry of history, this “little-known” county has taken new strides toward becoming an “industrially strong county.”
In recent years, Jingchuan has fully tapped into its resource endowments, focusing on eight key industrial chains—including Pingliang Red Cattle, high-quality apples, greenhouse vegetables, cultural tourism and wellness, and green building materials—and has vigorously pursued investment promotion.
Established in 2002, the Jingchuan Industrial Park has been upgraded to a provincial-level development zone and has preliminarily established three leading industries: cotton spinning and processing, deep processing of agricultural and livestock products, and new building materials.
Adhering to the development strategy of “industry-led with agriculture as a priority,” the county’s key economic indicators have defied the downturn and continued to improve.
As of the end of October, the county had implemented a total of 67 investment projects with a combined investment of 5.074 billion yuan. Of these, 49 projects have been completed, with 2.701 billion yuan in funds secured—a 55.86% increase compared to the same period last year—thus fulfilling the annual investment targets ahead of schedule.
To optimize the business environment and facilitate project implementation, Jingchuan established a dedicated task force. This team assisted companies such as Zhejiang Yunda and China Energy Engineering Group in completing 79 preliminary procedures and resolving 31 project implementation challenges. It also actively applied for investment incentives on behalf of qualified enterprises like Natural Star and Feida Heating, with the industrial spillover effects gradually becoming evident.
Currently, Jingchuan is fully committed to building a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) incubation park, adopting a more open approach to facilitate connections for SMEs.
Upon completion, the park will accommodate over 20 enterprises, create more than 1,000 jobs, and generate an output value of 400 million yuan, forming a food industry cluster of significant scale. Agreements to join the park have already been signed with companies such as Gansu Xuxiang Dejia and Shenglongshan Huangjiu Winery.
As a close partner of Jingchuan, Guchuan Lianhang extends an invitation on behalf of Jingchuan to all entrepreneurs here, warmly welcoming everyone to invest, establish businesses, and pursue innovation and entrepreneurship in Jingchuan.
Balancing and Coordinating to Promote Development
Sports Initiatives Bear “Industrial Fruit”
Walking through Jingchuan, you will discover a sense of calm and composure, as if one has long been accustomed to the changing seasons.
Behind this composure lies a multifaceted balance of government leadership, multi-stakeholder participation, and market-driven operations—and, more importantly, the valuable experience accumulated over thousands of years of weathering the elements on this loess land.
Defeating a Chinese Super League powerhouse has thrust Jingchuan into the spotlight, and many have taken notice of the town’s passion for sports.
Despite its small population, Jingchuan boasts a vibrant sports culture.
In recent years, Jingchuan has used youth sports as a vehicle to vigorously promote the establishment of soccer clubs in schools, encouraging students to actively participate in soccer training and competitions. The county has already conducted 12 sessions of youth soccer training and established eight soccer-focused schools.
In addition, Jingchuan has successively hosted major national and provincial events such as the National All-Terrain Vehicle Invitational, the Gansu Province U15 Youth Soccer Championship, the Go competition at the 2nd Gansu Provincial National Sports Games, and the China Fishing Competition. The county has actively trained nearly 600 social sports instructors at various levels, driving the development of the sports industry.
Mass fitness has become a widespread trend, grassroots sports are thriving, and the sports industry has embarked on a path of high-quality development.
Today, Jingchuan is seizing this momentum to “strike while the iron is hot,” focusing on the manufacturing of sports equipment and gear to build an industrial cluster, thereby ensuring that the “flowers of innovation” in the sports sector truly bear “fruitful industrial outcomes.”
Today’s Jingchuan boasts thriving industries and is a place where people can live and work comfortably.
Here, the environment remains green, the community fosters a sense of belonging, and the spirit of nostalgia is alive and well—making it a fertile ground for investment, business development, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
