Heihe 黑河

1

China's leading port city for tourism to Russia, facing Blagoveshchensk, capital of Russia's Amur Oblast (known to Chinese historically as "Hailanpao"), across the Heilongjiang River—just 750 m apart at the closest point; the two cities are together called the "China-Russia twin cities"

2

A riverside landscape belt built along the Heihe urban section of the Heilongjiang River, with the Russian city's skyline clearly visible across the water, where cargo ships and cruise boats pass back and forth

3

Historic site of the military and administrative center of the Qing dynasty's Heilongjiang River basin: in 1858 Tsarist Russia forced Heilongjiang General Yishan to sign the unequal Sino-Russian Treaty of Aigun here, ceding vast territories north of the Heilongjiang River

4

Named for five bead-like lakes formed when lava from the eruptions of the Laoheishan and Huoshaoshan volcanoes in 1719-1721 (Qing Kangxi era) blocked the Bai River, it preserves China's most complete modern volcanic landscape and is hailed as a “natural volcano museum”; in 2004 it was among the first…

5

A volcanic canyon at Jinhe Farm southwest of Heihe city, where the stream winds through stone forests into the Golden Ring island bay; in autumn the banks are blanketed in interwoven red, yellow and green “five-flower mountain” foliage—earning it the name “Little Jiuzhaigou of the North”—while winter brings snow-covered rime and frozen waterfalls as another sight

6

Xinsheng Oroqen Ethnic Township in Aihui District is a living sample of northern hunting-people culture: the hunters' village preserves birch-bark vessel making, animal-hide clothing and traditional hunting and archery skills

7

Ruins of a border fortress complex built along the Heilongjiang River by the invading Japanese army in Sunwu County—the northern end of the “Eastern Maginot Line” they constructed to guard against the Soviet Union; underground tunnels, gun emplacements and barracks ruins remain

8

A reservoir lake on the Kuerbin River in Xunke County, where lake and mountain scenery mirror each other along this tributary of the border river

9

Thanks to its border-port location, Heihe's food scene shows a mixed Sino-Russian "hybrid" flavor: Russian-style leba (bread), red sausage, caviar and kvass share the table with Heilongjiang barbecue and iron-pot stew