Hulunbuir (呼伦贝尔)

1. Introduction

Hulunbuir (Mongolian: ᠬᠥᠯᠦᠨ ᠪᠦᠢᠷ ᠬᠣᠲᠠ, Chinese Pinyin letters: Holonbûir hôt (standard pronunciation), Huluunbûir hôtô (Barhu Buryat), Poppe transcription: Kölön buyir qota) is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, located in the eastern part of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Originally named Hulunbuir League, it derives its name from the Hulun Lake and Buir Lake within its territory; during the Qing Dynasty, it was called Hulunbuyir, with Hailar as its capital. The city borders the Hinggan League and Qiqihar City of Heilongjiang Province to the south, Heihe City of Heilongjiang Province to the east, the Greater Khingan Range region of Heilongjiang Province to the north, and Russia and Mongolia to the west. Situated in the northeastern part of the Inner Mongolia Plateau, the Greater Khingan Range runs through the city, dividing it into three major parts: the western Hulunbuir Grassland, the central Greater Khingan Range forest area, and the eastern low hills and river valley plains. The Ergun River on the western edge serves as the Sino-Russian border river, merging with the Shilka River at the northern end of the city to form the Heilongjiang River. The Nen River on the eastern edge acts as the border river with Heilongjiang Province. The total area of the city is 252,800 square kilometers, with the Han ethnic group accounting for 80.1% of the population and the Mongolian ethnic group making up 10.59%. The municipal government is located in Hailar District. Hulunbuir was once nominally the largest prefecture-level administrative unit in the world by land area, comparable in size to the United Kingdom. This record was broken by the newly established prefecture-level city of Nagqu in 2018.

nix

2. History

The history of Hulunbuir can be traced back 20,000 to 30,000 years. Since ancient times, it has been pastureland for nomadic peoples, with the Greater Khingan Range within its territory being the dwelling place of the ancient Xianbei tribe. During the Yuan Dynasty, it was the fiefdom of the Prince of Qi.

In the Qing Dynasty, it was the fiefdom of the General of Heilongjiang. West of the range was under the jurisdiction of the Hulunbuir Deputy Commander's Office, governing the Solon Eight Banners, the New Barag Eight Banners, and the Oirat Banner. East of the range was under the jurisdiction of the West Butha Chief Administrator's Office, governing four banners including Buxi and Bayan. By the 33rd year of the Guangxu reign (1907), Heilongjiang Province was established, and the area became part of it.

In the early years of the Republic of China, responding to the independence movement in Outer Mongolia, the Hulunbuir Autonomous Government was established in the name of the Hulunbuir Deputy Commander's Office. In 1919, the Beijing government appointed Xu Shuzheng as the Northwest Frontier Commissioner, leading an expeditionary force into Outer Mongolia. Outer Mongolia was forced to cancel its "independence" and "autonomy," and Hulunbuir subsequently lost a major pillar of support. On December 21, 1919, Guifu, the Acting Deputy Commander of Hulunbuir, telegraphed the Beijing government requesting the abolition of the Hulunbuir Special Region. On January 28, 1920, the Beijing government announced the abolition of the Hulunbuir Special Region and the Sino-Russian agreed conditions, placing the Hulunbuir region under the jurisdiction of Heilongjiang Province. In February 1920, Xu Shichang appointed Zhong Yu as the Commissioner for Hulunbuir Rehabilitation Affairs and Negotiator. Concurrently, the Hulun Office established during the late Qing New Policies period was changed to Hulun County, the Lubin Prefecture was changed to Lubin County, the Jialin Administration Bureau was changed to Shiwei County, and the Qiqian Administration Bureau was added, which was changed to Qiqian County the following year. The Heilongjiang Provincial Government promulgated the Provisional Regulations for the Hulunbuir Commissioner's Office, placing all judicial, administrative, educational, industrial, financial, police, and frontier post affairs within the entire Hulunbuir region under the jurisdiction of the Commissioner. In March 1920, a Garrison Command was established in Hailar, with Zhang Kuiwu appointed as the Hulunbuir Garrison Commander. The subordinate troops consisted of one infantry regiment and one cavalry regiment from the Heilongjiang Army's 2nd Mixed Brigade, stationed in areas such as Hailar, Shiwei, and Zhalainuo'er, responsible for border defense and railway protection. In April 1920, the Hulun Police Department was established, with Lang Guanpu appointed as Acting Director. The Hulun Police Department had under it the First Police Station, Second Police Station, Mounted Patrol and Guard Unit, and Firefighting and Sanitation Unit, responsible for public security administration in the entire county. Hulun, Lubin, Shiwei, and Qiqian counties each established a police station, with the county magistrate concurrently serving as the station chief. In 1925, the Hulunbuir Circuit Intendant's Office was established, with Zhao Zhongren appointed as Circuit Intendant, governing Hulun, Lubin, Shiwei, and Qiqian counties.

