Tazhong
Tazhong (Chinese: 塔中镇; Pinyin tǎ zhōng zhèn) is a town in Qiemo County, Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang. Tazhong administers one community: Tazhong Community (Chinese: 塔中虚拟社区). Tazhong was created on July 24, 2015. The population is typically around 20,000, 90% of which are temporary residents.
Geography
Tazhong is located in centre of the Taklamakan Desert.
Climate
| Climate data for Tazhong (1996–2020 normals, extremes 1981–2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 16.3 (61.3) |
17.2 (63.0) |
32.7 (90.9) |
37.0 (98.6) |
38.2 (100.8) |
41.6 (106.9) |
45.6 (114.1) |
42.7 (108.9) |
39.5 (103.1) |
31.9 (89.4) |
24.7 (76.5) |
16.7 (62.1) |
45.6 (114.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −0.4 (31.3) |
7.0 (44.6) |
17.5 (63.5) |
25.6 (78.1) |
30.5 (86.9) |
34.3 (93.7) |
36.3 (97.3) |
35.5 (95.9) |
30.4 (86.7) |
22.2 (72.0) |
11.0 (51.8) |
1.3 (34.3) |
20.9 (69.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −10.0 (14.0) |
−2.5 (27.5) |
8.0 (46.4) |
16.5 (61.7) |
21.9 (71.4) |
26.3 (79.3) |
28.3 (82.9) |
27.3 (81.1) |
21.3 (70.3) |
11.4 (52.5) |
0.2 (32.4) |
−8.5 (16.7) |
11.7 (53.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −18.3 (−0.9) |
−11.9 (10.6) |
−2.0 (28.4) |
6.9 (44.4) |
12.7 (54.9) |
17.8 (64.0) |
20.0 (68.0) |
18.7 (65.7) |
11.7 (53.1) |
1.1 (34.0) |
−8.6 (16.5) |
−16.2 (2.8) |
2.7 (36.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −32.6 (−26.7) |
−32.7 (−26.9) |
−12.3 (9.9) |
−8.3 (17.1) |
1.2 (34.2) |
7.2 (45.0) |
11.1 (52.0) |
6.8 (44.2) |
0.6 (33.1) |
−8.4 (16.9) |
−18.0 (−0.4) |
−24.7 (−12.5) |
−32.7 (−26.9) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 0.5 (0.02) |
0.4 (0.02) |
0.2 (0.01) |
0.7 (0.03) |
3.7 (0.15) |
9.8 (0.39) |
5.4 (0.21) |
3.5 (0.14) |
0.7 (0.03) |
0.7 (0.03) |
0.1 (0.00) |
0.1 (0.00) |
25.8 (1.03) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 14.2 |
| Average snowy days | 2.7 | 1.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.3 | 2.8 | 6.9 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 55 | 40 | 23 | 20 | 24 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 34 | 45 | 56 | 34 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 188.5 | 191.2 | 220.7 | 222.0 | 251.4 | 240.6 | 246.8 | 246.3 | 253.9 | 262.7 | 216.9 | 184.1 | 2,725.1 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 62 | 62 | 59 | 55 | 56 | 54 | 55 | 59 | 69 | 78 | 73 | 63 | 62 |
| Source: China Meteorological Administration | |||||||||||||
Economy
The petroleum industry makes up most of the economy of Tazhong. There are more than 100 oilfield units and engineering construction units such as PetroChina Tarim Oilfield Branch, Sinopec Northwest Oilfield Branch, Daqing Oilfield Tadong Company, and nearly 100 various commercial outlets in the area of Tazhong. Other than petroleum, the service and tourism industry also support Tazhong.
Transport
Tarim Desert Highway runs through Tazhong.