The 56 Base (96351 Unit) headquartered in Xingning City, Qinghai Province consists of three missile launch brigades (809, 812, 813) and a training & experimental unit, all located in northwest China. Its missiles are believed to be used to target South and Central Asia.
The 809 Brigade is based in Datong, Qinghai Province. The brigade was previously equipped with the liquid-fuel DF-4 (CSS-3) IRBM, but this has been replaced by the more capable solid-fuel DF-21 (CSS-5) MRBM.
The 812 Brigade was previously based at Delingha, Qinghai and equipped with the DF-4 (CSS-3) IRBM. Recently the unit was relocated to Tianshui, Gansu Province and its DF-4 IRBMs have been retired and replaced by the DF-31 (CSS-9) ICBM, possibly intended to cover targets in Europe.
Chinese state television broadcast ed images of the 812 Brigade equipped with DF-31 ICBM (Source: CCTV)
The 823 Brigade was previously based at Da Qaidam, Qinghai, but has been since then relocated to Korla, Xinjiang. Its DF-4 (CSS-3) IRBMs have been retired and replaced by the DF-21 (CSS-5) MRBMs.
The training & experimental unit of the 56 Base is stationed in two locations: the launch site in Delingha, Qinghai and the target zone in Ruowu, Xinjiang.