After the Japanese army launched the September 18 Incident, in 1932 (the 21st year of the Republic of China), the puppet state of Manchukuo established the Xing'an General Province here.

After the victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan, the Nationalist government established Xing'an Province, with an area identical to that of the Hulunbuir League.

In September 1945, over ten ethnic leaders from the region west of the Greater Khingan Range, including Erqin Batu, the former governor of the Xing'an North Province of Manchukuo, gathered in Hailar to plan an ethnic autonomy movement. On October 1, a meeting was held to decide on establishing the Hulunbuir Autonomous Provincial Government and to discuss and negotiate matters such as government structure and personnel arrangements. On October 8, the founding ceremony of the Hulunbuir Autonomous Provincial Government was held in Hailar, attended by nearly a hundred people from various ethnic groups including Mongol, Daur, Evenki, and Han from Hailar, Nantun, and other places. Over twenty representatives were sent by the Soviet garrison command in Hailar and the Soviet consulate in Manzhouli. The meeting elected government councilors representing Mongol, Daur, Han, and one Soviet overseas Chinese, and elected one chairman and one vice chairman. Erqin Batu served as Chairman, Shanji Mitupu as Vice Chairman, and Dechun among others as Councilors. The autonomous provincial government established four departments—Administrative Affairs, Finance, Industry, and Public Security—with ten subordinate sections, and formed a security force for the autonomous provincial government. After its establishment, the Hulunbuir Autonomous Provincial Government abolished the Hailar Autonomous Office led by Han merchant Fu Jintang, appointed mayors for towns like Hailar, Manzhouli, and Zhalainuo'er, and banner chiefs for various banners, and expanded the autonomous provincial government's security force into a security general brigade.

On December 4, 1945, ethnic leaders including Mongol and Daur from the former Xing'an East Province established the Xingdong Regional Office in Zhalantun, with a secretariat and four departments: General Affairs, Civil Affairs, Industry, and Internal Defense, still governing the four banners: Butha, Arong, Morin Dawa, and Bayan. The Nenjiang Provincial Working Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the CCP Northeast Central Bureau successively sent Xia Furen, Su Lin, Zhang Ce, Wang Shengrong, and others to Zhalantun to initiate work. On March 27, 1946, the Nawenmuren People's Congress was held in Zhalantun, establishing the Nawenmuren Provincial Government under the leadership of the East Mongolia People's Autonomous Government, and the former Xingdong Regional Office was abolished. On May 3, the Nawenmuren Provincial Government was formally established, with Erden (Jin Yaozhou) as Governor. The provincial office was located in the old building of today's Zhalantun Normal School in Zhalantun. On May 13, the Nawenmuren Provincial Government issued an order to abolish the Yalu system and establish the Butha Banner Government, with Bayin Nuoren as Banner Chief. On May 26, 1946, the East Mongolia People's Autonomous Government was abolished, and the East Mongolia General Branch of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Movement Federation and the Xing'an Provincial Government were established. On June 27, the Nawenmuren Province was changed to the Nawenmuren League Government, under the leadership of the Xing'an Provincial Government. The League Chief remained Erden, with Vice League Chief Xia Furen, and Chief and Deputy Chief Councillors Zhidatu and Lin Wangxi. It had four departments: Secretariat, Civil Affairs, Industry, and Public Security. In June 1946, the CCP Nawenmuren League Working Committee (referred to as the Nawenmuren Working Committee) was established, without a designated secretary, and was overseen by Zhu Zixiu, Deputy Commander of the Ximan Military Region, and Xia Furen, stationed in Building No. 5 of the railway, now the Zhalantun Railway Apartment. In October 1946, the East Mongolia General Branch of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Movement Federation established an office in Zhalantun, with Keligeng as Director.

