Heilongjiang Province occupies the most northeasterly position in China, with a long border with Russia to the north and east. It has a number of airports and is directly connected with Beijing by rail.
The province of Heilongjiang is so-named due to the Black Dragon River, which flows along the China-Russia border. It has some startling landscape and is especially appealing to outdoors types. The beautiful Wudalian Chi National Forest Park up in the northwest has startling volcanic architecture and birdwatching.
The capital of Heilongjiang Province is Harbin, a semi-interesting, Russian-influenced town best known for its winter snow festival. It is nicknamed the ‘Ice and Snow City’ and is the main gateway to Heilongjiang.
Qiqiha’er is another big town in Heilongjiang and is the gateway to Wudalian Chi and the Zhalong Nature Reserve. It also comes with the province’s largest mosque - Bukui Mosque - and good trekking at the nearby Lesser Xing’an Mountain.
Other towns worth looking at in Heilongjiang are Heihe, up on the northern border with Russia; Mudanjiang in the south; and Jixi in the east. Most people don’t come to Heilongjiang for the cities, though; it’s all about the landscape. The Jingpohu National Forest Park, with its Mirror Lake, and Zhalong reserve, are two prime examples.
With its high latitude, Heilongjiang is freezing in the winter although its lofty landscape furnishes good skiing. Yabuli Ski Resort is one of China’s best and can be found in the south of the province. It hosted the 1996 Asian Winter Games and comes with a good range of slopes for all levels.
Another popular pastime in Heilongjiang is to take a river cruise along Heilongjiang River, from Mohe and Heihe. Mohe is up in the extreme northwest and is the best place in China for viewing the winter Aurora Borealis.
There are five airports in Heilongjiang including: Harbin Taiping International Airport, the main one; Heihe Airport; Jiamusi Airport; Mudanjiang Airport; and Qiqiha’er Airport. Harbin’s airport is the gateway, with flights coming in from Beijing in 1 hour, 30 minutes. It is 33kms northwest of town. Harbin Eastern Railway Station receives services from Beijing and Shanghai, and train travel is preferable to traveling by bus.