Xichang & Satellite Launch Center

The second largest lake of Sichuan Province, is located in Xichang City, Liangshan Yi Nationality Autonomous Region. The tectonic lake measures 11.5 km from northwest to southeast. It is a semi-enclosed fresh water lake and has only one outlet, Haihe River, on the north. It flows into Anning River, one of the subtributaries of Changjiang River.

The main purpose of Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC) is to launch spacecraft, such as broadcasting, communications and meteorological satellites, into geo-stationary orbit .

XSLC is located in Xichang Region, Sichuan Province in southwestern China. Its headquarters is at Xichang City, 65 km from the launch site. The coordinates of the launch pad are 102.0 degree E and 28.2 degree N.

The climate of Xichang Region is subtropical type and the average temperature is 16 degree C. Ground wind in this region is generally very mild in all seasons.

Xichang Airport is situated in the northern suburbs of Xichang, which is 13.5 km from the down town and 50km from the launch site. The runway of the airport is 3,600 meters long, capable of landing jumbo aircraft such as Lockheed C-130, AN 124 and Boeing-747.

The national Chengdu-Kunming Railway and the Sichuan-Yunnan Highway links to XSLC. It is 535 km from Chengdu to Xichang along the railway. There is a dedicated railway branch and a highway branch leading to the Technical Center and the Launch Complex. An 8-meter wide cement road connects the Technical Center and the Launch Complex.

With cable network and satellite communications network, XSLC provides internal and international telephone, telex and fax services.

Spacecraft/Launcher processing facilities and launch facilities, logistics support facilities and hotels are available to international customer launch missions.