The northernmost forest hinterland in China | Thousand-mile snowfield | Experience the "Siberian-style wilderness"
"Daxing'anling | In China's northernmost forest hinterland, step into a snowy fairy tale and the ancient times of the Evenki people"
> "It is not the polar region, yet it has a thousand-mile snowfield;
> It does not border a national boundary, yet it is China's last piece of primeval forest sea;
> This is **Daxing'anling**—
> a green backbone stretching between Inner Mongolia and Heilongjiang,
> a place where reindeer roam,
> a home guarded by the Evenki people,
> and a 'place of silence' that city dwellers dream of."
The **Daxing'anling region**, located in the northernmost part of China, runs through **northeastern Inner Mongolia and northwestern Heilongjiang Province**,
and is the best-preserved **cold temperate zone original coniferous forest ecosystem** in China.
- ✅ Total area: about 330,000 square kilometers (equivalent to three Zhejiang provinces)
- ✅ Core areas:
- **Huzhong Nature Reserve**
- **Mohe Arctic Village**
- **Genhe Source National Wetland Park**
- **Aoluguya Evenki Ethnic Township**
- ✅ Climate characteristics: **cold temperate continental monsoon climate**, long and severe winters, short and cool summers
- ✅ Coldest recorded temperature: **-58℃** (monitored in 2023 in Huzhong District)
- ✅ Ecological tags: **China’s Cold Pole | Land of Reindeer | Primeval Forest | Northern Ethnic Minority Culture**
This is **the only place in China where you can experience the "Siberian-style wilderness"**, and it is the pure land farthest from the city and closest to the soul.
Arctic Village Scenic Area | ¥68 | Includes the northernmost post office, outpost, boundary marker, etc.
First Bend of the Heilongjiang River | ¥45 | Offers a panoramic view of the U-shaped bend of the Heilongjiang River
Nanwenghe Nature Reserve | ¥80 | Reservation required, ecological research-type scenic area
Genhe Source National Wetland Park | ¥75 | Includes boardwalk, Cold Pole Tower, RV campground
Aoluguya Reindeer Tribe Scenic Area | ¥80 | Close encounters with reindeer
Four must-visit core areas | Detailed explanation one by one
1. 【Mohe · Arctic Village | The northernmost village in China】
- Located above 53°N latitude, it is the only place in China where the **aurora edge phenomenon** can be observed
- The village is packed with check-in spots:
- Northernmost household
- Northernmost post office (send a postcard stamped with the "China Arctic" postmark)
- Northernmost outpost
- Arctic Square (iconic spherical sculpture)
Special experiences:
- Eating popsicles at -40℃
- Sleeping on a heated kang bed and experiencing Northeast China’s fire wall heating
- Gazing at the Milky Way at night and occasionally spotting green aurora fragments
2. 【Genhe City | China’s Cold Pole City】
- The lowest temperature measured in 2023 reached **-58℃**, surpassing Mohe, earning the title "**China’s Cold Pole**"
- Features a "Cold Pole sign" where visitors can challenge the extreme low temperature for photos
Must-visit spots:
- Cold Pole Monument
- Genhe Source National Wetland Park (stunning autumn colorful forests)
- Cluster of wooden cabins (Russian-style log buildings)
Winter wonders:
- Breath instantly freezes
- Phones automatically shut down after 5 minutes of exposure
- Pouring water turns to ice instantly, creating "ice mist fireworks"
3. 【Aoluguya Evenki Ethnic Township | The land where reindeer roam】
- The only ethnic minority tribe in China that raises reindeer—the **Reindeer Evenki people**—live here
- They once lived deep in the Daxing'anling dense forest and are known as "the last hunting tribe"
- Now relocated to a small town but still maintain traditional lifestyles
4. 【Huzhong Nature Reserve | Secrets deep in the primeval forest sea】
- Rarely visited by humans, it has Asia’s largest area of **Xingan larch forest**
- Habitat for rare animals such as black bears, moose, and sable
- Activities include light hiking, ecological observation, and forest meditation
Food recommendations | Taste the flavors of the northern land
**Iron pot stewed goose** | A representative hearty dish of Northeast China, served with potato noodles, fragrant and spicy |
**Hand-held boiled mutton** | Boiled lamb dipped in salt, an original ecological way to eat, extremely tender |
**Rye bread (Russian-style bread)** | Crispy crust, dense inside, eaten with jam |
**Blueberry jam with yogurt** | Made from local wild blueberries, sweet and appetizing |
**Frozen pear / frozen persimmon** | Soft and sweet after thawing in the snow, soothing the throat |
| **Deer antler wine / blueberry wine** | Homemade low-alcohol wine, warms the body and aids sleep
Accommodation suggestions | Recommended choices:
| Log cabin homestay | 【Arctic Village · Snowland Home】 | Russian-style log house, heated kang bed, snow view from the window |
| Ice house hotel | 【Mohe Ice and Snow Castle】 | Ice bed + transparent dome, stargazing at night |
| Forest cabin | 【Genhe Source Forest Lodge】 | Private bathroom, stable floor heating, strong design sense |
| Evenki tent | 【Aoluguya Tribe Camp】 | Experience primitive life, bonfire parties at night
✅ **Combined tours**:
- You can conveniently visit **Heihe** (China-Russia border, view Russia across the river)
- Or experience the **Christmas Village** (located in Mohe, Finnish-style)
> When you are in Aoluguya at night,
> sitting around the bonfire,
> listening to an Evenki grandmother humming ancient songs,
> the sound of reindeer bells gently ringing in the wind,
> the Milky Way spanning the sky,
> at that moment,
> you know—
> this is not a trip,
> but a farewell to modern life,
> a ritual for the soul’s return to silence.
May you, on some morning,
stand on the high platform of the First Bend of the Heilongjiang River,
watching the sun rise from the end of the snowfield,
at that moment,
you finally understand:
the so-called distant place
is nothing more than—
our willingness to cross a thousand miles of ice and snow,
just to gain
that moment of absolute tranquility in the heart.