Mohe Arctic Village

Mohe Arctic Village

Mohe Arctic Village is a national AAAAA-level tourist attraction.

Located in Mohe Township, Mohe City, Greater Khingan Mountains region, Heilongjiang Province, at 53°33′30″ north latitude and 122°20′27.14″ east longitude, Arctic Village is a national AAAAA-level tourist attraction, the best place in China to observe the aurora borealis, home to China’s “Northernmost First Sentry Post,” and also the northernmost town in China. With its unique domestic resource landscapes such as being the northernmost point in China, magical celestial phenomena, and polar ice and snow, Arctic Village ranks among the top ten most attractive tourist destinations alongside Sanya’s Tianya Haijiao (Ends of the Earth).

Known as the “Polar of China,” Arctic Village boasts an ancient simplicity, serene freshness, and pleasant scenery. Every year during the summer solstice, streams of tourists flock here to witness the “aurora borealis” and the “midnight sun.” The Heilongjiang River, the great border river between China and Russia, originates in Mohe. Its crystal-clear waters meander gracefully, offering stunning views of the beautiful landscapes on both banks and the foreign scenery along the way. Mohe’s pristine forests are lush and verdant, with refreshing mountain breezes and fragrant woodlands, making outdoor adventures and campfires under the stars a mysterious and enchanting experience. The ancient town of Mohe has a long and profound historical and cultural heritage, with numerous relics and sites from the Qing Dynasty and the Japanese puppet regime era, especially famous for Empress Dowager Cixi’s “Rouge Valley” and the “Ancient Gold Road.”

Arctic Village is situated in a high-latitude area above 53° north, which means the daytime in summer usually lasts more than 17 hours, while the opposite is true in winter—this is one of its distinctive features. The annual average temperature in Arctic Village is around -5°C, and the extreme lowest temperature in winter can drop to -50°C.

Opened as a tourist scenic area in 1997, Arctic Village became the northernmost tourist destination in the country. With its simple folk customs, serene freshness, strong rural charm, and well-preserved vegetation and ecological environment, it offers a unique experience. Around the summer solstice when the white nights occur, looking north at midnight, the sky appears pale, resembling either dusk or dawn. People can play chess or basketball outdoors, and if lucky, they might witness the magnificent and colorful aurora borealis.

The vast Heilongjiang River flows by the village, teeming with precious cold-water fish such as taimen, lenok, brachymystax, and kaluga. Cooking river fish with water from the river itself creates an unparalleled taste and an unforgettable experience. Visitors can also try fishing with gill nets or enjoy angling by the riverbank—it's incredibly fun. In winter, when the river is frozen, cutting through the thick ice and hauling out fresh fish through holes in the ice adds even more charm to the northern experience.

The folk customs in Arctic Village are simple and serene, with a rich rural atmosphere and well-preserved vegetation and ecology. Around the summer solstice, there are nearly 24 hours of daylight each day. Looking north at midnight, the sky turns pale, resembling either dusk or dawn. The period around the summer solstice and the clear moonlit nights of late autumn are often blessed with cloudless skies, making them the best times to see the aurora borealis. Arctic Village is not just a historic ancient town; it has gradually become a symbol and a landmark. Every year, many visitors from all over the world come here to experience the happiness of being at China’s northernmost point.

Mohe is known for its precious cold-water fish. Dishes like stewed cod with tofu, grilled dogfish, and braised kaluga are very famous. Local specialties such as white meat with blood sausage, Mohe-style air-dried sausages, and fried cakes also have strong regional characteristics and are worth trying. Although Mohe County is small, there are plenty of restaurants where you can enjoy these dishes. Of course, you can find them in Arctic Village too, though they may be slightly more expensive. On average, a meal per person costs around 40 RMB.

The local specialties of Mohe mainly include: mushrooms, wild herbs, wild berries, mountain vegetables, and deer antler slices. Most tourism in Mohe is centered around Arctic Village, where there aren’t many formal shopping spots. Most items for sale are locally collected produce such as hazelnuts, pine nuts, or seasonal fruits and vegetables. Visitors can purchase according to their interests. However, for items like lingzhi mushrooms and ginseng, it is recommended to buy them from reputable pharmacies in downtown Mohe.