In March 1946, the Hulunbuir Autonomous Provincial Government was changed to the Hulunbuir Provisional Local Government. Bao Ding and others were appointed as chiefs of various banners including Solon. In mid-May 1946, Soviet troops withdrew and returned to their country. Guo Weicheng, Commander of the Northeast Democratic Alliance Army Railway Protection Force, along with Brigade Commander Wang Huayi and Political Commissar Su Lin, led troops to station along the railway in Zhalantun, Boketu, Mianduhe, Yakeshi, Hailar, and Manzhouli, establishing the "Provisional Working Committee of the CCP for Hailar and Manzhouli." Chi Wanjun, Commander of the Third Regiment of the Railway Protection Force, served as Commander of the Zha-Man Garrison Command. Political Commissar of the Third Regiment, Wang Zhi'an, stationed in Zhalainuo'er, with Wang Zijian serving as Secretary of the CCP Manzhouli-Zhalainuo'er Working Committee. In May 1946, following instructions from the Inner Mongolia People's Self-Defense Army Headquarters, the security brigade of the Hulunbuir Provisional Local Autonomous Government was reorganized into the 6th Cavalry Division of the East Mongolia People's Autonomous Army, with Gongguoerzhabu as Division Commander and Wang Huayi as Political Commissar. On June 29, the unit was further reorganized into the 6th Cavalry Division of the Inner Mongolia People's Self-Defense Army under the Xing'an Provincial Military District, still with Gongguoerzhabu and Wang Huayi as Division Commander and Political Commissar, La Yi as Director of the Political Department, and Mingshan as Chief of Staff. In late June 1946, the CCP Xing'an Provincial Committee Northern Subcommittee was established in Hailar to uniformly lead Party work in the Hulunbuir and Nawenmuren League regions. Its main members included Temurbagan, Fang Zhida, Su Lin, Wang Huayi, Xia Furen, and Jia Shi, with Subcommittee Secretary Temurbagan. The CCP Hailar-Manzhouli Provisional Working Committee was subsequently abolished. On June 25, 1946, the CCP Nawenmuren League Working Committee was established in Zhalantun. On July 5, the Hulunbuir Branch of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Movement Federation was established, with Hada as Director. On July 13, following orders from the Xing'an Provincial Military District, the 6th Cavalry Division of the Inner Mongolia People's Self-Defense Army was changed to the Hulunbuir Local Self-Defense Army, with Deng Dengtai as Commander. In September, the CCP Hulunbuir Regional Working Committee was established, with Zheng Beichen as Secretary and Gao Jinming as Deputy Secretary, and Su Lin, Liu Jiliang, and Liu Zhendong as members. The CCP Hailar City Working Committee was also established simultaneously, with Gao Jinming concurrently serving as Secretary. The Hulunbuir Provisional Local Autonomous Government issued a Chairman's order to abolish the Hailar Regional Garrison Command and establish the Hulunbuir Security Command, appointing Deng Dengtai as Commander and Zheng Beichen as Deputy Commander (later Commander) and concurrently Director of the Hulunbuir Public Security Bureau. Against the backdrop of large-scale northward attacks by the Nationalist forces in Northeast China, in September, the Soviet side dispatched Guo Wentong from Hailar with a draft report prepared by the Soviet side requesting the restoration of Hulunbuir autonomy, consisting of 21 articles, which was submitted to the CCP Northeast Bureau. After study, it was ultimately condensed into 6 articles. Regarding this, Peng Zhen explained to Guo Wentong: "We have studied your 21 articles and finally condensed them into 6 articles. However, these 6 articles fully encompass the main principles and spirit of your proposal. Additionally, in our view, some wording and expressions in your 21 articles are clearly not written by Chinese, which is not very appropriate. So we rewrote it." Subsequently, representatives from both the Northeast Bureau and Hulunbuir held over ten days of meetings in Harbin for discussions, formulating the "Hulunbuir Autonomy Regulations." Participants from the CCP Northeast Bureau included several leaders headed by Zhang Pinghua, Deputy Political Commissar of the Ximan Military Region. Participants from Hulunbuir included Gonggeerzhabu, Bao Ding, Erhenbayar, and Guo Wentong. On October 29, 1946, after discussion and approval at the ninth meeting of the Northeast Administrative Committee, the restoration of Hulunbuir local autonomy was formally approved. On November 1, 1946, the "Northeast Daily" officially reported this news. The Hulunbuir Local Autonomous Government was established. Erqin Batu served as Government Chairman, Gongguoerzhabu as Vice Chairman, with Dechun, Li Dongchao (Han), and Guo Wentong (Daur) as Councilors. Bao Ding (former Solon Banner Chief) served as Director of the Secretariat, Erhenbayar (Bao Ding's younger brother) as Director of the Economic Department, Ping Fu as Director of Civil Affairs, Menghe Jiya as Director of the Security Department, Damulinzhabu as Director of the Forestry Bureau, Tegeshiboyan as Director of the Judicial Department, Erden Tai as Department Director, and Seersen Tai as Director of the Taxation Bureau. Guo Wentong served as the Hulunbuir Local Autonomous Government's Plenipotentiary Representative in Harbin.The Hulunbuir Local Autonomous Government decided to establish self-defense teams in each banner, requiring 500 rifles, which were requested by Guo Wentong from the Northeast Bureau and resolved. The political director of the local self-defense army was Erden Tohto (Gang Suhe), with Tumen Bayar as the political commissar of the 1st Regiment and Suyol Bilig as the political commissar of the 2nd Regiment. On December 21, 1946, Erqin Batu, Gonggorjab, and others led a gratitude delegation to Harbin, where they signed the "Summary of Talks on the Principles of Hulunbuir Local Autonomy" with Peng Zhen of the Northeast Bureau, comprising 5 sections and 14 agreements. It was also decided that the Hulunbuir Local Autonomous Government would be placed under the jurisdiction of the West Manchuria Military Region.

