Taoyuanfeng Hydropower Station

Taoyuanfeng Hydropower Station

Taoyuanfeng Hydropower Station is the northernmost hydropower station in China. Primarily designed for power generation, it also serves multiple purposes including flood control, fish farming, and tourism. The reservoir controls a catchment area of 1,062 square kilometers and has a total storage capacity of 145 million cubic meters. Locals say the scenery here rivals that of southern China’s water towns, making it an ideal destination for summer retreats and wellness holidays.

This scenic area is located within Sanka Township and features a hydropower station built on the upper reaches of the Kuanghe River, forming a large reservoir. The meandering waters embrace the mountains, creating a serene and secluded landscape with lush grass and blooming flowers along the banks. Thanks to its unique location and pristine natural environment, it has become a popular destination for leisure and relaxation—it is China’s northernmost hydropower station. Leveraging the region’s original, eco-friendly environment, a border tourism area has been developed, integrating functions such as leisure vacations, cultural entertainment, green cuisine, and ecological sightseeing with rich local characteristics.

In Tao Yuanming’s *The Peach Blossom Spring*, written during the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the poet used positive romanticism to depict an idyllic society where “the grass is fresh and flowers fall in profusion.” Since then, such a place—free from urban noise and worldly troubles, with tranquil natural surroundings and harmonious human relationships—has become the dream of all Chinese people. Their enthusiasm for it rivals the Western longing for “paradise” or the “Kingdom of Heaven.” Clearly, Tao’s “Peach Blossom Spring” could only exist on paper, and people’s yearning remained confined to dreams. Yet, in the far north of China, in the beautiful and fertile Huma County by the rushing Heilongjiang River, lies a place even more beautiful and real than the “Peach Blossom Spring”—the Taoyuanfeng Scenic Area in Huma County.

“Taoyuanfeng” is the name of Heilongjiang Kuanghe Taoyuanfeng Hydropower Co., Ltd. (abbreviated as Taoyuanfeng Hydropower Station). The name is indeed beautiful and enticing. When speaking of “Taoyuanfeng,” locals in Huma proudly explain that the word “Taoyuan” (Peach Blossom Spring) is inspired by the station’s unique location and natural beauty, drawing from the idyllic “Peach Blossom Spring” in literature. As for “Feng” (Peak), while its literal meaning is “mountaintop,” here it is used metaphorically to signify the “highest point” or “pinnacle,” symbolizing the hydropower station’s abundant water storage and power supply. One can’t help but marvel at the talent of Huma’s people for giving such a pure and poetic name to a small hydropower station—and even more so at how fitting the name truly is.

Taoyuanfeng Hydropower Station is located within Sanka Township in Huma County, on the lower reaches of the Kuanghe River, a right-bank tributary of the upper Heilongjiang River. It is less than 10 kilometers from the China-Russia border river—the Heilongjiang—and about 20 kilometers from Duli Kou, known as the “World’s No.1 Bay.” It is 90 kilometers from Huma County and is China’s northernmost hydropower station. By this measure, Taoyuanfeng Hydropower Station is truly at the remotest edge of the world, a true “secluded paradise.”

The Kuanghe River, a first-level tributary of the Heilongjiang River, is located in the southern part of Huma County. It originates from the 624.8-meter-high ridge at the county’s river-border mountain and flows through Beijiang and Sanka townships before joining the Heilongjiang River about 1 kilometer north of Sanka Township. With numerous tributaries, the river is 5 to 26 meters wide. The Kuanghe River has rapid currents, with an average flow rate of 13.1 cubic meters per second, providing ample water for gold mining and excellent conditions for hydropower development.

This northernmost hydropower station in the country began generating power in 2002 after reservoir filling.

