Abstract: The area of northwest China (including Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, ningxia, and Xinjiang) is 3.093 million km², and occupies 32.2% of the total land area of China. It is sparsely populated, with the largest area, low economic development level, and huge developing potentialities, and rich in tourist resources among the 7 economic regions divided in the "Ninth Five-year plan and the 2010's Long-range Goal Programme of the National economic and Social Development of People's Republic of China". The tourist resources in northwest China are characterized by big quantity, multiple kinds, high grade, and distinctive and sttractive features. There are 3 sites of world cultural heritage, 10 major scenic spots in national grade, 13 national cities famous for their historical and cultural associations, 4 famous tourist scenic spots, 7 champion tourist scenic spots, 102 major historical and cultural sites under state protection, and a lot of tourist resources in provincial, city of county grade. In this paper, the present situation of development of the tourist resources in northwest china is analyzed, and the development of the tourist resources in future is discussed.

Key words: northwest China, tourist resources, development of tourism