Autonomous Region Direct-administered County-level Division

City overview

The Autonomous Region Direct-administered County-level Divisions are county-level units directly under the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, with typical representatives such as Shihezi, Aral, and Tumxuk. Located in Northwest China, they have a temperate continental climate with little rainfall and large temperature differences. As central towns of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, they integrate the history of border reclamation with modern oasis economy, serving as important educational, agricultural, and industrial bases in Xinjiang.

Basic information

Geography and climate

Detailed introduction

The Autonomous Region Direct-administered County-level Divisions are a special type of administrative unit in Xinjiang, directly managed by the autonomous region and mainly located in the oasis areas along the Tianshan Mountains. Most of these cities were developed by the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, bearing a distinct historical imprint of 'reclaiming and guarding the border.' Represented by Shihezi, Aral, and Tumxuk, they serve not only as headquarters of the Corps divisions but also as regional economic, cultural, and educational centers. Economically, they rely on modern agriculture (cotton, melons and fruits), energy and chemical industries, and textiles, with recent breakthroughs in emerging sectors like photovoltaics and biopharmaceuticals. In terms of education, universities such as Shihezi University and Tarim University offer specialized programs in agriculture, medicine, and engineering for international students. Living conditions feature high greenery coverage, clean streets, comprehensive community services, relatively low prices, and good public security. Due to multi-ethnic coexistence—Han, Uyghur, Kazakh, etc.—a unique blend of Corps culture and local folk customs prevails. For international students, these cities provide opportunities to experience the magnificent landscapes of China's frontier, the vitality of modern reclamation cities, and a cost of living lower than in eastern metropolises.