In the beautiful reservoir area of the hydropower station, you’ll see a towering dam, dozens of meters high, standing firmly on the Kuanghe River like a robust man from the northeast. Its strong arms hold back the river that has flowed freely for millennia. In this pristine “secluded” setting, humans have created a spectacular “high-gorge flat lake.” The reservoir’s waters are vast, stretching beyond sight due to its 1,062-square-kilometer catchment area. The water is incredibly clear, allowing you to see fish swimming beneath, as it comes from the unpolluted Kuanghe River. The surrounding mountains are lush and deep green, almost appearing black, thanks to the thriving forests. The mountains are also serene, their tranquility enchanting like a fairyland. In the morning, a thin mist rises over the reservoir, giving it the appearance of a shy bride. At noon, the water glimmers brightly, resembling the bold and cheerful spirit of a northeastern village girl. In the evening, the sunset paints the water in vibrant hues, turning the reservoir into a lively cityscape of lights. If you visit Taoyuanfeng, you can take a motorboat to explore the reservoir’s scenery—the beauty of Taoyuanfeng is yours to judge. You can also try your hand at fishing from the shore; your efforts will surely be rewarded. If you’re traveling with a partner or friends, paddling a wooden boat on the “high-gorge flat lake” allows for intimate conversations and laughter amidst the poetic landscape, bringing hearts closer and deepening bonds. If you’re a good swimmer, you can ride the waves and showcase your skills. In this secluded Taoyuanfeng, you can also tour the hydroelectric facilities, observe the working and living conditions of the staff, and savor delicious cold-water fish, authentic farmhouse dishes, and seasonal wild fruits.

The predecessor of Taoyuanfeng Hydropower Station was Huma County’s Tuanjie Hydropower Station.

As early as 1991, the Heilongjiang Provincial Planning Commission approved Huma County’s inclusion in the second batch of national rural primary electrification pilot counties, with Tuanjie Hydropower Station being a key project in this initiative. The station primarily generated power while also serving flood control and fish farming. It was a large Type II water conservancy and hydropower hub with a catchment area of 1,062 square kilometers and a total storage capacity of 145 million cubic meters. The main dam’s crest was 229.20 meters above sea level, with a wave wall topping at 230.40 meters. The main dam was 266 meters long, and the auxiliary dam was 370 meters long. The station had an installed capacity of 3×3,500 kW. The design flood standard was for a 200-year event, and the verification standard was the same. The project mainly consisted of the hydropower station and substation components, with structures including the dam, spillway, water conveyance tunnel, power plant, step-up station, tailrace channel, and power transmission facilities. The design annual output was 30 million kWh. Construction officially began on December 18, 1992, but was halted in September 1995 due to funding issues, pausing for 20 months. After securing additional funds, work resumed in April 1997 but stopped again in November 1998 due to insufficient financing, remaining idle for 28 months until March 2001—a total of four years. Eventually, with efforts from leaders at the provincial, regional, and county levels, Heilongjiang Xinda Company pledged 25 million yuan to restart construction. On July 18, 2002, after a decade of challenges, Tuanjie Hydropower Station successfully began trial operations, filling the gap of no hydropower in China’s far north and contributing significantly to Huma County’s electrification and new rural development.

Although Tuanjie Hydropower Station had achieved power generation capabilities, overall construction was far from complete, and the station was heavily in debt and struggling. In early 2006, Heilongjiang Xinchang Geological Technology Development Co., Ltd. acquired the station’s assets and registered “Heilongjiang Kuanghe Taoyuanfeng Hydropower Co., Ltd.” in April of the same year. The company initially invested 67 million yuan to purchase the station and continue partial construction, with a total investment of 220 million yuan. This project was one of Huma County’s largest investment attractions in 2006.

The introduction of the Taoyuanfeng Hydropower Station project not only revived Tuanjie Hydropower Station but also brought boundless hope for the region’s development. Taoyuanfeng Hydropower Co., Ltd. planned to increase the station’s annual output from 10 million kWh to 35 million kWh by 2010, creating 1,000 new jobs. Additionally, leveraging the area’s abundant fish resources, a deep-freeze preservation plant for Heilongjiang fine-scaled fish would be built. Based on the region’s pristine natural environment, a border tourism area integrating leisure, entertainment, green cuisine, and ecological sightseeing would be developed. Furthermore, a border trade zone focusing on trade with Russia, import-export processing, tourism, technology R&D, and international logistics would be established near the Huma Port.

The prospects for development are boundless, and the confidence of the Taoyuanfeng team is unwavering. With persistent effort, these ambitious goals will surely be achieved. 2010 is no longer far away, and the even more beautiful and enchanting Taoyuanfeng is within reach.

