Although administratively the chief town of a rural county, Altan Xire is highly urbanized with a skyscraper-filled central business district worthy of a large metropolis.

[1] Starting in the early 2000s, a coal boom in the region provided the local government with ample tax revenue, propelling forward lavish development projects.

[2] The build up area of the township was expanded from 4.5 to 32 square kilometres (1.7 to 12.4 sq mi) on the back of 48 billion RMB in spending by 2011.

[2] In commercial development, an entire skyline was added with the construction of the Cathay Pacific Plaza complex of office towers in 2014.

On the north bank of the same river is Kangbashi District, known worldwide as a "ghost city" due to the large ceremonial mall area replete with huge monuments and civic buildings but not much human activity.