Qiqihar Travel Guide
Qiqihar Facts
Chinese Name: 齐齐哈尔 (qí qí hā ěr)
Population: 5,337,000
Area: 42,469 square kilometers (16,397 square miles)
Location: in the northwest of Heilongjiang Province, northeastern China
Administrative Division: 7 districts (Jianhua, Longsha, Tiefeng, Angangxi, Fularji, Nianzishan, Meilisi Daur); 8 counties (Longjiang, Yian, Tailai, Gannan, Fuyu, Keshan, Kedong, Baiquan); 1 county-level city (Nehe)
Area Code: 0452
Zip Code: 161000
GDP (2018): CNY 134.02 billion (USD 20.25 billion)
The Hometown of the Red-Crowned Cranes
Situated in the northwest of Heilongjiang Province, Qiqihar is the traffic hub of western Heilongjiang. It neighbors Jilin to the south and Inner Mongolia to the west. It is 359 kilometers (223 miles) from the capital city Harbin. Qiqihar is the second largest city in Heilongjiang Province with a large amount of wetlands. It is called the hometown of Red-Crowned Cranes because the Zhalong National Nature Reserve provides a good habitat for rare waterfowls including Red-Crowned Cranes. The nature reserve is a top attraction in Qiqihar for shooting beautiful scenery and seeing migratory birds as well. As the largest and most well-preserved mosques in Heilongjiang Province, the Bukui Mosque built in the Qing Dynasty (1636 - 1912) has preserved many fine colorful paintings, wood carvings and brick carving. This city also has a lot of delicacies such as North Korean food and barbecue. It is said that a trip to Qiqqihar is meaningless without having a barbecue.
Qiqihar Attractions - Things to Do
Zhalong Nature Reserve
It is a famous nature reserve for bird fowl with an area of 210,000 hectares (2,100 sq kilometers). Reputed as the town of the cranes, it attracts two hundred and ninety-six species of birds in total, with the cranes being the largest in number.
Bukui Mosque
Constructed in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), this mosque is composed of the west and the east mosques. It is one of the largest and most well-preserved mosques in Heilongjiang Province.
How to get to/around Qiqihar
Qiqihar Sanjiazi Airport is 13 kilometers (8 miles) southeast of the city proper operating flights to Beijing, Dalian, Guangzhou, Jinan, Qingdao, Shenzhen, Tianjin and Shanghai. In addition, it is about four hours' ride from the city to Harbin by train and five hours by long-distance bus. Zhalong Nature Reserve is only 27 kilometers (17 miles) south of Qiqihar Downtown, about half an hour's ride, and the road conditions are good.
Weather
When to Go: Every year from May to July is the most favorable season to visit there.
Qiqihar Travel Tips
History: As early as 10,000 years ago, the ancient people living on the banks of Nenjiang River created brilliant civilizations on the black soil. According to the archeological discoveries, it was 2,500 years ago that Qiqihar entered the highly developed Bronze Age. This city is the convergence point of the three ancient ethnic groups of Sushen, Donghu and Huimo because of the inter-cultural mixing and resettlement among them. Physical Features: The city is located in the Songnen Plain, and the terrain slopes downward from the north to the south. It lies at the south foot of the Lesser Xing'an Mountain (Xiao Xing'an Ling), and its south and central part are alluvial plains. Local Highlights: Qiqihar Crane Watching Festival (August); Qiqihar Ice and Snow Event (late December); Nadamu and Aobao get-together in Meilisi Daur District (early September) Special Local Products : paper cuttings, shadow puppetry, fungus, ginsengs