Zhurihe

Zhurihe
Name	Zhurihe
Native name	朱日和
Settlement type	Military training area
Location	Inner Mongolia, China
Coordinates	42°45′N 118°30′E
Country	People's Republic of China
Autonomous region	Inner Mongolia
Prefecture	Chifeng
Established	1950s

Zhurihe Zhurihe is a major training area and military base in Inner Mongolia near Chifeng used by the People's Liberation Army for combined-arms exercises and large-scale maneuvers. The site has hosted national parades and multinational drills alongside events involving the People's Liberation Army Ground Force, People's Liberation Army Air Force, and other branches such as the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force and People's Armed Police. Zhurihe's facilities support interactions with units from regions including Beijing, Liaoning, Shandong, Shaanxi, and international partners such as Russia, Pakistan, and Mongolia.

History

Zhurihe's origins trace to the early modernization drives of the People's Republic of China military in the 1950s and 1960s when the People's Liberation Army expanded training grounds similar to those at Qinglongshan and Niuheliang. During the reform era under leaders like Deng Xiaoping and later modernization pushes under Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, Zhurihe was upgraded to host mechanized and armored maneuvers alongside improvements comparable to training centers such as Nanjing Military Region ranges and Shenyang Military Region facilities. In the 21st century, high-profile events under Xi Jinping showcased Zhurihe during readiness inspections, anniversary commemorations, and during bilateral and multilateral interactions similar to Sino-Russian exercises and China–Pakistan defense cooperation. The site has been a focal point for doctrinal shifts influenced by conflicts like the Gulf War, lessons drawn from the Kosovo War, and observations of Operation Desert Storm operational concepts.

Geography and Climate

Situated in the eastern reaches of Inner Mongolia near the Horqin Grassland and within reach of the Hulunbuir steppe environment, Zhurihe sits on semi-arid plains with loess soils and steppe vegetation similar to landscapes around Xilin Gol. The area lies within continental climatic influences like those affecting Beijing and Harbin with cold, dry winters and warm summers influenced by the East Asian monsoon and prevailing westerlies observed across Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Proximity to transport corridors linking Chifeng to Tongliao and rail lines connecting to Beijing–Harbin railway make the site accessible for redeployment of units from the Beijing Military Region and logistical support from depots akin to those used by PLA logistics structures.

Military Base and Training Area

Zhurihe functions as a combined-arms training center supporting elements from the People's Liberation Army Ground Force, including Type 99 tank units, ZBD-04 IFV formations, artillery brigades equipped with systems like the PLZ-05, and aviation components resembling Z-10 attack helicopter deployments. The range accommodates live-fire exercises, urban combat simulation similar to facilities in Beihai and expeditionary littoral drills reflecting lessons from South China Sea operations. Command and control exercises at Zhurihe parallel doctrines promulgated by institutions such as the Academy of Military Sciences and training reforms advocated by the Central Military Commission. The area is administered within regional defense structures historically linked to commands like the Beijing Military Region and later reorganized under theater commands such as the Northern Theater Command.

Facilities and Infrastructure

On-site infrastructure includes maneuver areas, artillery impact zones, mock urban villages modeled after environments studied in Kosovo War and Iraq War case studies, airstrips capable of handling J-10 and transport aircraft like the Y-20, and logistics hubs similar to depots operated by the PLA Rocket Force. Communications nodes and simulation centers at Zhurihe incorporate systems influenced by research from institutions such as National University of Defense Technology and Beijing Institute of Technology. Training support facilities include medical corps units comparable to PLA General Hospital contingents, repair workshops akin to those servicing Type 96 family vehicles, and rail and highway links connecting to the China National Highway 304 network.

Exercises and International Participation

Zhurihe has hosted national-scale exercises, live-fire demonstrations, and rehearsals for parade events attended by officials from the Central Military Commission and delegations from foreign militaries. Notable activities have involved combined-arms rehearsals reflecting concepts seen in Victory Day Parade observances and bilateral exercises such as those with Russia (comparable to Vostok-style cooperation), Pakistan (as in the spirit of Peace Mission-type interactions), and trilateral or multilateral exchanges that mirror engagements like Shanghai Cooperation Organisation joint drills. Observers from militaries including Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Mongolia have participated in exchanges emphasizing interoperability and tactical innovation.

Socioeconomic Impact and Local Communities

The presence of Zhurihe has influenced local economies in Chifeng and surrounding counties through defense-related employment, procurement from suppliers in Baotou and Hohhot, and infrastructure investments linking rural townships to regional markets such as Tongliao. Local communities, including ethnic groups like the Mongols of Inner Mongolia, interact with base operations through service provision, land leases, and participation in civilian support roles similar to arrangements seen near other major PLA bases. Educational institutions and technical colleges in the region, such as branches of the Inner Mongolia University, sometimes engage in research or training collaborations tied to base needs.

Environmental and Land Use Issues

Training activities at Zhurihe affect steppe ecosystems and grassland restoration efforts overseen by agencies like the Inner Mongolia Department of Ecology and Environment and conservation initiatives from organizations working on Horqin Sandy Land rehabilitation. Concerns over ordnance impact, soil erosion, and water resource use parallel issues addressed in environmental studies of military ranges in China and internationally, with mitigation strategies drawing on research from institutes like the Chinese Academy of Sciences and regional forestry bureaus. Land management balances defense requirements with grazing rights and land tenure arrangements involving herder communities and county-level administrations such as those in Songshan and neighboring townships.

Category:Military installations of the People's Republic of China