The Hulunbuir China-Russia Border Tourism Area is located in Hulunbuir City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, covering parts of Manzhouli City and Ergun City. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction and a comprehensive tourism area integrating border scenery, exotic culture, and grassland customs. The scenic area covers a total area of about 5.7 square kilometers. With the China-Russia border line as its link, it blends the cultural characteristics of China, Russia, and Mongolia. It features a unique border geographical landscape, including natural scenery such as grasslands, lakes, forests, and boundary rivers, as well as cultural landscapes such as Russian-style buildings, border ports, and folk villages. Among them, the Manzhouli Port is one of China's largest land ports, with annual customs clearance volume ranking among the highest in the country. The buildings in the scenic area mostly adopt Russian style, with bright colors and unique shapes, forming a unique border atmosphere of "seeing Russia and Mongolia at a glance, hearing three countries with a rooster's crow."
Historical Culture
The history of the Hulunbuir China-Russia border region can be traced back to the Qing Dynasty, when it was an important trade route between China and Russia, forming a border trade circle centered on Manzhouli. After the completion of the Chinese Eastern Railway in 1901, Manzhouli became an important transportation hub and commercial port. Russian-style architecture and Russian folk customs gradually integrated into the local area, forming a characteristic of diverse cultural blending.
For a long time, people on both sides of the China-Russia border have had frequent exchanges in economy, culture, and other aspects, forming a unique border culture. The local area has preserved a large number of life customs of the Sino-Russian mixed-race group (Chinese-Russian descendants), whose language, diet, architecture, and other aspects all reflect the integration of Chinese and Russian cultures. For example, the "lieba" making technique of Chinese-Russian descendants and the construction technique of Russian-style wooden blockhouses have been included in the intangible cultural heritage list.
In addition, the Russian Ethnic Folk Village and Mongolian Yurt Tribe in the scenic area display the cultural heritage of different ethnic groups. Events held annually, such as the China-Russia-Mongolia Three-Country Tourism Festival and the Manzhouli Ice and Snow Festival, further promote exchanges and integration among the cultures of the three countries and have become an important part of the scenic area's historical culture.
Main Attractions
Manzhouli National Gate Scenic Area
The Manzhouli National Gate Scenic Area is the core attraction of the Hulunbuir China-Russia Border Tourism Area, located in the western part of Manzhouli City, covering an area of about 200,000 square meters. The current national gate is the fifth-generation building, 43.7 meters high, 46.6 meters wide, and 105 meters long. It was completed in 2008 and is currently the largest national gate at a land port in China. There is an observation deck at the top of the national gate, from which visitors can overlook the scenery of Zabaykalsk, Russia. Inside the gate body, there is the China Land Port Memorial Hall, which displays the development history of China's border ports through physical objects, pictures, and other exhibits. The scenic area also preserves historical relics such as the fourth-generation national gate site and the Middle East Railway steam locomotive head, witnessing the changes in border trade.
Matryoshka Square
Matryoshka Square is a landmark attraction in Manzhouli City, covering an area of about 870,000 square meters. With traditional Russian matryoshka dolls as its theme, it is the world's largest matryoshka-themed square. At the center of the square stands a giant 30-meter-high matryoshka sculpture, which inside contains a Russian-style restaurant and performance hall. Surrounding it are nearly a thousand small matryoshka sculptures of various shapes, as well as Russian-style buildings, fountains, sculpture groups, and more. The square also has facilities such as the Russian Folk Custom Experience Hall and the Matryoshka Theater. Russian song and dance performances are staged daily, and tourists can participate in interactive activities such as matryoshka making and Russian painting.
Ergun Wetland Scenic Area
The Ergun Wetland Scenic Area is located within Ergun City, about 200 kilometers from Manzhouli. It is the core area of the scenic area's natural landscape, with a total area of about 126,000 hectares, of which the core scenic area is about 3 square kilometers. The wetland has winding rivers and dense vegetation. It is one of the wetlands in China that remains in the most pristine condition and has the largest area, and is known as "Asia's First Wetland." The scenic area has a wooden boardwalk viewing platform about 2.5 kilometers long. Tourists can overlook the entire wetland and enjoy the natural landscape interwoven with rivers, lakes, and grasslands. In summer, a large number of waterbirds can also be seen inhabiting the area.
