Suihua (绥化)

1. Introduction

Suihua City, formerly known as Beituanlinzi, is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China, located in the central part of Heilongjiang Province. The city borders Yichun City to the east, Harbin City to the south, Daqing City to the west, and is adjacent to Qiqihar City and Heihe City to the north. Situated in the eastern part of the Songnen Plain and the western foothills of the Lesser Khingan Mountains, the terrain is higher in the northeast and lower in the southwest. The eastern part is a hilly forest area of the Lesser Khingan Mountains, while the western part is a river valley plain area. The Songhua River flows along the southwestern edge, and its tributary, the Hulan River, runs through the city, receiving tributaries such as the Yijimi River, Nuomin River, and Tongken River within the territory. Suihua is a traditional major agricultural city and an important national commodity grain production area, abundant in rice, corn, soybeans, dairy products, and more. The Municipal People's Government is located at No. 2 Yingbin Road, Beilin District.

2. Origin of the Name

Suihua was originally named Beituanlinzi. On the 14th day of the 10th lunar month in the 11th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (November 20, 1885), the Administrative Judge Office was established, known as the Suihua Directly Administered Subprefecture, with its seat at Beituanlinzi, marking the beginning of Suihua's establishment as an administrative region.

At that time, there were three circular groves in the north-south area of Beituanlinzi, demarcated by the Ni River. The grove on the south bank of the Ni River was called Nantuanlinzi, the one on the north bank was called Yaotuanlinzi, and the northernmost one was called Beituanlinzi. When Suihua was established as an administrative region, Beituanlinzi was renamed Suihua. According to historical records of Suihua's written language, "Sui" means peace, well-being, or pacification, as seen in the line "May fortune and prosperity bring peace" from the "Odes of the Kingdom" in the Classic of Poetry, and the phrase "pacify all states" from the "Hymn of Zhou." It is often used as a term to wish for peace and well-being. "Hua" means "change," referring to transformation, creation, or enlightenment. Thus, Suihua carries the profound meaning of pacifying and enlightening, fostering development, and symbolizing auspiciousness and peace.

3. History

Suihua has a long history, dating back to approximately 10,000 years ago during the Paleolithic Age, when ancient humans thrived and lived within its territory. During the Xia and Shang dynasties, the area was part of the Sushen territory. "Sushen was a major eastern state since the times of Yu and Xia." From the era of Yu Shun through the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, Sushen maintained close relations with the various ethnic groups of the Central Plains. From the Western Zhou to the Western Han periods, counties and cities such as Qing'an, Suileng, Hailun, Wangkui, and Lanxi remained part of Sushen territory; the western areas including Mingshui, Qinggang, Anda, and the southwestern Zhaodong were part of the Yemaek territory. During the Eastern Han to the Jin dynasties, the region belonged to the Buyeo territory. Buyeo, which long inhabited Northeast China, was a descendant of the Yemaek. In the Jin dynasty, most counties and cities were under the Koumanhan region of Buyeo, and its agricultural economy, culture, and customs were deeply influenced by the Central Plains. During this period, the Buyeo territory remained subordinate to the Central Plains dynasties. In the Northern and Southern Dynasties period, the area was part of the Mohe territory. The Mohe established tributary relations with the Southern Dynasties and the Northern Wei dynasty.

During the Sui and Tang dynasties, the region was part of the Mohe territory, and in the Tang dynasty, it was divided under the jurisdiction of the Tang Bohai Commandery and the Heishui Commandery. In the Song, Liao, and Jin periods, it successively came under the rule of the Liao state established by the Khitan and the Jin state established by the Jurchens. During the Yuan dynasty, it was governed by the Kaiyuan Circuit, and agriculture saw significant development during this time. In the Ming dynasty, the area was under the jurisdiction of the Nurgan Regional Military Commission, primarily inhabited by Jurchens, Han Chinese, Mongols, Koreans, and other ethnic minorities. During the Qing dynasty, it was governed by the General of Heilongjiang. At the beginning of the Qing dynasty, the three northeastern provinces were regarded as the "Land of the Dragon's Rise," and a policy of closure was implemented, treating the forests and lands of the three northeastern provinces as imperial hunting grounds, strictly prohibiting development and cultivation. In the tenth year of the Xianfeng reign (1860), with the approval of General Te Puqin of Heilongjiang, civilian wasteland began to be opened for settlement. In the eleventh year of the Guangxu reign (1885), the Suihua Administrative Office was established, and in the thirty-first year of the Guangxu reign (1905), it was upgraded to a prefecture. In the thirty-third year of the Guangxu reign (1907), the Governor-General of the Three Northeastern Provinces was established, overseeing Fengtian, Jilin, and Heilongjiang provinces, with the entire Suihua area coming under the jurisdiction of Heilongjiang Province.

