Harbin to Daqing: An Industrial Journey Through Lesser-Known Areas of China

🌟Highlights: Once a viral sensation among train enthusiasts for having the "most impressive train ticket" from Dongfanghong (East is Red) to Taiyangsheng (Sun Rising), this route still exists. This journey from east to west practically traverses the entire Heilongjiang Province. The train isn't direct, requiring transfers. First, from Dongfanghong Station to Mudanjiang Station, then to Harbin Station. Next, transfer at Harbin West Station to Daqing Station, and finally, transfer at Daqing West Station to Taiyangsheng Station. The three trains that make up this journey maintain a steady and gentle pace, subtly matching the rhythm of this quiet industrial route. Travelers along the way can't help but listen and imagine the beautiful and melancholic mix of life's rhythms echoing across this black earth. ✅Must-sees: Jixi | Dongfanghong Town: The Former Glory of a Logging Town Dongfanghong Town, Hulin City, Jixi, is located in the northeastern corner of Heilongjiang Province. What truly brought attention to this small town was its train station. Due to its unique longitude and latitude in the far east and north, Dongfanghong Station truly lives up to its name as the first train station in China to see the sunrise. Built in 1962, the train station was named after the Dongfanghong Reservoir of the nearby 854 Farm. Similar place names with positive connotations, such as "Shuguang" (Dawn) and "Yingchun" (Welcome Spring), can be found along the railway line within the farm's boundaries. The origin of urbanization here can be traced back to the state-owned farms established in the 1950s. Compared to the idyllic charm of small villages, collectivized production brought a high degree of organization to life here, aligning with the industrial base of the area. 👍Side Trip: Zhenbao Island 🌟Zhenbao Island is located on the Chinese side of the main channel of the Ussuri River, over 100 meters from the Chinese bank and 300 meters from the Russian bank. With an area of only 0.74 square kilometers, it has always been Chinese territory. In March 1969, Soviet troops forcibly landed on the island and opened fire, killing and injuring many Chinese border guards. The Chinese border troops fought back bravely, triggering the world-renowned Zhenbao Island self-defense counterattack against the Soviet Union, which ended in victory for China. This battle demonstrated China's military might and national strength. The brave soldiers defending the island defended national sovereignty with their blood and lives, composing a magnificent song of heroism. ✅Must-sees: Mudanjiang to Harbin: Industrial History Along the Railway Dongjingcheng The main attractions for tourists in Ning'an are the ruins of the Bohai Kingdom's capital in Bohai Town and Jingpo Lake, formed by a damming of the Mudanjiang River. However, if you have time to visit Dongjingcheng, 30 kilometers away, you might gain a deeper understanding of the subtle connection between this lake, surrounded by boundless forests, and the lives of the local forest dwellers. Closer to Mudanjiang City, Dongjingcheng, also under the jurisdiction of Ning'an, is a forestry town similar to Dongfanghong. Trains run frequently between Mudanjiang and Dongjingcheng, and the hour-long journey offers ample opportunity to enjoy the endless greenery outside the window. Dongjingcheng got its name from its location east of the capital of the Khitan people's Dongdan Kingdom. However, it lacks significant historical relics and has become quieter due to the decline of the forestry industry. Hengdaohezi Besides Snow Town and Jingpo Lake, Hengdaohezi is a well-known travel destination in Mudanjiang. Without the Chinese Eastern Railway built over a century ago, Hengdaohezi might still be an unknown northern town. The train station and the slightly dilapidated old Russian-style buildings evoke the town's prosperous trading past, fueled by the railway. Muling County East of Hengdaohezi and 120 kilometers from Mudanjiang lies Muling, a city famous for its coal mines. Without the Muling Coal Mine, the newly built Chinese Eastern Railway would have struggled to maintain frequent train services. The coal mined in Muling powered the steam locomotives, especially after the Japanese occupation of the Lushun Coal Mine. Ashihe Street Taking a regular train from Mudanjiang to Harbin, you'll arrive at Harbin Railway Station. The European-style railway overpass, Jihong Bridge, has a history of nearly a century. Southeast of the station, Ashihe Street extends along a gentle slope known as "Nangang." Harbin Institute of Technology & Harbin Engineering University In the first half of the 20th century, the Chinese Eastern Railway not only brought astute businessmen but also provided the initial impetus for the establishment of industrial universities in Northeast China and served as a gateway for skilled personnel to enter Heilongjiang. Located on West Dazhi Street, the main thoroughfare of Nangang District, Harbin Institute of Technology, originally named Harbin Sino-Russian Industrial School, was founded in 1920. Its initial purpose was to train engineering and technical personnel for the Chinese Eastern Railway. Russian-style teaching buildings from that era are still preserved on campus. ✅Must-sees: Daqing Oil: An Added Gift from the Black Earth Taiyangsheng Town In western Heilongjiang, the Songnen Plain offers excellent conditions for farming but historically lacked agricultural labor due to the cold climate. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Production and Construction Corps stationed there reclaimed wasteland, transforming the "Great Northern Wilderness" into the "Great Northern Granary." Taiyangsheng Town, under the jurisdiction of Daqing City, developed from the Taiyangsheng Farm of that time. This town is the other endpoint of the "Dongfanghong-Taiyangsheng" journey. Songji No. 3 Well However, Daqing's fame comes not from grain but from another resource: oil. On the eve of National Day in 1959, the Songji No. 3 Well in Datong Town gushed oil as a tribute to the 10th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, giving Daqing its name. Sartu District & Ranghulu District Sartu and Ranghulu are the two main districts of Daqing, connected by Century Avenue. Due to the low population density, the urban areas along the road are not entirely covered with buildings. Small patches of farmland are separated by woods and wasteland, and cattle graze on the grasslands.