Former Site of the First Nuclear Weapons Research Base (Atomic City)

Former Site of the First Nuclear Weapons Research Base (Atomic City)

The Former Site of the First Nuclear Weapons Research Base (Atomic City) serves as a patriotic education base.

The Atomic City is located on the Golden and Silver Prairie in Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, covering a total area of over 1,100 square kilometers. It was China's first nuclear weapons research base, where veteran scientists and technicians successfully developed the country’s first atomic bomb and first hydrogen bomb. Built in 1958, both China’s first atomic bomb and first hydrogen bomb were born here, hence the name “Atomic City.” On May 15, 1995, it was decommissioned and, upon approval by the State Council, renamed Xihai Town, which now serves as the seat of Haibei Prefecture government. In 2001, the Qinghai Atomic City was listed by the State Council as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level. In November 2005, it was designated as a National Patriotic Education Demonstration Base.

In the 1960s, a group of scientists and technicians arrived here under assumed identities. At that time, the site was publicly known as State-Owned Factory 221 or the Qinghai Mining Area, among other names. Through arduous efforts, they successively developed China’s first atomic bomb and first hydrogen bomb, and produced multiple models of strategic nuclear weapons. In 1987, this military facility, which had been sealed off for over thirty years, completed its historic mission of the era, and the central government decided to dismantle the base. After its decommissioning in 1993, the base was handed over to local government. Qinghai Province named the site Xihai Town and designated it as the capital of Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.

The Northwest Nuclear Weapons Research Base of Qinghai Province is situated on the Golden and Silver Prairie in Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, covering a total area of over 1,100 square kilometers.

The "Regulations on the Protection and Management of the Former Site of China’s First Nuclear Weapons Research Base in Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture" were formulated to strengthen the protection and management of the former site of China’s first nuclear weapons research base within the autonomous prefecture (i.e., the former site of State-Owned Factory 221, hereinafter referred to as the “former site”), to inherit and promote the spirit of “Two Bombs, One Satellite,” and to carry out patriotic and revolutionary tradition education. These regulations are enacted in accordance with the "Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Cultural Relics" and other relevant laws and regulations, the "Autonomy Regulations of Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture," and in light of actual conditions.

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level