The 1996 Baotou earthquake (Chinese: 1996年包头地震) occurred on May 3, 1996, at 11:32 local time (03:32 UTC).

Anomalies in gas radon and water mercury were observed before the earthquake.

However, many of the anomalies were observed in Linhe, Baynnur, but the earthquake occurred near western Baotou.

[3] There was a large historical earthquake in 849 around the Hetao region, and some researchers located it in eastern Baotou.

In 2002, the Baotou Municipal Government was awarded by UN-HABITAT for the improvements in shelter and the urban environments.