Shihezi City, China – SUSM Located City

Shihezi is a sub prefecture level city in northern Xinjiang, People's Republic of China. 

Geography and climate

Shihezi is located at the northern foothills of the middle part of the Tian Shan range approximately 136 kilometers (85 mi) from the regional capital of Urumqi.

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.

Located in an area further from the nearest seacoast than any other region on earth, Shihezi has a continental semi-arid climate, and the annual mean temperature is 7.39 °C (45.3 °F). The Manas River forms the administrative border between Shihezi City and its eastern neighbor, Manas County. An extensive system of reservoirs and irrigation canals has been constructed in the area, supporting irrigated agriculture.

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 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 Wusu and Urumqi 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 beets are cultivated near Shihezi. Cultivation of cotton in the farms was accelerated in the 1990s and now dominates the economy.

Transportation

Shihezi is served by China National Highway 312, the Northern Xinjiang and the Second Urumqi-Jinghe Railways. 

Population: 0.64 million

Temperature:  average 7.39 °C (45.3 °F)