Abstract: In comparison with traditional agriculture, characteristic agriculture has higher land output rate, resource utilization rate, and labor productivity. It has more developed material guarantee, stronger S&T support, more developed industrial system and operational form, more sophisticated developing concepts and progressive new farmers. In the occasion of 10th anniversary of the West Development Strategy, an in depth survey on agriculture development in Pingliang, Gansu carried out by the project team identifies the characteristic of developing agriculture with characteristics agriculture industrial chain. Characteristic agriculture in Pingliang is a strategic emphasis in developing modern agriculture. The city strives to promote the development of characteristic agriculture at the level of strategic leading industries, regional advantageous industries, and local characteristic products. Following the road of leading enterprises, promoting technologies, pulling projects, driving information, and facilitating policies and standards, Pingliang has transformed its traditional agriculture to a modern agriculture with Pingliang characteristics. Its experiences are valuable to the development of modern agriculture in other provinces and cities in the West