Economy

Nowadays textile and food industries are the most important in Shihezi. Railway connection to Wusu and Ürümqi skirts the city, while a United Nation economic development project provided high quality highway systems for the city. Textile industry is the primary employment, although international trade environment on textiles has brought in fluctuations in employment. As a hub to surrounding farms, the city's destiny is currently tied with theirs. Sugar beets are cultivated near Shihezi. Cultivation of cotton in the farms was accelerated in the 1990s and now dominates the economy.

Transport

Shihezi is served by China National Highway 312, the Northern Xinjiang and the Second Ürümqi-Jinghe Railways. Construction to rebuild Shihezi Airport began in May 2012 and the airport is expected to reopen in 2014.

Demographics

Over 90% of Shihezi's population are Han Chinese, with smaller number of Hui, Uighurs, Kazakhs, and various other minorities.Population by ethnicity – 2010 censusEthnicityPopulation%Han349,14991.85%Hui15,0923.97%Uyghur7,5741.99%Kazakhs3,0420.80%Tujia1,5000.39%Mongol6240.16%Manchu6200.16%Kyrgyz3190.08%Dongxiang3060.08%Xibe1570.04%Russian1380.04%others1,6090.43%Total380,130100%

History

Farms surrounding Shihezi fueled the development of the city. These quasi-military structured farms produce materials for the factories that have been the economic driver of the city. In 1974 Shihezi became a city.