On November 20, 1946, the West Manchuria Military Region established an office in Manzhouli, with director Jia Shi, deputy director and military representative Chang Yanqing, section chief Zheng Tuobin, and four others responsible for the handover, transshipment, domestic escort, storage of landed goods, and security of Soviet import and export goods. This office later evolved into the Northeast People's Government Foreign Trade Department Office in Manzhouli and the Central Trade Department Manzhouli Port Administration. In March 1947, the Manzhouli People's Congress of All Ethnic Groups and Sectors was convened, electing Yan'an cadre Liu Fuchu as the first mayor of the Manzhouli Municipal People's Government (who also served as secretary of the Municipal Working Committee of the Communist Party of China in August 1947). In May 1947, the Hulunbuir Working Committee of the Communist Party of China was formed in Hailar, with Gao Jinming as its secretary. In June 1947, Guo Wentong returned to Hailar and lived at his home in Nantun. On July 29, 1947, to streamline institutions, the Butha Banner Government merged with the Naimanren League Government for joint operations, with the league leader Erden concurrently serving as the banner leader. In October 1947, former officials of the Hulunbuir Local Autonomous Government, including Erhen Bayar, Baoding, former banner leader Enkebatu of the Solon Banner, Suyol Bilig, Sersen Tai, Sebujintai (son of Ling Sheng), Tumen Bayar, Erden Tohto (Gang Suhe), and Guo Wentong, were arrested by the Hulunbuir Local Autonomous Government Security Department (Public Security Bureau). This became known as the "Baoding Faction" case. Guo Wentong was released after being sent by the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Government Public Security Department to the Northeast Public Security Department in Harbin; the others arrested were sent to Wangyemiao and released in 1953, with work arrangements provided for them. In 1981 and 1985, the Inner Mongolia Public Security Department corrected this wrongful case and restored their reputations following appeals from Baoding and others. On November 7, 1947, the Inner Mongolia Working Committee of the Communist Party of China resolved to merge the party organizations of the Naimanren and Hulunbuir regions, establishing the Naimanren-Hulunbuir Working Committee of the Inner Mongolia Communist Party Working Committee in Hailar, abbreviated as the Nahul Working Committee, overseeing 9 banner and municipal-level party organizations and 119 branches. In December 1947, Hulunbuir Local Autonomous Government Vice Chairman Gonggorjab, administrative committee member Hada, and deputy section chief of the autonomous government secretariat Dugarjab traveled to Wangyemiao Street to request economic assistance from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Government. After discussions with the leaders of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Government, considering the development of the revolutionary situation in Inner Mongolia, they concluded that the Hulunbuir Local Autonomous Government no longer needed to exist and should be placed under the unified leadership of Inner Mongolia. On January 1, 1948, a gathering was held in the auditorium of the Hulunbuir Local Autonomous Government, where Erqin Batu officially announced: "From today onward, the Hulunbuir Local Autonomous Government is abolished and renamed Hulunbuir League, placed under the unified leadership of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Government. Its organizational structure and leadership arrangements will be reassigned and appointed by the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Government." After the meeting, Erqin Batu, Gonggorjab, De Chun, Hada, Bayanbiligsuren, Dugarjab, and others went to Ulanhot. On January 15, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Government issued an order abolishing the autonomy of Hulunbuir and renaming it Hulunbuir League, appointing Erqin Batu as the league leader. Hulunbuir League governed Hailar City, Manzhouli City, Zhalainuoer City, Yakeshi Street, and banners such as New Barag Left, New Barag Right, Ergun, Old Barag, and Solon. The Hulunbuir Local Self-Defense Army was reorganized into the 9th Independent Regiment of the Inner Mongolia People's Liberation Army. On February 1, 1948, the Hulunbuir-Naimanren Working Committee of the Inner Mongolia Communist Party Working Committee was abolished, and the Naimanren League and Hulunbuir League Working Committees of the Inner Mongolia Communist Party Working Committee were established, with Xia Furen and Jiyatai serving as secretaries, respectively. In February 1948, the Butha Banner Government was reestablished, with Ceni Erehu as the banner leader. In April 1949, Hulunbuir League and Naimanren League merged to form Hulunbuir-Naimanren League (abbreviated as Hunan League), with Erqin Batu continuing as league leader and Chen Bingyu as deputy league leader and acting league leader. On April 15, the Hunan League Committee of the Communist Party of China was established, with Gao Jinming as the league committee secretary.

