Located in the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture of southwest
China's Sichuan
Province, the Xichang Satellite Launch Center is designed
mainly to launch powerful thrust rockets and geostationary
satellites. Known for its agreeable weather and picturesque scenes,
most pictures shown on Chinese television of rockets taking off are
shot here.
Established in 1970, its headquarters are located 60 kilometers
northwest of Xichang City, in Sichuan Province. The ideal time for
launching satellites from Xichang is from October to May.
The center was completed in 1983 and started operating the
following year. Since that time it has launched China's first
experimental communications satellite, first operational
communications satellite, and first combined communications and
broadcast satellite.
Xichang has two launch pads: one for the launch of geostationary
communications satellites and meteorological satellites by Long
March CZ-3 rockets and the other for the lift-off of Long March
CZ-2 strap-on launch vehicle and the Long March CZ-3 series
rockets.