Welcoming the First Ray of Summer Sunshine in Fuyuan (One-Day Tour Guide)
Fuyuan, under the jurisdiction of Jiamusi City in Heilongjiang Province, is located in the triangular area where the Heilongjiang and Ussuri Rivers converge, facing Russia across the river. Fuyuan is the easternmost city on China's land and the first place in China to see the sunrise.
Fuyuan is a lovely small town, perfect for a one-day tour.
1️⃣ Watching the Sunrise (Summer sunrise around 3 AM)
When in Fuyuan, you must watch the sunrise. The two best spots are Dongji Pavilion and Dongji Square.
☀️ Dongji Pavilion
The highest point in Fuyuan, a Tang-style building, is the best place to watch the sunrise and sunset. The lights come on around 7:30 PM, which is also beautiful.
Pros: Located in the city, you can go back to the hotel for a nap after watching the sunrise.
Cons: Requires climbing, about 20 minutes (some taxis know the gate lock code and can drive directly to the foot of Dongji Pavilion). It's windy on the mountain, so wear more clothes to watch the sunrise.
☀️ Dongji Square
A landmark in Fuyuan, where you can see the distinct confluence of the differently colored Fuyuan Waterway and the Ussuri River.
Pros: Open view.
Cons: About 30 kilometers from the city, a bit far, with few accommodations nearby. The entrance road to the square is narrow, and parking on the roadside can cause traffic jams.
☀️☀️ If driving yourself, choose Dongji Pavilion if you want to stay in the city and not be too tired; if hiring a car, choose Dongji Square, and after watching the sunrise, you can visit nearby places like Heixiazi Island and the Eastern First Post.
2️⃣ Heixiazi Island
You need to take a scenic shuttle bus to enter: Wetland Park (former Russian barracks site) - Eastern First Tower (handover monument, need to take a 30 yuan electric car) - Wild Bear Park (feed the bears).
The shuttle bus stops at each station on the way there and goes directly to the entrance on the way back.
Tickets: 110 yuan/adult
Shuttle bus: 40 yuan
3️⃣ Fish Museum
A freshwater fish museum, with live fish on the first floor and specimens on the second floor, including huge sturgeons. The glass walls and glass corridors are great for photos with fewer people.
Since these are all fish you can eat and might have eaten, it feels like being at the Dongji Fish Market.
Tickets: 50 yuan/adult (5 yuan cheaper on Ctrip than on-site)
☀️ Food Tips
Prices in Fuyuan are not low, especially if you want to have a good freshwater fish feast. The Dongji Fish Market is fresh and interesting, relatively cheap. Vegetables are also a bit more expensive, but the portions are large.
Hezhe ethnic specialty dish Talaha (Hezhe language for grilled raw fish), Ussuri River fresh fish slightly grilled with fish skin, half-cooked, dipped in special sour and spicy sauce, a must-try for sashimi lovers.
There is a coffee shop called Moyu Coffee in the city, good quality and cheap, personally like the Orange C Americano.
☀️☀️ One-Day Tour: Watch the sunrise at Dongji Pavilion - Heixiazi Island - Dongji Square - Fish Museum - Riverside Park - Dongji Night Market/Freshwater Fish Feast/Dongji Pavilion Sunset/Lighting