In January 1950, the Hunan League Government was renamed the Hunan League People's Government. On January 23, 1953, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region People's Government decided to abolish eastern leagues such as Hulunbuir, Xing'an, and Jirem, retain the Zhaowuda League, and merge them to establish the Eastern Region Administrative Office of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. On February 1, the Eastern Administrative Office of Inner Mongolia was established in Ulanhot City. On April 30, 1954, the Government Administration Council of the Central People's Government approved the abolition of the Eastern Region Administrative Office of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, merging the former Xing'an League with Hunan League to form Hulunbuir League. The league people's government was established in Hailar City, governing 17 banner and county administrative units: Ulanhot City, Hailar City, Manzhouli City, New Barag Left Banner, New Barag Right Banner (renamed New Barag Right Banner in 1959), Old Barag Banner, Solon Banner (renamed the Evenki Autonomous Banner in 1959), Ergun Banner, Xiguitu Banner, Oroqen Autonomous Banner, Morin Dawa Banner, Arun Banner, Butha Banner, Horqin Right Front Banner, Jalaid Banner, Horqin Right Middle Banner, and Tuquan County.

In August 1955, the Hulunbuir League People's Government was renamed the Hulunbuir League People's Committee. In June 1958, the Hulunbuir League People's Committee was abolished and renamed the Hulunbuir League Administrative Office, serving as a dispatched agency of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region People's Committee. The functions of the Hulunbuir League People's Government and People's Committee as a first-level political authority were declared terminated.

In August 1969, most of Hulunbuir League was transferred to Heilongjiang Province, with the remaining small portion placed under the jurisdiction of Jilin Province. In July 1979, Hulunbuir League was transferred back to the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. In July 1980, the Xing'an League was reestablished, and the jurisdiction of Hulunbuir League was restored to its 1954 status.

In October 2001, the State Council approved the abolition of Hulunbuir League and the establishment of the prefecture-level Hulunbuir City, with the former county-level Hailar City reorganized into Hailar District.

3. Geography

Hulunbuir City covers a total area of 252,777 square kilometers, stretching 630 kilometers from east to west and 700 kilometers from north to south. It borders the Russian Federation to the north, Mongolia to the west, the Xing'an League to the south, and Heilongjiang Province to the east. The Greater Khingan Range traverses its central region, with the Northeast Plain to the east and an extension of the Inner Mongolia Plateau to the west. Major rivers within its territory include the Nen River, the Argun River, and the Kherlen River, along with lakes such as Hulun Lake and Buir Lake. Hulunbuir City is located in a transitional zone from the northern edge of the mid-temperate zone to the cold-temperate zone. Winters are long and cold, while summers are cool and short. The area enjoys ample annual sunshine, with an average annual temperature of approximately 0°C.

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Record high °C (°F) | -1.0 (30.2) | 4.3 (39.7) | 16.2 (61.2) | 29.4 (84.9) | 33.7 (92.7) | 38.8 (101.8) | 39.5 (103.1) | 36.9 (98.4) | 33.2 (91.8) | 26.2 (79.2) | 12.2 (54.0) | 2.4 (36.3) | 39.5 (103.1) | | Average high °C (°F) | -19.2 (-2.6) | -13.5 (7.7) | -3.4 (25.9) | 9.5 (49.1) | 18.4 (65.1) | 24.4 (75.9) | 26.1 (79.0) | 24.3 (75.7) | 17.6 (63.7) | 8.0 (46.4) | -5.8 (21.6) | -16.2 (2.8) | 5.8 (42.5) | | Daily mean °C (°F) | -24.8 (-12.6) | -20.3 (-4.5) | -9.9 (14.2) | 3.0 (37.4) | 11.6 (52.9) | 18.0 (64.4) | 20.4 (68.7) | 18.3 (64.9) | 10.8 (51.4) | 1.2 (34.2) | -11.7 (10.9) | -21.4 (-6.5) | -0.4 (31.3) | | Average low °C (°F) | -29.2 (-20.6) | -25.7 (-14.3) | -15.8 (3.6) | -3.0 (26.6) | 4.4 (39.9) | 11.4 (52.5) | 14.9 (58.8) | 12.8 (55.0) | 5.0 (41.0) | -4.0 (24.8) | -16.3 (2.7) | -25.7 (-14.3) | -5.9 (21.3) | | Record low °C (°F) | -42.9 (-45.2) | -42.3 (-44.1) | -32.5 (-26.5) | -21.6 (-6.9) | -8.4 (16.9) | 0.1 (32.2) | 5.3 (41.5) | 2.5 (36.5) | -7.9 (17.8) | -20.5 (-4.9) | -38.0 (-36.4) | -40.1 (-40.2) | -42.9 (-45.2) | | Average precipitation mm (inches) | 4.6 (0.18) | 3.6 (0.14) | 6.0 (0.24) | 13.9 (0.55) | 22.7 (0.89) | 55.1 (2.17) | 94.0 (3.70) | 88.0 (3.46) | 33.6 (1.32) | 16.7 (0.66) | 6.4 (0.25) | 7.4 (0.29) | 352.0 (13.86) | | Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 7.6 | 5.9 | 5.6 | 5.9 | 7.0 | 12.9 | 14.5 | 12.4 | 9.5 | 6.2 | 7.1 | 9.6 | 104.2 | | Average relative humidity (%) | 78 | 78 | 69 | 52 | 46 | 59 | 69 | 70 | 64 | 62 | 73 | 79 | 67 | | Mean monthly sunshine hours | 167.0 | 195.6 | 244.1 | 246.2 | 298.0 | 285.9 | 279.8 | 268.7 | 218.6 | 210.1 | 165.3 | 139.4 | 2,718.7 | | Percent possible sunshine | 63 | 69 | 67 | 60 | 63 | 59 | 58 | 60 | 58 | 63 | 60 | 55 | 61 |

