Shihezi

From Freepedia

Shihezi (Chinese: 石河子; pinyin: Shíhézǐ) is a sub-prefecture-level city in northern Xinjiang. Its population is about 553,000 (2004), most of the residents are Han Chinese.

History

In 1950 Shihezi was not a city yet, but a marsh covered with reeds. In, 1950 it was decided that the headquarters of the Eighth Agricultural Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps was to be moved here. A dam was built by soldiers.

Exonomy

Nowadays oil and food industries are the most important in Shihezi. There is also a railway connection to Wusu and Ürümqi. Sugar beets are cultivated near Shihezi. As well as the cultivation of cotton in the surrounding area, there is a textile industry in Shihezi.

Prefecture-level divisions of Xinjiang

Prefecture-level cities:	Karamay \| Ürümqi
Prefectures:	Aksu \| Hami \| Hotan \| Kashgar \| Turpan \| Altay¹ \| Qoqek¹
Autonomous prefectures:	Bayin'gholin \| Börtala \| Changji \| Ili \| Kizilsu
Sub-prefecture-level cities:	Alar \| Shihezi \| Tumushuke \| Wujiaqu
	¹ Part of Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture