The flora and fauna in Xinjiang are rich in species and unique in breeds and strains, and are of excellent quality, therefore there is a big potential for exploitation and development. There are over 4,000 wild plants including efedra.，Lop Nor hemp，licorice root, bulb of fritillary, codonopsis pilosola, fenila asafetida, cistanchi salsa, gentiana macrophilla and snow lotus that grow in broad areas, are of good quality, and have unique properties. In addition, Xinjiang is the original source and secondary growth center of various fruit trees, and there are over 300 excellent strains. There are more than 700 wild ani- mals, accounting about 11% of China's species. Fur- thermore, in Xinjiang one can find a number of en- dangered species of wild animals, such as Mongolwild horse, Tibetan wild donkey, Tibetan antelope,snow leopard, brown bear, white shoulder eagle, Ti- betan snow cock, black-necked crane and whitecrane. And some only thrive in Xinjiang, e.g.Four-claw land turtle, Xinjiang salamander, Tarim rabbit and big-head fish. At present, 116 species come under the State protection, accounting forone-third of the protected. 28 species belong to thefirst category of protection and 88 species are classified as second category.

Not until the People's Republic oi founded, Xinjiang had a natural economy featured by farming and livestock breeding. The agriculture was primitive at best and the industry was existence. In the course of the five decac founding of the new China, Xinjiang has undergone change of historic importance in all field. Especiallly since China instituted reform and opened up, thanks to the first priority given to the economic construction, dynamic development has in economic, social and other undertakings.