Mohe County is small in size, with only one main commercial street, which was rebuilt after a fire. Various specialties and daily necessities can be found there. The Mohe County market is also located there, selling seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as a small number of cold-water fish. Interested visitors can take a quick stroll, but overall, it is not particularly bustling—it simply meets basic needs.

Three trains arrive in Mohe every day:

Train N41 – Express – Direct from Harbin to Mohe: Departs Harbin at 21:15, arrives Mohe at 18:18, total travel time: 21 hours, distance: 1213 km

Train N6345 – Local – Direct from Qiqihar to Mohe: Departs Qiqihar at 11:43, arrives Mohe at 08:40, total travel time: 20 hours 57 minutes, distance: 923 km

Train N2667 – Direct from Yingkou to Mohe: Departs Yingkou at 12:12, arrives Mohe at 20:14, total travel time: 32 hours 2 minutes, distance: 1992 km

One flight arrives in Mohe per day:

Flight from Harbin to Mohe County CZ6279

Departure from Harbin: 13:20; Arrival in Mohe County: 15:00

Main tourist attraction ticket prices in Mohe:

Arctic Village attraction ticket: 60 RMB/ticket (Free entry for those over 65, with military officer ID, journalist ID, disabled military personnel ID, or guide ID. Student ID gets half-price)

Arctic Village sightseeing battery car: 20 RMB/ticket (Encouraging environmental protection—cars not allowed in the village; free in winter, not available in summer) 5.6 Fire Memorial Hall ticket: 10 RMB/ticket (All other attractions are free)

Distances to the above attractions:

Mohe County to Arctic Village: 88 km (Road condition: Provincial first-class highway, all asphalt road, currently under repair, driving conditions difficult)

Mohe County to Beihong Village: 130 km (Road condition: National defense road, dirt road)

Beihong Village to Heilongjiang First Bay: 70 km (Road condition: National defense road, dirt road)

Tips

Mohe is located at 53.5 degrees north latitude on the northern slope of the Greater Khingan Mountains and is known as the “Polar of China.” It is the coldest place in the country, with an average summer temperature of 18.4°C. The extreme lowest winter temperature once reached -52.3°C.

Mohe has a cold temperate continental monsoon climate. Due to the influence of ocean warm currents, local microclimates vary significantly. Spring temperatures average around 3°C to 15°C, summer 15°C to 25°C, autumn 6°C to 0°C, and winter -15°C to -35°C. Summers have long daylight hours, large diurnal temperature variations, and concentrated rainfall (mostly in July and August), so it is advisable to bring warm clothing and rain gear, as well as some mosquito repellent and medication.

Route Reference

Mohe County – Guanyin – Yanzhi Gully – Li Jingyong Ancestral Hall – Ancient Tomb Cluster – Arctic Village Primitive Forest Park – Birch Forest – Flying Pine – Arctic Village

Main attractions in Mohe County: Xishan Park, Songyuan Park, May 6th Fire Memorial Hall, Beichui Farmers' Market, etc.

Main attractions in Arctic Village: China’s Northern Frontier, Qixing Mountain, Village Stele, Northernmost Post Office, Northernmost Sentinel, Northernmost Outpost, Northernmost Weather Station, Township Government, Primary and Secondary Schools, Northernmost Sandbar, Divine Land Arctic Square, Site of the Puppet Manchukuo Power Plant, Russian Village (Yigena Village)

Arctic Village: Originally known as Mohe Village, China’s Mohe County Arctic Village has been inhabited since 1860. It is located at the northern foot of the Greater Khingan Mountains, on the southern bank of the upper reaches of the Heilongjiang River, at the foot of Qixing Mountain, facing Russia’s Yiganasiyno across the river. Its geographical coordinates are: 122°21’05” to 122°21’30” east longitude, 53°27’00” to 53°33’30” north latitude. Proudly situated at the northernmost point of the country, it is known as the “City That Never Sleeps” and is the best observation spot in the nation for viewing the aurora borealis and the midnight sun. The village has 243 households and a population of 963. Arctic Village is located west of Mohe County town... More detailed information about Arctic Village++

Further Reading:

·The 28th Batch of National 5A-Level Tourist Attractions (July 2015)