After visiting Taoyuanfeng Hydropower Station, there’s another lovely place worth exploring just three kilometers away—home to a sweet industry and excellent local specialties. This is the Huma County Kuanghe Green Organic Bee Products Base. Kuanghe’s bee products are renowned far and wide. The base is located in Kuanghe Village, Sanka Township, Huma County. The village has 289 households and a permanent population of 907, formed by merging the former Kuanghe, Qingsong, and Tuanjie villages. Today, Kuanghe Village is peaceful, tidy, and surrounded by greenery, with new houses dotting the landscape and a vibrant atmosphere. Villagers mainly engage in agriculture, cultivating 14,500 mu of farmland, and animal husbandry, primarily beekeeping and cattle farming. The village is named after the Kuanghe River to its north and gained fame for its beekeeping industry.

Nestled deep in the southeastern Greater Khingan Mountains, Kuanghe Village has a forest coverage rate of over 82%. The area boasts diverse flora, including abundant wild blueberries (duofu fruit), locust trees, moss, pasture, and over a hundred types of flowers—all providing rich nectar for beekeeping. The climate is mild and humid, with a fresh natural environment, earning it the titles “natural oxygen bar” and “ecological paradise.”

Beekeeping has a long history in Kuanghe Village, with villagers traditionally practicing it. In recent years, as beekeeping techniques have spread and skilled technicians have increased, several large-scale beekeepers have emerged. Villagers have also formed a beekeeping association through collective investment and entrusted management, offering comprehensive pre-, mid-, and post-production services to achieve integrated production, supply, and sales. This has greatly boosted enthusiasm, made production more scientific and professional, and established a reputable brand. In 2006, the village had 24 beekeeping households with 1,200 hives, generating 300,000 yuan in revenue. By 2007, this grew to 32 households and 1,500 hives, earning 450,000 yuan. Huma County now plans to develop Kuanghe Village into a 10,000-hive beekeeping base, and Heilongjiang Province has designated it as a model village for new rural development.

Honey is produced when bees collect nectar from flowers using their proboscis, store it in their honey stomachs, and regurgitate it into honeycombs. Through repeated ingestion and regurgitation, the nectar mixes with enzymes from the bees’ honey sacs. Enzymes break down the polysaccharides into glucose and fructose, reducing moisture content to around 20%. The resulting honey is then extracted using a centrifugal honey extractor. From a food science perspective, honey is a plant-based product.

Natural honey products undergo professional physical processing, including filtration to remove impurities and allergenic pollen, followed by low-temperature concentration to reduce excess moisture. The result is a thick, transparent or semi-transparent sweet gel-like liquid with a rich aroma.

Honey contains fructose, glucose, fatty acids, inorganic salts, various vitamins, and essential trace elements. Known as the “people’s tonic” or “elderly milk,” it is widely used in food, medicine, and skincare. Suitable for all ages, it is a premium nutritional food with therapeutic effects for heart disease, hypertension, lung conditions, colds, coughs, chronic bronchitis, gastrointestinal issues, and urinary system diseases. It also helps combat aging and promotes skin health.

Kuanghe’s bee products are entirely natural, nutritious, free of side effects and pollution, containing no artificial substances or chemicals. They fully comply with China’s mandatory standard GB18796-2005. After processing, they have a shelf life of over three years and are of premium quality. These products offer comprehensive health benefits: 1) Boosting immunity. 2) Promoting metabolism. 3) Treating gastrointestinal disorders. 4) Relieving constipation. 5) Addressing prostate issues. 6) Delaying menopause. 7) Repairing damaged liver cells. 8) Stimulating insulin secretion and repairing pancreatic tissue. 9) Purifying blood, lowering blood pressure, cholesterol, and viscosity. 10) Improving skin and slowing aging. 11) Detoxifying the body. 12) Inhibiting tumors and reducing chemotherapy/radiation side effects. With so many benefits, Kuanghe’s honey is truly remarkable.

Currently, Kuanghe’s bee products include four categories: propolis, royal jelly, bee pollen, and honey. Varieties range from honey powder, granulated honey, block honey, to crystallized honey. In the near future, the industrious people of Kuanghe plan to establish a project producing 1,500 tons of honey products annually, introducing new items like powdered tea, pollen, beverages, royal jelly, freeze-dried powder, and honey milk to enrich our lives. We sincerely wish the people of Kuanghe success in building a professional beekeeping village in the Greater Khingan Mountains, with a prosperous future.

Source: Huma County Party Committee and County Government