With its dynamic growth engine roaring, Ningxia came under the spotlight at the Fourth Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) held on March 5-14 in Beijing.

The region's GDP grew a robust 13.4 percent in 2010 year on year, 2.7 times greater than that of 2005. The disposable income of urban residents and net income of farmers have both nearly doubled in the past five years.

For China's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15), the government pledged stronger support for Ningxia's economic zone along the Yellow River, boding well for a promising future for the region, Wang Zhengwei, deputy to the 11th NPC and Chairman of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, told Beijing Review at a press briefing on the sidelines of this year's NPC session.

The zone—covering 10 cities along the Yellow River—accounts for 61 percent of the regions' population and 90 percent of its economy.

"The experiences of developed countries show that urbanization can be a powerful perk for investments and consumptions. Domestically, Ningxia is falling far behind eastern regions in urbanization," he said. "As such, we will spare no effort to make the zone more prosperous."

The zone will focus on modern agriculture, advanced manufacturing—like new energy and new raw materials—and the service industry. "It's expected to become a significant driver of Ningxia's economy," he said.

For decades, coal mining was the lifeline for millions of Ningxia's residents. But for such a fragile ecosystem where encroaching deserts are swallowing farmland and grassland, any further environmental damage is unbearable. By decoupling the economy from polluting industries, the region is shrugging off its former dirty image.

In east Ningxia, coal-related industries are trying to embark on a cleaner path of growth. The Ningdong Energy and Chemical Industry Base has sought to make its production greener. Its high-quality coal has fewer impurities and its waste-recycling technologies delivered a boost to resource efficiency.