Shihezi overview 石河子

About Shihezi

Its civic spaces and reclamation museum explain the development of farming, industry and urban settlement in the surrounding region. The city offers a different historical perspective from the older Silk Road towns. Begin with the museum, then read the broad streets and public spaces as part of the same urban story.

The city's name refers to a stream east of the settlement whose bed contained many stones. Scattered villages developed as land was opened for farming in 1774, and a township was established in 1944. The creation of Shihezi city was announced in June 1975, followed by State Council approval in January 1976.

The mostly flat city slopes from southeast to northwest at an average elevation of 450.8 metres. Its urban green coverage is 42 percent. Five rivers serve the wider area, where eleven reservoirs and irrigation canals support farming. The climate brings long, cold winters and short, hot summers, with abundant sunshine across the year.

What to look for

• The reclamation museum introduces the city’s settlement and agricultural history.
• Planned streets and civic spaces reflect its modern development.

Location & getting there

Getting to Shihezi

Check your booking for Shihezi railway station or Shihezi Huayuan Airport, then transfer to the central-city address you need. The Corps Reclamation Museum is a specific city stop, distinct from farms and historic sites spread across the wider division.