Shihezi
Encyclopedia
Shihezi is a sub-prefecture-level city
in northern Xinjiang
, People's Republic of China.
Its population is about 640,000 (2007), with the majority of the residents being Han Chinese
and minorities making up 5.4% of the population.
range approximately 136 kilometres (84.5 mi) from the regional capital of Ürümqi
.
Although Shihezi is almost surrounded from east, west, and north by Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture
(which also includes the city's eastern neighbor, the much older historically Hui town of Manas
), it is not a part of it.
Shihezi has a semi-arid climate (Köppen
BSk), with very large temperature differences between summer and winter. Monthly average temperatures range from -15.3 °C in January to 25.3 °C (77.5 °F), and the annual mean temperature is 7.39 °C (45.3 °F). Precipitation is very low year-round, with an annual total of only 206 millimetres (8.11 in), compared to the annual evaporation rate, which is usually more than 1000 millimetres (39 in).
is located in Shihezi. It is the 2nd largest university in Xinjiang, with approximately 40,000 students.
and Ürümqi
skirts the city, while a United Nation economic development project provided high quality highway systems for the city. Textile industry is the primary employment, although international trade environment on textiles has brought in fluctuations in employment. As a hub to surrounding farms, the city's destiny is currently tied with theirs. Sugar beet
s are cultivated near Shihezi. Cultivation of cotton
in the farms was accelerated in the 1990s and now dominates the economy.
, the Northern Xinjiang
and the Second Ürümqi-Jinghe
Railways.
Sub-prefecture-level city
A sub-prefecture-level city , or vice-prefecture-level city, is an administrative division of China. A sub-prefecture-level city is officially considered to be a county-level city, but it has more power de facto because the cadres assigned to its government are one half-level higher in rank than...
in northern Xinjiang
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...
, People's Republic of China.
Demography
Shihezi is the second largest city in Xinjiang, after Urumqi.Its population is about 640,000 (2007), with the majority of the residents being Han Chinese
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
and minorities making up 5.4% of the population.
Geography and climate
Shihezi is located at the northern foothills of the middle part of the Tian ShanTian Shan
The Tian Shan , also spelled Tien Shan, is a large mountain system located in Central Asia. The highest peak in the Tian Shan is Victory Peak , ....
range approximately 136 kilometres (84.5 mi) from the regional capital of Ürümqi
Ürümqi
Ürümqi , formerly Tihwa , is the capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, in the northwest of the country....
.
Although Shihezi is almost surrounded from east, west, and north by Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture
Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture
Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture ) is an autonomous prefecture of Xinjiang in the People's Republic of China. It is located in the northeastern part of Xinjiang...
(which also includes the city's eastern neighbor, the much older historically Hui town of Manas
Manas County
Manas County is a county in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and is under the administration of the Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture. It contains an area of 9,174 km2...
), it is not a part of it.
Shihezi has a semi-arid climate (Köppen
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
BSk), with very large temperature differences between summer and winter. Monthly average temperatures range from -15.3 °C in January to 25.3 °C (77.5 °F), and the annual mean temperature is 7.39 °C (45.3 °F). Precipitation is very low year-round, with an annual total of only 206 millimetres (8.11 in), compared to the annual evaporation rate, which is usually more than 1000 millimetres (39 in).
History
Farms surrounding Shihezi fueled the development of the city. These quasi-military structured farms produce materials for the factories that have been the economic driver of the city. In 1974 Shihezi became a city.Education
Shihezi UniversityShihezi University
Shihezi University is a university in Shihezi, Xinjiang, founded in April 1996 under the integration of some former institutional colleges by the Ministry of Education and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. It is a national key university...
is located in Shihezi. It is the 2nd largest university in Xinjiang, with approximately 40,000 students.
Economy
Nowadays textile and food industries are the most important in Shihezi. Railway connection to WusuWusu
Wusu can also refer to Taiyuan Wusu Airport.Wusu is a county-level city with more than 100,000 residents in Xinjiang. It is a part of Tacheng Prefecture of Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture. Wusu is a city, where oil-production is a major part of the economy...
and Ürümqi
Ürümqi
Ürümqi , formerly Tihwa , is the capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, in the northwest of the country....
skirts the city, while a United Nation economic development project provided high quality highway systems for the city. Textile industry is the primary employment, although international trade environment on textiles has brought in fluctuations in employment. As a hub to surrounding farms, the city's destiny is currently tied with theirs. Sugar beet
Sugar beet
Sugar beet, a cultivated plant of Beta vulgaris, is a plant whose tuber contains a high concentration of sucrose. It is grown commercially for sugar production. Sugar beets and other B...
s are cultivated near Shihezi. Cultivation of cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
in the farms was accelerated in the 1990s and now dominates the economy.
Transport
Shihezi is served by China National Highway 312China National Highway 312
China National Highway 312 , also referred to as Route 312 or The Mother Road, is an important highway that runs east-west across the breadth of People's Republic of China. It begins at the port city Shanghai and ends at Khorgas in the Ili River valley, on the border with Kazakhstan. In total it...
, the Northern Xinjiang
Northern Xinjiang Railway
The Northern Xinjiang Railway or Beijiang Railway is a railway in Xinjiang, China between Urumqi, the regional capital of Xinjiang and Alashankou on the border with Kazakhstan...
and the Second Ürümqi-Jinghe
Second Ürümqi-Jinghe Railway
The Second Ürümqi-Jinghe Railway or Wujing Line No. 2 is a double-track railway in Xinjiang, China between Ürümqi, the regional capital of Xinjiang and Jinghe...
Railways.