Ancient City Island

Ancient City Island

Ancient City Island is a cultural tourism attraction.

Ancient City Island is a cultural tourism site. It is located in the Heilongjiang River, 4 kilometers north of Xing'an Town in Mohe County, and is the second largest island in the Heilongjiang River. The island lies just 50 meters from the Chinese shore and 350 meters from the Russian shore. Across the river is the former city of Albazin, now known as Albazino in Russia. During the Battle of Albazin, Qing troops built earthen fortifications, constructed military camps, and established a command post on the island, turning it into a strategic foothold for the recapture of Albazin. The island takes its current name from these earthen defenses.

In September 1650, while the Qing troops were entering the Central Plains, Russia took the opportunity to invade China's Heilongjiang River basin and forcibly occupied Nerchinsk and Albazin. The Daur people living in the fortress of Albazin chose death over submission, resisting the enemy with spears and javelins. The Russian forces carried out a bloody massacre in the fortress—661 Daur people were killed, 360 were captured, and only 15 survived. The Russians then entrenched themselves in Albazin, building fortresses and engaging in widespread burning, killing, and looting. The Chinese people in the Heilongjiang region referred to the Russian invaders as "Luocha" (罗刹), meaning "demons."

The Qing government repeatedly demanded that the Russian invaders withdraw from China, but the Russian government turned a deaf ear and continued to reinforce its troops in Albazin, stepping up military expansion. To defend the sacred territory of the motherland, after suppressing the "Rebellion of the Three Feudatories," Emperor Kangxi inspected the northeastern defenses in the spring of 1682. He ordered Ming'ai, an official from the Lifan Yuan (Board of Colonial Affairs), to establish postal relay stations between Mergen (Nenjiang) and Albazin, with 25 stations extending to what is now Xing'an Town. In February 1685, Emperor Kangxi commanded General Peng Chun and Deputy General Lang Tan to lead a red-turbaned artillery unit and several hundred shield-bearing soldiers to rush to Aihui to join forces with General Sabsu of Heilongjiang. Subsequently, 3,000 Qing troops advanced by both land and water, reaching Albazin directly, and set up their command post on Ancient City Island. On June 23, Peng Chun delivered a surrender letter written in Manchu, Russian, and Polish to prisoners of war, who were sent into Albazin. The Russian invaders, confident in their strong fortifications, ignored Peng Chun’s warning. On June 25, Peng Chun ordered the shelling of Albazin. The thunderous roar of cannons shook the earth, flames lit up the sky, and under the intense pressure of the Qing assault, the Russian troops retreated into the city, trapped in a passive and beleaguered position. Meanwhile, shield-bearing soldiers filled the river with warships, bravely fighting off both the Russian reinforcements from upstream and fleeing troops, staining the river red with blood. After fierce battle, the Russian invaders suffered heavy casualties and had no choice but to send envoys to the Qing camp to beg for surrender. Tolbusin led over 600 men back to Nerchinsk. The Qing army reclaimed Albazin, burned down the fortress, and then withdrew to Aihui and other areas.

In August 1685, learning that the Qing troops had withdrawn, Tolbusin returned with reinforcements and reoccupied Albazin. He rebuilt artillery positions, armories, and defensive works, attempting to hold the city indefinitely. In February 1686, Sabsu prepared to drive out the invaders once again. On Ancient City Island, they “dug long trenches and erected earthen ramparts” to besiege the enemy. In July, Sabsu led a large army to the gates of Albazin and began bombarding the enemy camps inside the city with heavy artillery, launching an attack. Tolbusin was killed by a cannonball. The Qing troops then dug trenches around the city to lay siege, cutting off the water supply within. The Russian troops, trapped in the isolated city and exhausted, lost their fighting capability. Of the original 800-man garrison, only 66 remained, and they had no choice but to surrender. China achieved a complete victory in the defensive counterattack at Albazin.

When news of the defeat at Albazin reached Moscow, the Russian regent, Princess Sophia, was forced to send envoys to Beijing to deliver a letter to the Qing government, requesting a ceasefire and expressing willingness to resolve the border issue through negotiation. In September 1689, representatives from China and Russia negotiated in Nerchinsk and signed the Treaty of Nerchinsk.

On May 28, 1858, General Yishan of Heilongjiang and Russian Count Muravyov signed the Treaty of Aihui, ceding a vast area of Chinese territory north of the Heilongjiang River and south of the Outer Xing'an Mountains to Russia. From then on, Albazin was renamed Albazino, setting a criminal precedent for Russia’s further seizure of Chinese territory.

Today, Ancient City Island covers an area of 15 square kilometers. Traces of the ancient fortresses and artillery positions can still be found on the island. Before 1964, the Emuer Commune had a presence on the island, which later became the village of Ancient City, with most of the land cultivated for farming. In the spring flood of 1985, an ice jam disaster occurred, prompting villagers to relocate inland. Only a two-story building remains standing in the center of the island, overlooking the lush green fields. Along the island’s shores, trees and shrubs grow densely, with ancient trunks connected by branches, standing tall and proud like guardian soldiers. The shimmering river water embraces the island as it flows gently into the distant valley, its roaring sound echoing like the distant thunder of ancient battlefields.