Russian Ethnic Folk Village
The Russian Ethnic Folk Village is located in Enhe Township, Ergun City. It is China's only Russian ethnic township. Most of the villagers are Chinese-Russian descendants and have preserved a complete Russian folk culture. The village covers an area of about 5 square kilometers. Most of the houses are Russian-style wooden blockhouses, built with logs and with thick walls, warm in winter and cool in summer. The village has a Russian Folk Custom Museum, a lieba bakery, a sauna, and other facilities. Tourists can experience traditional Russian food such as lieba and borscht, participate in ethnic song and dance performances, learn Russian phrases, and more, experiencing a rich Russian atmosphere.
Hulun Lake Scenic Area
The Hulun Lake Scenic Area is located about 40 kilometers southeast of Manzhouli City. It is the largest lake in Inner Mongolia and the fifth-largest freshwater lake in China, with a total area of about 2,339 square kilometers and a planned scenic area of about 30 square kilometers. Hulun Lake is also called "Dalai Lake," which means "a lake like the sea" in Mongolian. The lake water is clear, and the surrounding grasslands are vast. It is a great place to enjoy lake and mountain scenery and experience grassland customs. The scenic area has facilities such as a lake-viewing platform and a cruise pier. Tourists can take boats to tour the lake, and in summer they can also participate in activities such as fishing and beach bathing. In winter, after the lake freezes over, visitors can experience ice driving, ice fishing, and other activities.
Food
Hand-held Mutton
Hand-held mutton is a traditional food of the Mongolian ethnic group in the Hulunbuir region and can be tasted in Mongolian yurt restaurants in the scenic area. It uses locally grazed mutton, mostly lamb ribs or leg of lamb, boiled in clear water and eaten with salt or wild chive flowers. The meat is tender and preserves the original flavor of the lamb. This dish reflects the bold dining style of the Mongolian ethnic group and is a must-try dish for experiencing grassland food culture.
Russian Lieba
Russian lieba is a traditional bread of the Russian ethnic group and can be seen everywhere in downtown Manzhouli and the Russian Ethnic Folk Village. It is made from flour, yeast, milk, and eggs, fermented for a long time and then baked. It has a dense texture and a rich wheat aroma, and the surface is often sprinkled with sesame or shredded coconut. Lieba can be eaten directly or with butter, jam, or borscht. It is an important part of the daily diet of local residents.
Borscht
Borscht is a classic Russian dish and is relatively common in Russian-style restaurants in the scenic area. It uses red beetroot as the main ingredient, paired with beef, potatoes, onions, carrots, and other ingredients, and is simmered with tomato paste. It has a bright red color and a sweet-and-sour taste. It is usually eaten with sour cream, making the flavor even richer. It is one of the representatives of Russian food culture.
Roast Lamb Leg
Roast lamb leg is a specialty dish in the scenic area. It uses mutton legs from sheep grazed on the Hulunbuir grasslands, marinated with salt, cumin, chili, and other seasonings, and then roasted over charcoal. The roasted lamb leg has a crispy outer skin, tender meat, and a rich aroma. When eating, it is cut into thin slices with a knife and can be wrapped with lettuce and thin pancakes, which is both refreshing and delicious, suitable for sharing among several people.
Tickets：
A separate ticket system is implemented for each attraction, with tickets starting at 75 yuan.
You can search for the official public account "Manzhouli China-Russia Border Tourism Area" on WeChat to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours：
The opening hours of the scenic area's attractions vary slightly:
Manzhouli National Gate Scenic Area: 8:00-18:00 (April 1-October 31); 9:00-17:00 (November 1-March 31 of the following year).
Matryoshka Square: 9:00-21:00 (June 1-August 31); 9:00-18:00 (April 1-May 31, September 1-October 31); 10:00-17:00 (November 1-March 31 of the following year).
Ergun Wetland Scenic Area: 8:00-18:00 (May 1-October 15); some areas are closed at other times.
Hulun Lake Scenic Area: 8:00-18:00 (April 1-October 31); some areas are open from November 1 to March 31 of the following year, with opening hours of 9:00-16:00.
Tour Route：
Tourists can first arrive in Manzhouli City. In the morning, go to the Manzhouli National Gate Scenic Area to visit the national gate and memorial hall and learn about border history, which takes about 2 hours; then go to Matryoshka Square to admire the matryoshka sculptures and watch Russian song and dance performances, which takes about 2 hours; have lunch at a Russian-style restaurant in Matryoshka Square and taste foods such as borscht and lieba, which takes about 1 hour.
