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.

Beitun is the headquarter of the 10th Division of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps and currently administered by the 10th Division. Aral implemented the "division and city integration" (师市合一, shī shì héyī) management system, it shares the same leader group with the 10th Division.

Overview
Beitun was established on 28 December 2011, making it the youngest city in China at the time, later replaced by Sansha, which was established in 2012. It was established from portions of Altay City.

Beitun covers an area of 910.5 sqkm, has a population of 76,300, and is located on the Irtysh River. Its name comes from the accolade "China's northernmost cultivation land".

Administrative divisions
Beitun contains 3 subdistricts and 3 towns:

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 (47.32222°N, 87.75833°W), has direct passenger railway service from Urumqi.

An extension of this railway toward Altay City is under construction; it was expected to open in 2016.