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Which industries developed in Kunming after 1949?
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Yunnan
Pavilion atop Yulongxue (“Jade Dragon Snow”) Mountain, near Lijiang, Yunnan province, China.
Following 1949, Kunming experienced rapid industrial growth as part of a national policy to establish new industries in interior provinces with abundant natural resources. The city developed into a major industrial complex, with its primary industries including:1
- Metallurgy: Production of copper, lead, and zinc, as well as significant iron and steel manufacturing.2
- Engineering: The production of machine tools, electrical machinery and equipment, and automobiles.2
- Chemicals and Materials: Manufacturing of industrial chemicals, fertilizers, and cement.12
- Light Manufacturing and Processing: Production of textiles and various processed foods.12
- Consumer Goods: Beginning in the 1980s, the city’s industrial base expanded to include tobacco processing and the manufacture of construction equipment and machines.2
- Local Resource Processing: The city operates numerous plants that utilize local agricultural products, including tanneries and woodworking and papermaking factories.2
These developments transformed Kunming into an industrial metropolis, second only to Chongqing in southwestern China.2