A night view of Hohhot city. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

In the first three quarters of this year, Hohhot's GDP reached 285.9 billion yuan ($40.09 billion), a 6.2 percent year-on-year growth. A sector breakdown reveals a 5.5 percent rise in primary industries, totaling 5.79 billion yuan; secondary industries grew by 5.5 percent to 96.17 billion yuan; and tertiary industries saw a 6.5 percent increase, reaching 183.93 billion yuan.

Agricultural production remained steady, with the city producing 11.02 billion yuan in agricultural output, a 5.8 percent increase. Grain production is expected to achieve a 21-year high, while vegetable and mushroom yields reached record levels. Livestock output, including pork, beef, and poultry, rose by 7.3 percent, and milk production increased by 17.9 percent, solidifying Hohhot's position as a dairy hub.

Industrial development also progressed, with large-scale industries growing by 9.5 percent due to the significant role of private enterprises, which make up nearly 80 percent of the city's industrial output. Dairy, a key industry, saw a 13 percent increase in food manufacturing output, while clean energy production surged by 45.8 percent.

Service industries contributed significantly to growth, with modern service sectors like information and research seeing increases of 15.4 percent and 27 percent, respectively. With Hohhot hosting over eight popular concerts, tourist activities have also boosted consumption, drawing 44.25 million domestic tourists – a 10.8 percent year-on-year rise.