Qitaihe

Qitaihe began as a coal-producing city and is now also known for its Olympic winter sports champions. The city has relatively high forest coverage and modest prices, offering a chance to learn about industrial development and ice and snow sports while exploring the forests and waterways of the Lesser Khingan Mountains.

• Short-Track Speed Skating Champions Museum: As the country’s first museum dedicated to short-track speed skating, it displays competition uniforms and medals belonging to Olympic champions such as Yang Yang and Wang Meng. After visiting, head to the top-floor observation deck for a panoramic view of Qitaihe.

• Taoshan Lake National Wetland Park: An important leisure space for Qitaihe residents, the park has a 5-kilometer greenway along the lake for walking or cycling. In the morning, visit the birdwatching platform to look for red-crowned cranes; at dusk, enjoy the sunset glow on the lake.

• Shilongshan National Forest Park: The park preserves an intact original mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forest. After hiking up Shilong Peak, you can look out over urban Qitaihe. Along the way, you can also observe granite geological features such as stone fields.

• Xidajuan National Forest Park: The park has original Korean pine forests with trees up to 500 years old. Its mountain and water scenery has earned it the nickname “Northeast China’s Little Jiuzhaigou.” In summer, you can try the glass-bottom rafting course; autumn is ideal for viewing and photographing the multicolored mountain forests.

• Xiandongshan Park: This is Qitaihe’s only karst landscape area, with natural caves scattered throughout the mountains. From the Wanghe Pavilion at the summit, you can look out over the Woken River and the city, while squirrels are often visible among the trees.

• Boli Secret Fortifications: This former secret Japanese military engineering site from World War II lies around Jixinghe Reservoir. A VR experience helps visitors understand the original layout and form of the underground fortifications.

Three-Day Classic Itinerary

• Day 1 City history and lakeside sightseeing: In the morning, visit the Qitaihe Museum to learn how the city developed from the coal industry. In the afternoon, visit the Short-Track Speed Skating Champions Museum to learn about the development of local ice and snow sports. Before evening, head to Taoshan Lake Wetland Park to watch the sunset and light show, followed by turtle-pot barbecue for dinner.

• Day 2 Forest hiking and cave exploration: In the morning, drive or hire a car to Shilongshan National Forest Park, hike through the forest and climb to the summit for a view of the city. In the afternoon, continue to Xiandongshan Park to visit the natural caves and observe the karst landscape.
• Day 3 Choose between Korean pine forests and a historic site: For natural scenery, visit the original Korean pine forests of Xidajuan Forest Park. For history, head to Boli County to visit the Boli Secret Fortifications site. Buy local specialties in the afternoon before returning.

Local Specialties

Transportation and Accommodation Tips

• Transportation: After flying to Harbin or Mudanjiang, transfer to a high-speed train to Qitaihe West Station. Attractions in the city are relatively concentrated, and buses are convenient; taxi fares start at about 6 yuan. To reach Xidajuan or Boli County, consider renting a car or hiring a vehicle, costing about 300 yuan per day.
• Accommodation: Budget chain hotels in the city cost about 100–200 yuan per night and meet general needs. Staying near Taoshan Lake or Champions Park makes getting around easy and offers convenient evening views.

Visiting Tips

• Temperature and clothing: Heilongjiang has a large day-night temperature difference, and daytime temperatures can be only around 10°C during some periods, with nighttime temperatures possibly falling below zero. Pack a light down jacket, sweatshirt and hat; wear nonslip shoes when hiking in forest parks.
• Venue opening hours: The Qitaihe Museum and Short-Track Speed Skating Champions Museum are both closed on Mondays. The champions museum may also close at midday, for example from 11:30 to 13:30, so check the schedule before setting out.
• Barbecue opening hours: Many local barbecue restaurants open after 5 p.m., so check their opening times when planning meals.
• Buying local specialties: Gift options include dried haskap berries from Boli, Korean pine nuts, black fungus and coal-jade carvings. Products sold at scenic-area entrances and advertised as “wild deer antler” are often fake and should be avoided.
• Foraging for wild vegetables: Before collecting plants in the mountains or countryside, confirm edible varieties with someone familiar with local flora. Do not pick plants you cannot identify.