Map of Heilongjiang Province

Author: Cheng Haidang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Brief Introduction...
Heilongjiang Province, abbreviated as Hei, has Harbin as its capital and is located in the northern part of the Jiangbei region. It covers an area of 460,000 square kilometers. The western part belongs to the Songnen Plain, the northeastern part is the Sanjiang Plain, and the northern and southeastern parts are mountainous regions. It has a temperate continental monsoon climate with long, cold winters and short, cool summers. The temperature difference between the north and south is significant, with the northern part experiencing a year-round winter without summer. Therefore, it is ideal for summer, winter snow appreciation, ice lantern viewing, and winter sports. The average January temperature ranges from -31°C to -15°C, with extreme low temperatures reaching -52.3°C (in Mohe on February 13, 1969). The average July temperature is 18-23°C, with a frost-free period of only 3-4 months. The average annual precipitation is 300-700 millimeters. The province is home to Han, Manchu, Korean, Mongolian, Hui, Daur, Ewenki, Hezhe, Kirgiz, and Oroqen ethnic groups. It is a major production base for timber, petroleum, soybeans, sugar beets, and flax, with production levels ranking first in the country. It also holds significant positions in coal, gold, locomotives, machinery, and mining and metallurgical equipment.
Tourism Resources: Heilongjiang is one of China's provinces with numerous volcanic remnants. Volcanic activity has created famous tourism resources, such as the Wudalianchi in Wudalianchi City, hot springs, and lava landscapes; the Jingpo Lake's Waterfall Tower and volcanic crater forests, lava tunnels, etc. The rolling mountains and vast marshlands are a treasure trove of flora and fauna, with rare animals such as swans, red-crowned cranes, Siberian tigers, Siberian leopards, and musk deer. The province has established many nature reserves. The "Hometown of Red-Crowned Cranes" Zhalong Nature Reserve is highly popular for bird-watching tourism. There are also many other wildlife species, leading to the development of hunting grounds like Taoshan, Wulong, and Pingshan, attracting domestic and international tourists. The long, cold winters with abundant snow and ice make some rivers, lakes, and slopes ideal for winter sports.
Since ancient times, northern ethnic minorities have lived and thrived in Heilongjiang. In the Tang Dynasty, the earliest feudal regime—the Bohai Kingdom—was established, with its initial capital in Aodong City, Dunhua City, Jilin Province, later relocating to Shangjing Longquan Fu, now Dongjingcheng in Ning'an County, Heilongjiang Province. The Liao, Jin, and Yuan dynasties also considered Heilongjiang an important area of activity. The early Jin Dynasty's capital, Shangjing, was located in Baicheng, Acheng City, hence the presence of numerous cultural relics and historical sites from these regimes in Heilongjiang. During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the War of Liberation, many martyrs fought heroically in this region, leaving behind numerous memorial sites, some of which are named after the martyrs. The ethnic minority culture and the European-style architecture of certain cities also contribute to their appeal.