Beitun, Xinjiang


Beitun is a city in the north of Xinjiang, China. Administratively, it is a county-level city under the direct administration of the regional government, though it is geographically located in Altay Prefecture.

Overview

Beitun was established on 28 December 2011, making it the youngest city in China at the time. It was established from portions of Altay City.
Beitun covers an area of, has a population of 76,300, and is located on the Irtysh River. Its name comes from the accolade "China's northernmost cultivation land".

Transportation

As a terminus of the Kuytun–Beitun Railway, Beitun is an important transportation hub between Mongolia, northern Xinjiang, and Kazakhstan. Beitun Station, located a few kilometers southwest of the city center, has direct passenger railway service from Urumqi.
An extension of this railway toward Altay City is under construction; it is expected to open in 2016.