Songyuan Primeval Forest Park

Songyuan Primeval Forest Park

Songyuan Primeval Forest Park is located in Zone 16 of Mohe County. When the county town was first established in 1971, a section of primeval forest was preserved in the town center for visitors to enjoy and to help purify the urban air. In 1983, it was turned into Songyuan Park.

The park is 282 meters long from east to west and 182 meters wide from north to south, with a total timber stock of 400 cubic meters. The main tree species is larch forest. The Rhododendron dauricum, commonly known as Dazi Xiang, also called Man Shan Hong or Ying Shan Hong, only grows in high-latitude polar regions. It blooms every spring in May, and when the flowers are in full bloom, the park becomes an ocean of blossoms. With green trees and red flowers filling the air with fragrance, the scenery is breathtakingly beautiful.

The park has two entrances, one on the east and one on the west. The western entrance is the main gate, inscribed with the characters “Songyuan” (Pine Garden) by Chen Lei, former Governor of Heilongjiang Province. The sides feature colorful murals. The entire park is shaded by lush trees and covered with blooming flowers. There are walking paths through the woods and stone tables with wooden chairs. It is one of the very few primeval forests located within a city in China.

On May 6, 1987, during the great fire, Songyuan Park miraculously escaped the disaster, which amazed everyone. Coupled with the fact that other places in Mohe such as the mosque, public toilets, and graveyard also remained unburned, people came up with this saying: “The Pine Garden did not burn because it is a blessed land, and the fire demon could not bear to harm it; the mosque did not burn because of the majesty of God, and the fire demon dared not touch it; the public toilets did not burn because they are filthy places, and the fire demon scorned them; the graveyard did not burn because the spirits are of the same kind, and the fire demon would not offend them.” A marble stele inscribed with “Record of Songyuan” stands in the park to commemorate this event.

Location: Zone 16, Central Xilinji Town, Mohe County, Daxing’anling Region, Heilongjiang Province

Transportation: Within Mohe County, take bus routes 1 or 2 and get off at Songyuan Park on Zhonghua Road

Self-driving route: Starting from Daxing’anling, head due east onto S207, drive to Mohe County, then enter Yucailu, drive 650 meters, turn left onto Zhonghua Road, and after driving 90 meters along Zhonghua Road, you will arrive at Songyuan Park.