Abstract: 【Objective】 A moderately halophilic bacterium Halomonas salifodinae N35-6 with high ectoine production was isolated from the soil of Qijaojing salt lake in Hami, Xinjiang, and its fermentation medium was optimized. 【Methods】 The medium composition for producing ectoine was optimized using response surface methodology and the yield of ectoine was determined by HPLC. 【Results】 A bacterium capable of producing ectoine was isolated from the soil of Qijiaojing Salt Lake and identified as Halomonas salifodinae by 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Production of ectoine was maximized to 0.83 g/L by optimizing the level of nutrients in the medium using response surface methodology. 【Conclusion】 The moderately halophilic bacterium Halomonas salifodinae N35-6 has the potential of high yield of ectoine.