Qiqihar

Qiqihar is a city in Heilongjiang Province.

Understand

Qiqihar was founded as a walled city in 1691, and for a period the military government of Heilongjiang was based here. For many years, only Manchus were allowed to live in the city, but gradually it transformed to be dominated by Hans. Establishment of the Chinese Eastern Railway in 1903 and later other lines made the city a transportation hub. During 1931-1945 it was an important military base for the Japanese occupation, which helped the city grow in size and importance.

The population of the city is 1.5 million and of the prefecture 6.1 million. The city consists of Longsha District (龙沙区), Tiefeng District (铁锋区) and Jianhua District (建华区), whereas the prefecture further includes 4 districts, 8 counties and 1 city.

Get in

By plane

Flights are available from Beijing, Qingdao and Shanghai (Pudong).

• 1 Qiqihar Sanjiazi Airport (齐齐哈尔三家子机场，IATA：NDG，ICAO：ZYQQ), South Buquine Street, Lonza district(龙沙区卜奎南大街), ☏ +86 0452 2393727. (updated Dec 2024)

By train

Qiqihar train station

• Bei'an - takes about 3-4 hours, train K382.
• Beijing - takes about 6-7 hours on high-speed (G) trains, 14 hours on Z and T trains.
• Hailar - takes about 6-7 hours on normal express trains (K class).
• Harbin - takes about 3-4 hours by K train, 1-2 hours by G and D trains.
• 2 Qiqihar South railway station (齐齐哈尔南站), No. 1 Nenjiang Ring Road, Longsha District(龙沙区嫩江环路1号). (updated Dec 2024)
• 3 Qiqihar Railway Station (齐齐哈尔站), 130 Zhanqian Street, Tiefeng District(铁锋区站前大街130号), ☏ +86 0452 12306. The original building of Qiqihar Station was built in 1909. The current station building was rebuilt in 1979; On May 20, 2015, the largest transformation in the history of the station was carried out; The renovation was completed on September 20, 2015. (updated Dec 2024)

Get around

By bus

Qiqihar has a bus network 齐齐哈尔公交网 (Chinese)

By taxi

Fares start at ¥6, for ¥20 you can cross the city.

See

• 1 Zhalong Nature Reserve (扎龙国家级自然保护区) (Buses for the reserve leaves from the bus station on Longhua Road (龙华路; Lónghuálù) or from the train station, take around 1 hours and cost ¥5). The reserve is home to lots of birds including cranes. Best visited in April-June, but July-September is possible. ¥20.  

Red-crowned crane in Zhalong

• Longsha Gongyuan (Walk or take bus no. 1 or 2 down Longhua Road). ¥2. 
• Summertime night market (Southern end of 公园路). 6-9pm in the summer. 
• 2 Dacheng temple (大乘寺), Minhang Rd No.499(民航路499号). Dacheng temple, also known as the Big Buddha Temple, is located at the intersection of Muhai Street and Minhang Road, Tiefeng District, Qiqihar City, south of the West Manchu Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery, covering an area of 31,000 square meters.
  DachengTemple, a key cultural relic protection unit in Heilongjiang Province, was built by Kong Yushu in 1943. It adopts traditional ancient architecture form, with a large scale and elegant environment. It contains many halls and side halls, where many Buddha statues are worshipped, and has tourist value. Free. 

Do

Not much. But here you can have easier access to train tickets for nicer places in northeastern China because the Qiqihar station is a large transfer hub.

• Look at cranes

There is a national park located in the suburbs of Qiqihar. It is a beautiful grassland with marshes here and there. Qiqihar is famous for its cranes. At a specific time each morning, the park authorities let cranes out of their cages to fly and roam around the park. It's a beautiful sight, make sure you get there early enough to be there when they open the gates.

• Listen to bird songs in the morning

At the coordinates: 47.308044,123.949783 in the morning around sunrise, a group of gentlemen get together and hang bird cages from trees. The birds sing back and forth to each other, it's truly a beautiful experience. There's a roundabout with a park of sorts in the center of it. There's a large statue in the middle - the guys meet around the statue and hang the cages from the trees inside this roundabout.

Eat

Qiqihar Barbecue. A local delicacy. Qiqihar, the Daur language is "natural pasture", so here is the natural pasture of barbecue, Nenjiang nurtured the green ecology of Qiqihar. Qiqihar barbecue has "learned" from Manchu, Mongolian, Chaoxian, Hui, Daur, Ewenki and other ethnic groups, combined with each other's strengths, and formed its own style.

• 1 Rice halal best beef and mutton main shop (米家清真极品牛羊肉总店), 31 Yumin Street, Jianhua District(建华区裕民街31号), ☏ +86 13704824680. 11:00-21:00. It's a local chain of kebab shops in Qiqihar. Beef and lamb, halal meals only. CNY90. (updated Dec 2024)

Drink

Harbin beer and peach juice!! Both are very tasty and refreshing!

Sleep

• 1 Wanda Realm Hotel Qiqihar (齐齐哈尔万达嘉华酒店), No. 1, Xinjiang Road, Jianhua District(建华区新江路1号), ☏ +86 18686664422. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Located in the centre of Qiqihar, the hotel offers airport pick-up service and breakfast. CNY800. (updated Dec 2024)
• 2 All Seasons Hotel Qiqihar Bukui Street branch (全季酒店齐齐哈尔卜奎大街店), 88 Bukui Street, Jianhua District(建华区卜奎大街88号), ☏ +86 4526130777. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. The hotel is a chain hotel with breakfast. Located in the center of Qiqihar, travel is convenient. CNY300. (updated Dec 2024)