4. Administrative Divisions

Hulunbuir City currently administers 2 municipal districts, 4 banners, and 3 autonomous banners, and oversees 5 county-level cities on behalf of the higher-level government.

• Municipal Districts: Hailar District, Jalainur District
• County-level Cities: Manzhouli City, Yakeshi City, Zhalantun City, Ergun City, Genhe City
• Banners: Arun Banner, Chen Barag Banner, New Barag Left Banner, New Barag Right Banner
• Autonomous Banners: Morin Dawa Daur Autonomous Banner, Oroqen Autonomous Banner, Evenk Autonomous Banner

Among these, Manzhouli City is a quasi-prefecture-level city separately listed in the state plan by the autonomous region.

Furthermore, within the Oroqen Autonomous Banner of Hulunbuir City, there are two "regional districts" — Jiagedaqi District and Songling District — which are practically administered by the Greater Khingan Range Prefecture of Heilongjiang Province and are not included in the national administrative division sequence.

| Division Code | Division Name Traditional Mongolian | Hanyu Pinyin Latin Transliteration | Area (sq km) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Of which: Ethnic Townships | Sumu | Of which: Ethnic Sumu | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 150700 | Hulunbuir City ᠬᠣᠷᠶᠡᠬᠡᠪᠡᠷ ᠱᠢ | Hūlúnbèi'ěr Shì Kölön buyir qota | 252,777.38 | 2,242,875 | Hailar District | 021000 | 36 | 68 | 19 | 13 | 19 | 1 | | 150702 | Hailar District ᠬᠠᠢᠯᠠᠷ ᠲᠣᠭᠣᠷᠢᠭ | Hǎilā'ěr Qū ayilar toγoriγ | 1,308.78 | 365,012 | Zhengyang Subdistrict | 021000 | 7 | 2 | | | | | | 150703 | Jalainur District ᠽᠠᠹᠧᠨᠦᠷ ᠣᠷᠣᠨ | Zhāláinuò'ěr Qū J̌alainaγur toγoriγ | 312 | 84,424 | Third Subdistrict | 021400 | 5 | 1 | | | | | | 150721 | Arun Banner ᠠᠷᠤᠨ ᠬᠤᠰᠵᠠᠭᠤ | Āróng Qí Arun qosiγu | 11,073.31 | 257,815 | Naji Town | 162700 | | 8 | 4 | 4 | | | | 150722 | Morin Dawa Daur Autonomous Banner ᠮᠣᠷᠢᠨᠳᠠᠪᠠᠭ᠎ᠠ᠎ᠶ᠋ᠢᠨ ᠳᠠᠭᠤᠷ ᠦᠨᠳᠦᠰᠦᠲᠡᠨ᠎ᠦ᠌ ᠥᠪᠡᠷᠲᠡᠭᠡᠨ ᠵᠠᠰᠠᠬᠤ ᠬᠣᠰᠢᠭᠤ | Mòlìdáwǎ Dáwò'ěrzú Zìzhìqí Morin dabaγ-a daγur ündüsüten-ü öbertegen ǰasaqu qosiγu | 10,356.13 | 228,822 | Nierji Town | 162800 | | 11 | 4 | 2 | | | | 150723 | Oroqen Autonomous Banner ᠣᠷᠴᠣᠨ᠎ᠤ᠋ ᠥᠪᠡᠷᠲᠡᠭᠡᠨ ᠵᠠᠰᠠᠬᠤ ᠬᠣᠰᠢᠭᠤ | Èlúnchūn Zìzhìqí Orčon-u öbertegen ǰasaqu qosiγu | 54,687.96 | 174,023 | Alihe Town | 165400 | | 8 | 2 | | | | | 150724 | Evenk Autonomous Banner ᠡᠸᠡᠩᠬᠢ ᠦᠨᠳᠡᠰᠦᠲᠡᠨ᠎ᠶ᠋ᠢᠨ ᠥᠪᠡᠷᠲᠡᠭᠡᠨ ᠵᠠᠰᠠᠬᠤ ᠬᠤᠰᠵᠠᠭᠤ | Èwēnkèzú Zìzhìqí Evengki ündüsüten-ü öbertegen ǰasaqu qosiγu | 18,656.54 | 141,102 | Bayan Tohoi Town | 021100 | | 4 | 1 | 1 | 5 | | | 