Mohe Immortal Cave

　　Situated on the east side of the highway between Xilinji Town and Luoguhe, on the rock face of Kulun Mountain, there is a natural cave. The cave entrance is fifteen meters high and five meters wide, with a depth of ten meters. It has a column-like appearance from the outside, and the cave walls are dark brownish-black in color. The surrounding area is covered with larch and Korean pine. In 1981, someone found a bronze incense burner from the Chongde era of the Ming Dynasty among the rubble beneath the cave.

　　The ancient land of Mohe boasts a long and profound history and culture. Three hundred years ago, the islands around were the settlement of the Daur tribe known as the Ancient Mohe City Island, then called Yaksa City. It was here that the Qing government twice defeated Tsarist Russia. Though the smoke of the ancient Yaksa battlefield has long since dissipated, standing on the island and gazing at the Outer Khingan Mountains ceded by the Qing government still brings deep sorrow. The Yaksa Ancient Battlefield is now a renowned scenic spot and a base for patriotic education. Mohe is famed for its gold production. Ever since the indigenous Oroqen people, who primarily lived by hunting, discovered gold, Tsarist Russia continuously infiltrated Mohe to illegally mine it. To drive out these Russian thieves, the Qing government appointed Li Jinyong as the chief administrator of Mohe and established the Mohe Gold Mine. Li Jinyong and his troops “blazed trails into the mountains, carrying provisions and braving the elements,” overcoming immense hardships to launch the Mohe Gold Mine. To commemorate his contributions, a memorial hall was built for him in Jingu, preserving a chapter of history. Li Jinyong, who devoted his life to Mohe, must have marveled at the tremendous changes the region has undergone as he receives visitors' tributes today. Nowadays, you can follow an ancient “Gold Road” into the mysterious Jingu Valley to trace the footsteps of those tough and resilient gold prospectors, or even try your hand at gold panning as part of a tourist experience. Gold and beauty have always been intertwined, and speaking of Jingu Valley, one cannot overlook the “Maiden’s Tomb.” Deep within the dense forests of Jingu lies a graveyard where the skeletal remains of hundreds of young women are buried—locally referred to as the “Maiden’s Tomb.” During the heyday of Jingu, a large number of gold prospectors gathered here. To comfort the soldiers and miners enduring the extreme cold, the imperial court brought in a group of courtesans. Additionally, tempted by the promise of gold, many courtesans from Russia, Japan, Korea, and northern Chinese cities flocked to the area. The valley was perpetually perfumed with the rouge washed off by these women, hence it also became known as “Rouge Valley.” From then on, Rouge Valley became a place of life filled with joy and sorrow, love and hate. Each grave tells a tragic story, each marking a heartbreaking history. Most may only remember the vibrant lights of the Qinhuai River, unaware that in China’s far north, there once existed a once-glorious Rouge Valley—and countless Maiden’s Tombs steeped in blood and tears. In Mohe, historical relics from the Ming, Qing, and Japanese puppet eras can be found everywhere. The mysterious source of the Heilongjiang River, the magical Flying Pine, and the continuous Qixing Mountains all carry their own touching legends.