The area was also inhabited during most of Chinese history, including the Three Kingdoms period.

However, the county was taken under Communist control by the People's Liberation Army during the Chinese Civil War.

[7] Among the items it produces are wheat, potatoes, corn, millet, buckwheat, oats, sesame, rapeseed, apples, pears and vegetables.

For fruit production, the south of the county is more prevalent for apples, whereas pears are grown in the north.

Many other things are cultivated in the county, including lilacs, leeks, garlic and licorice.

The county government registers 15 varieties of mammal as well as 27 types of bird in addition to 13 kinds of reptile and amphibians.

Jingning roasted chicken is the local delicacy, the dish is included on the Gansu Intangible Cultural Heritage List.