150725 | Chen Barag Banner ᠬᠠᠭᠤᠴᠢᠨ ᠪᠠᠷᠭᠤ ᠬᠣᠰᠢᠭᠤ | Chén Bā'ěrhǔ Qí Qaγučin barγu qosiγu | 17,457.63 | 50,556 | Bayan Hure Town | 021500 | | 3 | | | 4 | 1 | | 150726 | New Barag Left Banner ᠰᠢᠨ᠎ᠡ ᠪᠠᠷᠭᠤ ᠵᠡᠭᠦᠨ ᠬᠣᠰᠢᠭᠤ | Xīn Bā'ěrhǔ Zuǒ Qí Sin-e barγu ǰegün qosiγu | 20,107.18 | 37,007 | Amgulang Town | 021200 | | 2 | | | 5 | | | 150727 | New Barag Right Banner ᠰᠢᠨ᠎ᠡ ᠪᠠᠷᠭᠤ ᠪᠠᠷᠠᠭᠤᠨ ᠬᠣᠰᠢᠭᠤ | Xīn Bā'ěrhǔ Yòu Qí Sin-e barγu baraγun qosiγu | 24,839.47 | 38,358 | Altannemeg Town | 021300 | | 3 | | | 4 | | | 150781 | Manzhouli City ᠮᠠᠨᠵᠤᠤᠷ ᠬᠣᠲᠠ | Mǎnzhōulǐ Shì Manǰuur qota | 734.56 | 150,508 | Dongshan Subdistrict | 021400 | 5 | 1 | | | | | | 150782 | Yakeshi City ᠶᠠᠭᠰᠢ ᠬᠣᠲᠠ | Yákèshí Shì Yaγsi qota | 27,802.84 | 256,396 | Xingong Subdistrict | 022100 | 6 | 10 | | | | | | 150783 | Zhalantun City ᠵᠠᠯᠠᠨ ᠠᠵᠢᠯ ᠬᠣᠲᠠ | Zhālántún Shì J̌alan ayil qota | 16,784.63 | 318,933 | Xinghua Subdistrict | 162600 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 3 | | | | 150784 | Ergun City ᠡᠷᠭᠦᠨ᠎ᠡ ᠬᠣᠲᠠ | È'ěrgǔnà Shì Ergün-e qota | 28,958.01 | 68,482 | Labdalin Subdistrict | 022200 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | | | 150785 | Genhe City ᠭᠡᠭᠡᠨ ᠭᠣᠣᠯ ᠬᠣᠲᠠ | Gēnhé Shì Gegen γool qota | 20,010.33 | 71,437 | Hexi Subdistrict | 022300 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | | |

5. Economy

The industry includes livestock product processing, ethnic goods, coal, electricity, etc.

The development of Hulunbuir relies on tourism, forming a rapid growth trend. Large-scale coalfields and oil fields have been successively discovered within its territory, making it China's second Daqing. Tourism projects focusing on grasslands, forests, and ethnic customs have been actively promoted.

Agriculture is another major pillar of the region, with potatoes and spring wheat as the primary food crops. This has fostered a favorable trend of harmonious development among various ethnic groups.

6. Transportation

6.1. Railway

• Binzhou Railway
• Yalin Railway
• Yijia Railway

6.2. Aviation

• Hulunbuir Hailar Airport: Located only three kilometers from Hailar urban area, it is the civil airport closest to a city center in the country.
• Manzhouli Xijiao Airport
• Zhalantun Genghis Khan Airport
• Greater Khingan Range Oroqen Airport (belongs to the Greater Khingan Range region of Heilongjiang Province)
• Four civil commuter/general aviation airports: Genhe Airport, Moqi Nierji General Airport, New Barag Right Banner Baogede Airport, Arun Banner General Airport.

