Tacheng

In the mid-19th century, Chuguchak was considered the most important commercial center of Western China after Ghulja (Yining), being an important center of trade between China and Russia, in particular in tea. The city, surrounded by an earth wall, was the residence of two Qing ambans and had a garrison of some 1,000 Chinese soldiers and 1,500 Manchu and Mongol soldiers. ==Border crossing==

The Baktu border crossing () into Kazakhstan is located from Tacheng. The checkpoint on the Kazakh side of the border is also known as Bakhty and is located from Makanchi in East Kazakhstan Province. In April 1962, during the Yi–Ta incident, over 60,000 Chinese citizens, including around 48,000 Tacheng residents, crossed the Xinjiang–Kazakh SSR border, leading to massive economic loss in Tacheng; the border crossing closed in August of that year. The crossing re-opened on 20 October 1990, and was deemed a "first-class port of entry" () on 14 March 1994. On 1 July 1995, the crossing opened to use by third nations. File:Kazak-Chinese border near Tacheng.jpg|China–Kazakhstan border near Tacheng ==Demographics==

== Administrative divisions ==

Tacheng is divided into 3 subdistricts, 2 towns, 3 townships, and 1 ethnic township, • Others • Bozdaq Farm (博孜达克农场, , ) • Tacheng Prefectural Pasture (塔城地区种牛场, , ) • Woyijiayilao Pasture (窝依加依劳牧场, , ) • XPCC 164th Regiment (兵团一六四团, , ) ==Climate==

Tacheng has a typical Xinjiang cool semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) that is almost moist enough to be a hot summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa), as being on the west side of the Altay Mountains the region receives more winter snowfall than most of Xinjiang. ==Transportation==

The Karamay–Tacheng Railway (opened on May 30, 2019) connects Tacheng with Baikouquan Station () on the Kuytun–Beitun Railway in Karamay City. It takes 9 hours from Tacheng to Ürümqi. Tacheng is also served by the Tacheng Qianquan Airport with flights to Ürümqi and other cities in Xinjiang. ==Gallery==

• Li Jingliang (born 1988), Chinese mixed martial artist, currently competes in the welterweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. • Zhang Yangyang (born 1991), Chinese pop singer. == Notes ==