Liangshan is an area with abundant resources and great exploitational potential. The abundant resources in Liangshan are mainly reflected in the following five aspects.
　　First and foremost can be called the ‘richest waterpower under heaven.’ Many rivers run through the prefecture, which gives Liangshan very rich waterpower resources. The possible capacity is 58,160,000 KW, accounting for 15% that of the whole country and 57% that of the province, ranking first in all of China. The Jinsha River, the Yalong River, and the Dadu River (the so-called ‘Three Rivers’) which flow through Liangshan form a very important base and a key source of electric power that can be used to divert electricity from West to eastern regions. At present, there are 14 large-scale hydropower stations planned to be built by the state in these ‘Three Rivers’. Nine of these are located in Liangshan, with a total capacity of 43,3000,000 KW.  They include Xiluodu Hydropower Station (12,600,000KW)， Baihetan (12,000,000 KW), Wudongde (7,800,000 KW), the first and second levels of the Jinping Hydropower Station (8,000,000 KW), Guandi (2,000,000 KW), and Pubugou (3,300,000 KW).The Xiluodu Hydropower Station, the first level of the Jinping Hydropower Station and Pubugou Hydropower Station are currently under construction.
　　Second among the abundant natural resources of Liangshan are its unique mineral resources. Situated in the famous Panzhihua-Xichang Rift Valley, Liangshan is a rare treasure bowl, known both at home and abroad as ‘The Urals of China’. The resources here are abundant and of high quality.They have the advantage, moreover, of shallow depth, good recovery conditions, and a high comprehensive utilization value. Up untill the present, 84 kinds of minerals have been discovered, 60 which are in considerable reserves.There are 30 huge and super-huge ore deposits and 63 medium-sized mineral deposits. Among the main minerals, the reserves of vanadium-titanium magnetite reach 1,373,000,000 tons; those of high-grade iron ore 49,858,000 tons, ranking second in Sichuan; the total reserves of light rare earth oxides are 1,030,000 tons, ranking first in Sichuan and the second in China; the total reserves of copper, lead, zinc and tin reach 4,850,700 tons, ranking first in Sichuan and of great importance in not only the Southwest, but in the whole country. In addition, precious metals, salt, phosphorus dolomite, silica and other such metal or non-metal resources are also in large reserve.
　　The third group of abundant resources in Liangshan consists of its abundant agricultural resources. Liangshan is abundant both light and heat resources and rainfall.It has distinctive altitudinal climate characteristics, agricultural resources, and rich flora and fauna. It is thus called the ‘gene base’ of numerous kinds of plants and animals. The Anning River Basin, the second largest plain in Sichuan and the so-called ‘Granary of South Sichuan’ is a national and provincial key area for comprehensive agricultural development. The ‘golden association’ formed by earth, climate, and species diversity gives rise to crops with high yield and quality. The tobacco planted in Liangshan can compare with the world’s best in America. As a result, Liangshan is a key base for storing and exporting quality tobacco. The highest yield of sugar cane per mu is 15 tons, with an average yield per mu of over 5 tons and average sugar content of 13.5%. Silkworms can be fed four times in a year, and the cocoon is large and good, so that one cocoon can produce a 1,200-meter-long silk thread. Various early season vegetables are quite unique, with the advantage of an early season, high quality, high production, rarity and uniqueness. Fruit such as apples, pomegranates, umbilicus oranges, etc. are famous in and beyond the province. Liangshan contains one of the three main forest zones of Sichuan and one of the three prime pastoral areas.There are 1,730,000 hectares of forestland.The forest cover rate reaches 30.6%, with lumber reserves of 230,000,000 cubic meters.The grassland area amounts to 2,410,000 hectares, taking up 40% of the total land area of the prefecture. The herbage has the advantages of high production and high quality. More than one hundred species of good herbage are planted here. With numerous wild plant resources, there are over 2,400 varieties of medicinal herbs alone, making the prefecture a treasure house of herbal medicine.
　　The fourth group of abundant resources are Liangshan’s colorful tourist resources. Liangshan boasts one of the richest tourism resources areas in Sichuan, with many beautiful natural landscapes all over the prefecture and distinctive minority nationalities’ cultures and customs. There are more than 160 scenic sites that have great value for sightseeing.These include three State 4A-level Scenic Sites (Lingshan Mountain, Qionghai Lake and Lu Mountain, and Luoji Mountain), as well as two other scenic sites at the national level (Lugu Lake and Qionghai Lake-Luoji Mountain).There are also three scenic sites at the provincial level (Mahu Lake, Yihai Lake and Longzhou Mountain- Faerie Lake).In addition, there are two nature reserves in Liangshan. One is Dafengding Nature Reserve at the national level in Meigu County; the other is Yele Nature Reserve at the provincial level in Mianning County. The Xichang Satellite Launching Center represents a modern high-tech site, and the Museum of Liangshan Yi Slave Society is the unique museum in China to show the Yi People’s history and culture.Also to be seen are the distinctive sacrificial rites,marriage and funeral ceremonies of Yi people and the charming customs of the Mosuo People at Lugu Lake. The Xichang Earthquake Tablets Forest, moreover, is one of the four such tablets forests in China.
　　 Fifth among the abundant resources of Liangshan are its lively ethnic cultural resources. The population of Liangshan includes many nationalities. Each has a long history and charming ancient customs. More than ten permanent nationalities, including the Yi, Tibetan, Hui, Buyi, Lisu, and so on, live together in Liangshan to create a colorful life. There is the Yi People’s ‘tuotuo meat’ (meat chunks), ‘gangan wine’(drunk through a long, thin bamboo pole), the Tibetan People’s buttered tea, and Mosuo People’s ‘sulima wine’, all of which are very delicious. There is the gorgeous and exciting Yi ‘Torch Festival’, the Hui ‘GuErbang Festival’,the Lisu ‘Niuwang Temple Fair,’ and the Buyi ‘Sixth of June Festival’. The Yi Bimo Culture of the greater Liangshan area is full of magic.  Both the Yi People’s ‘Carrying the Bride on the Back’ and the Mosuo People’s ‘Azhu Marriage’ have their appealing special character.