6.3. Highway

6.3.1. National Highways

• National Highway 111
• National Highway 301 (Suifenhe City - Manzhouli City)

6.3.2. Provincial Highways

• Provincial Highway 201
• Provincial Highway 202
• Provincial Highway 203 (Manzhouli City - Ulanhot City)
• Provincial Highway 301
• Provincial Highway 302

nix

7. Population

At the end of 2022, the city's permanent resident population was 2.1907 million, a decrease of 23,200 from the previous year. Among them, the urban population was 1.6392 million, and the rural population was 551,500. The urbanization rate of the permanent resident population was 74.82%, an increase of 0.06 percentage points from the previous year. The population aged 0-14 was 241,200, the population aged 15-64 was 1.6145 million, and the population aged 65 and above was 335,000. By year-end, the number of new urban jobs created was 12,153, the number of re-employed unemployed persons was 6,892, and the registered unemployment rate was 3.9%.

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population was 2,242,875. Compared with the 2,549,278 people from the Sixth National Population Census, the total decrease over the ten years was 306,403, a decline of 12.02%, with an average annual growth rate of -1.27%. Among them, the male population was 1,132,938, accounting for 50.51% of the total population; the female population was 1,109,937, accounting for 49.49% of the total population. The sex ratio of the total population (with females as 100) was 102.07. The population aged 0-14 was 261,899, accounting for 11.68% of the total population; the population aged 15-59 was 1,520,968, accounting for 67.81% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 460,008, accounting for 20.51% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 307,643, accounting for 13.72% of the total population. The population living in urban areas was 1,656,914, accounting for 73.87% of the total population; the population living in rural areas was 585,961, accounting for 26.13% of the total population.

7.1. Ethnic Groups

From the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods until the early Qing Dynasty, the Hulunbuir grasslands nurtured many of China's northern ethnic minorities. Ethnic groups such as the Donghu, Xiongnu, Xianbei, Shiwei, Turkic, Uyghur, Khitan, Jurchen, and Mongols all lived, herded, and migrated here. In the 1640s and 1730s, the Mongolian, Daur, and Oroqen ethnic groups migrated into the areas east and west of the Greater Khingan Range in the Hulunbuir League. This region began to have relatively stable settled ethnic groups.

The city has 31 ethnic groups. These ethnic groups are: Han, Mongolian, Daur, Evenki, Oroqen, Manchu, Hui, Korean, Xibe, Zhuang, Russian, Miao, Tibetan, Tujia, Kirgiz, Dong, Hezhen, Qiang, Yi, Gaoshan, Uyghur, Li, Kazakh, Naxi, Bai, Wa, Yao, She, Pumi, Bouyei, and Shui.

Among the permanent resident population, the Han population was 1,796,519, accounting for 80.1%; the Mongolian population was 237,454, accounting for 10.59%; and the populations of other ethnic minorities totaled 208,902, accounting for 9.31%. Compared with the 2010 Sixth National Population Census, the Han population decreased by 301,861, a decline of 14.39%, and its proportion of the total population decreased by 2.21 percentage points. The total population of ethnic minorities decreased by 4,516, a decline of 1%, but its proportion of the total population increased by 2.21 percentage points. Among them, the Mongolian population increased by 7,447, a growth of 3.24%, and its proportion of the total population increased by 1.56 percentage points; the Manchu population decreased by 5,515, a decline of 6.83%, but its proportion of the total population increased by 0.19 percentage points; the Daur population decreased by 6,862, a decline of 9.95%, but its proportion of the total population increased by 0.06 percentage points; the Evenki population increased by 466, a growth of 1.87%, and its proportion of the total population increased by 0.15 percentage points; the Russian population decreased by 241, a decline of 5.54%, but its proportion of the total population increased by 0.01 percentage points; the Oroqen population increased by 427, a growth of 13.57%, and its proportion of the total population increased by 0.04 percentage points.

Ethnic Composition of Hulunbuir City (November 2020)

| Ethnic Group | Han | Mongolian | Manchu | Daur | Hui | Evenki | Korean | Russian | Oroqen | Miao | Other Ethnic Groups | |--------------|-----------|-----------|--------|-----------|-------|-----------|--------|---------|------------|------|---------------------| | Population | 1,796,519 | 237,454 | 75,279 | 62,112 | 25,582| 25,363 | 5,947 | 4,113 | 3,574 | 1,694| 5,238 | | % of Total Population | 80.10 | 10.59 | 3.36 | 2.77 | 1.14 | 1.13 | 0.27 | 0.18 | 0.16 | 0.08 | 0.23 | | % of Minority Population | - | 53.20 | 16.87 | 13.92 | 5.73 | 5.68 | 1.33 | 0.92 | 0.80 | 0.38 | 1.17 |

nix

nix

nix

nix

nix

nix

Hulun Lake and Buir Lake

Hailar District

Hailar District

nix

Scots pine

Xing'an Rhododendron