Get to know Tiemenguan City
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- Administrative area
- County-level city · 县级市
- Part of
- Xinjiang
- Chinese name
- 铁门关市
- Local areas
- County-level city guide
Area & population
- Area in the source
- 590.27 km²
- Population · 2020
- 104,746
- Administrative seat
- Yingbin Subdistrict
Source: cited geographic source, as of the dates shown.
History
The city is named after the Iron Gate Pass (铁门关), a historic site of Korla counted among China's 26 famous ancient passes. Before 2012 its core was the 28th, 29th and 30th regiment farms; the State Council approved the city on 17 December 2012 and it was inaugurated on 29 December. Areas of several Bayingolin counties were transferred to it in 2020 and 2024.
The 2nd Division grew out of cadres from the 359th Brigade and the Jin-Sui Military Region (晋绥军区) who founded a new brigade in Shandong in 1946–47; as the 6th Infantry Division of the First Field Army, it sent an advance party to the Yanqi (焉耆) and Korla area in November 1949. It turned to farming in 1953, with its headquarters first at Yanqi and, from September 1960, at Korla.
What to see
The Silk Road Pass scenic area (丝路雄关景区), a national 3A site since 2019, is a townscape of historical-style buildings in Tiemenguan that brings together Corps farming and Silk Road culture.
Tianger Island (天格尔岛), also called Silver Beach (银沙滩), belongs to the 24th Regiment on the north shore of Bosten Lake and has a 2-kilometre bathing beach among reeds, birds and dunes; it became a 3A scenic area in 2006.
The Uluk National Desert Park (乌鲁克国家沙漠公园) at the 33rd Regiment is crossed by the Nasheng River (纳胜河); tens of thousands of wild ducks, cranes and other animals gather in spring and winter among lakes and desert poplars. The Monan Zhi Nan scenic area (漠南之南景区) at the 31st Regiment lies between the Taklamakan to the south and the Kumtag Desert (库姆塔格沙漠) to the north, with a watchtower over desert poplar groves and a forest-patrol boardwalk.
Highlights
- Tianger Island (Silver Beach) 天格尔岛: 3A scenic area on the north shore of Bosten Lake with a 2 km beach.
- Uluk National Desert Park 乌鲁克国家沙漠公园: Desert, poplars and lakes crossed by the Nasheng River; ducks and cranes gather in spring and winter.
- Monan Zhi Nan scenic area 漠南之南景区: 3A scenic area between the Taklamakan and Kumtag deserts, with a watchtower and forest-patrol boardwalk.
- Silk Road Pass scenic area 丝路雄关景区: 3A townscape of historical-style buildings on Corps and Silk Road themes.
Sources for this guide
第二师铁门关市丝路雄关景区 · 2nd Division / Tiemenguan City government
第二师铁门关市24团巴州天格尔岛景区 · 2nd Division / Tiemenguan City government
第二师铁门关市33团乌鲁克国家沙漠公园景区 · 2nd Division / Tiemenguan City government
第二师31团漠南之南景区 · 2nd Division / Tiemenguan City government
铁门关市 - 维基百科 · Wikipedia (Chinese) · CC BY-SA 4.0
新疆生产建设兵团第二师 - 维基百科 · Wikipedia (Chinese) · CC BY-SA 4.0
Original English written from the listed sources and checked sentence by sentence against quoted extracts by a separate reviewer. Updated 2026-09-25.
Explore Tiemenguan City
Core places to explore, with English and Chinese names.
Tiemenguan City 铁门关市
Local life & food
Tiemenguan City local specialties
铁门关市特色美食 · 8 specialties to discover
Korla-Style Mixed Noodles 库尔勒风味拌面AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非实拍）
Korla-Style Mixed Noodles (库尔勒风味拌面) is listed among the local specialties of Tiemenguan City, Xinjiang. The term 面 points to noodles or flour-based food.
Read the dish guide →
Grilled Lamb 烤羊肉
Grilled Lamb (烤羊肉) is listed among the local specialties of Karamay, Xinjiang. The name includes 羊肉 (lamb or mutton). 烤 describes roasting or grilling.
Read the dish guide →Photo adjustments
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Polo rice 抓饭
The rice is rich and separate-grained, with sweet carrot, savory meat and occasional fruit sweetness rather than a sticky porridge texture.
Source ↗Read the dish guide →
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Nang bread 馕
Thin nang is crisp, while thicker bread has a soft, chewy center and toasted crust. Fresh warmth brings out the wheat and topping aromas.
Source ↗Read the dish guide →
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Baked samsa buns 烤包子
The shell is crisp and firm, while the center is juicy, onion-sweet and richly savory.
Source ↗Read the dish guide →
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Sheep Offal Soup 羊杂汤
Sheep Offal Soup (羊杂汤) is listed among the local specialties of Karamay, Xinjiang. The name includes 羊杂 (sheep offal). The term 汤 points to soup.
Read the dish guide →
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Big-plate chicken 大盘鸡
Tender potatoes thicken the savory, often spicy sauce, while bone-in chicken and chewy noodles create a substantial meal.
Source ↗Read the dish guide →.jpg){kind=link}
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Thin-skinned steamed dumplings 薄皮包子AI illustration · AI 示意图
The skin is delicate and lightly chewy, surrounding a succulent center with lamb richness and sweet onion aroma.
Source ↗Read the dish guide →More dishes from across Xinjiang are in the Xinjiang food guide.
Plan your visit
Getting there
Search for 铁门关市 in a map app to find stations and your accommodation.
Where to stay →More in Xinjiang
Sources & geographic information
Administrative names and parent areas: Official geographic directory · Reference date 2026-09-06.
Some facts checked against 铁门关市 — Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Some facts checked against 新疆生产建设兵团第二师 — Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Pins mark approximate centres, not entrances or boundaries.