In the afternoon, depart from Manzhouli and go to the Hulun Lake Scenic Area to tour the lake and experience lakeside leisure activities, which takes about 2 hours; then return to downtown Manzhouli and visit the China-Russia Mutual Trade Zone to buy Russian goods, which takes about 1.5 hours.
The next morning, go to the Russian Ethnic Folk Village in Ergun City to experience Russian-style architecture and participate in folk activities, which takes about 3 hours; have lunch in the folk village and taste Russian home-style dishes, which takes about 1 hour; in the afternoon, go to the Ergun Wetland Scenic Area and tour the wetland scenery along the wooden boardwalk, which takes about 2 hours. The total tour duration is about 1.5-2 days, allowing a comprehensive experience of the scenic area's border atmosphere, exotic culture, and natural landscape.
Transportation：
Self-driving: Depart from Hailar District, Hulunbuir City, and drive along the Hailar-Manchuria first-class highway to Manzhouli City, about 190 kilometers in total, with a drive time of about 2.5 hours; from Manzhouli City to Ergun City, drive along S201 Provincial Road, about 200 kilometers in total, with a drive time of about 3 hours; from Ergun City to the Russian Ethnic Folk Village (Enhe Township), drive along S201 Provincial Road and then turn onto X904 County Road, about 75 kilometers in total, with a drive time of about 1.5 hours. Parking fees in and around the scenic area are 5-10 yuan/day.
Tourism special line: The passenger station in Hailar District has multiple daily departures directly to Manzhouli City. Departure times are 7:00-17:00, one bus per hour, with a drive time of about 2.5 hours and a fare of 40 yuan/person; the Manzhouli City passenger station has buses to Ergun City, departing daily at 8:00, 10:00, and 14:00, with a drive time of about 3 hours and a fare of 50 yuan/person.
Chartered car: Chartered car travel in Manzhouli City or Hailar District is relatively convenient. A 5-seat sedan generally costs about 400-600 yuan for a full day and can be arranged flexibly according to the itinerary, suitable for traveling with several people.
Must-Visit Attractions：
Manzhouli National Gate Scenic Area: The fifth-generation national gate is 43.7 meters high and 46.6 meters wide. It is China's largest land port national gate. Visitors can overlook Russian towns and visit the memorial hall to learn about border history. The tour duration is about 2 hours.
Matryoshka Square: The world's largest matryoshka-themed square. The 30-meter-high giant matryoshka is a landmark landscape. There are daily Russian song and dance performances. It is suitable for photos and check-ins. The tour duration is about 2 hours.
Ergun Wetland Scenic Area: Asia's largest wetland. Within the 3-square-kilometer core scenic area, rivers, grasslands, and forests are interwoven. The 2.5-kilometer wooden boardwalk allows visitors to enjoy the wetland scenery in all directions. The tour duration is about 2 hours.
Travel Suggestions：
The recommended duration of stay is 2-3 days. Visitors can stay one night each in Manzhouli City and Ergun City to deeply experience the characteristics of different areas.
The best seasons to visit are June-August (lush grasslands and cool climate in summer) and December-February (unique ice and snow landscapes in winter, with ice and snow activities available). Autumn from September to October also has beautiful scenery, but temperatures are relatively low.
Most attractions in the scenic area are outdoor. In summer, take sun protection measures because the ultraviolet rays are strong, and bring mosquito repellent; in winter, temperatures can drop to -30°C, so wear down jackets, snow boots, hats, gloves, and other warm equipment.
In Manzhouli City, you can buy Russian specialties such as chocolate, candy, and binoculars at affordable prices. Be careful to choose regular stores to avoid buying counterfeit goods.
Notes：
When visiting the National Gate Scenic Area, abide by border management regulations, do not cross border markers, do not photograph military facilities, and follow the guidance of staff.
When entering the Russian Ethnic Folk Village or Mongolian yurts, respect local ethnic customs. For example, take off shoes when entering Russian-style houses, and receive food from hosts with both hands.
The Hulun Lake Scenic Area has many mosquitoes in summer, so take mosquito prevention measures; in winter, although the lake ice is thick, still engage in activities only in designated areas and avoid entering undeveloped areas alone.
Some roads in the scenic area are rural roads. When self-driving or using a chartered car, pay attention to road conditions, especially in winter when the road surface is prone to freezing. Slow down and install anti-skid chains when necessary.
Mobile phone signals in the China-Russia border area may be unstable, and some areas may receive Russian signals. Be careful to turn off mobile roaming to avoid additional charges.