Hegang Travel Guide

Chinese Name: 鹤岗 (hè gǎng)
Population: 995,000
Area: 15,000 square kilometers (5,791 square miles)
Location: in the northeast of Heilongjiang Province, northeastern China
Administrative Division: 6 districts (Xingshan, Xiangyang, Gongnong, Nanshan, Xing'an, Dongshan); 2 counties (Luobei, Suibin)
Area Code: 0468
Zip Code: 154100
GDP (2017): CNY 28.29 billion (USD 4.28 billion)

Situated in northeastern Heilongjiang Province, Hegang is separated from Jiamusi by the Mudan (Peony) River on the south and separated from Russia by the Amur (Heilongjiang) River on the north. Sharing 235 kilometers (146 miles) long boundary lines with Russia, Hegang is a major city for opening up to Russia. Hegang has set up 16 enterprises and factories in Russia and the number of economic and technological cooperation projects with Russia has reached 44. It is a resource-based city with huge reserves of coal and graphite. But the ecological environment in Hegang is well preserved. Rivers, forests, wetlands and stone forests can be seen here. Many natural reserves were built, providing visitors with opportunities to get close to nature such as the Hegang National Forest Park. In winter, the Wangyunfeng Skiing Resort becomes a hot spot.

Hegang lies between mid and high latitudes, bearing a continental monsoon climate. July to August is the hottest period during a year, and January to February is the coldest. The extremely low temperature in winter can reach -39°C (-38.2°F).

 When to Go: As to the golden season to visit that city, December to January the next year is the best time to enjoy the fascinating snow scenes, while June to August is the fine season to shelter into the summer resort along the Amur River and in the primitive forest.

 History: Hegang was originally called Xingshan named after the Xinghua Mine that established in early twentieth century. By 1900s, few people had settled down there. Later, the city got increasingly large-scale exploitation due to its large cache of coal.

 Physical Features: The terrain of the city slopes downwards from the west to the east. Northern and central parts belong to the mountainous area at the south foot of the Lesser Xing'an Mountains (Xiaoxing'anling). Its southern territory is located in the transition belt between mountains and plains, being the hilly area, while the southeast of Hegang is occupied by plain that undulates much gently.

 Special Local Products: agaric, mushroom, pine nut, deer antler, weasel skin