In the early years of the Republic of China, the three northeastern provinces implemented a three-tier administrative system of province, circuit, and county. In the second year of the Republic (1913), Suihua was changed from a prefecture to a county, with most counties in Suihua belonging to the Suilan Circuit. In the eighteenth year of the Republic (1929), the Northeast Political Affairs Committee was established, abolishing the circuit system, and counties were directly administered by the province. Hailun and Suihua were first-class counties, while Zhaodong, Lanxi, Qinggang, Anda, Wangkui, and Qingcheng were second-class counties, and Suileng and Mingshui were third-class counties. During the Manchukuo period, Suihua was placed under the jurisdiction of the then Binjiang Province. There were several changes afterward, but the vast majority of counties and cities in Suihua remained under Binjiang Province. During the Second Chinese Civil War, counties such as Qingcheng (Qing'an), Suileng, Hailun, Wangkui, Suihua, Mingshui, Qinggang, Lanxi, Anda, and Zhaodong were under the jurisdiction of the then Heilongjiang Province and Nenjiang Province. On the eve of 1949, all ten counties and cities in Suihua were placed under the jurisdiction of Heilongjiang Province.

After 1949, Suihua was divided between Heilongjiang Province and Songjiang Province. After 1954, it belonged to the merged Heilongjiang Province. On March 5, 1956, with the approval of the State Council, the Suihua Special District was established, administering 13 counties: Suihua, Bei'an, Hailun, Dedu, Tieli, Suileng, Qing'an, Hulan, Bayan, Lanxi, Wangkui, Tonghe, and Mulan, with the administrative office located in Suihua County. Qinggang, Anda, and Mingshui were placed under the Nenjiang Special District, while Zhaodong was directly administered by the province. In August 1958, the State Council decided to abolish the Suihua Special District and establish the Songhuajiang Special District, with the administrative office located in Harbin City, administering one city and 13 counties: Yichun City, Suihua, Bayan, Shuangcheng, Wuchang, Zhaozhou, Zhaoyuan, Mulan, Tonghe, Wangkui, Lanxi, Suileng, Hailun, and Qing'an County. In December 1963, Yichun City was separated from the Songhuajiang Special District. In June 1965, the State Council decided to re-establish the Songhuajiang Special District, with the original Songhuajiang Special District renamed as the Suihua Special District, with the administrative office located in Suihua County, administering 13 counties: Zhaodong, Zhaozhou, Zhaoyuan, Anda, Suihua, Hailun, Wangkui, Lanxi, Mingshui, Qinggang, Qing'an, Suileng, and Tieli. In March 1967, the Suihua Regional Revolutionary Committee was established, and in February 1979, it was abolished, and the Suihua Regional Administrative Office was set up, administering 12 counties: Suihua, Zhaodong, Anda, Hailun, Zhaozhou, Mingshui, Wangkui, Qing'an, Suileng, Lanxi, Zhaoyuan, and Qinggang. With the approval of the State Council, in December 1982, Suihua County was abolished and the county-level Suihua City was established; in November 1984, Anda County was abolished and the county-level Anda City was established; in September 1986, Zhaodong County was abolished and the county-level Zhaodong City was established; in December 1989, Hailun County was abolished and the county-level Hailun City was established. In December 1992, Zhaozhou and Zhaoyuan counties were transferred to Daqing City. In December 1999, with the approval of the State Council, the Suihua Region was abolished, and the prefecture-level Suihua City was established, with the original county-level Suihua City changed to Beilin District. On June 14, 2000, the Suihua Municipal Party Committee, Municipal People's Congress, Municipal Government, Municipal People's Political Consultative Conference, and Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection held a ceremony to mark the transition from a region to a city. The city currently administers 1 district, 3 cities, and 6 counties, with 70 towns, 90 townships, and 6 sub-district offices.

4. Geography

Suihua is situated at the border of the Songnen Plain, within the Hulan River basin, on the western foothills of the Lesser Khingan Range. The city lies between 124°53′−128°35′ east longitude and 45°10′−48°05′51" north latitude. It borders Yichun City to the east, Harbin City to the south, Daqing City to the west, and Qiqihar City and Heihe City to the north.

4.1 River Systems

Suihua City has two major river systems: the Songhua River system and the Hulan River system. The Songhua River flows through the southern part of the city, passing through Zhaodong City. The main stream of the Hulan River enters the city's territory southeast of Chaidefu Village in Fazhan Township, Qing'an County, and flows into Hulan County south of Lüjiadian in Lanhe Township, Lanxi County. Within Suihua City, the Hulan River stretches for 345 kilometers, with a basin area of 27,600 square kilometers. There are a total of 36 primary, secondary, and tertiary tributaries within Suihua's jurisdiction, each with a length exceeding 15 kilometers and a basin area greater than 50 square kilometers. The combined length of these rivers is 2,933 kilometers. Major tributaries include the Anbang River, Lalin Qinghe River, Gemuke River, Ni River, Yijimi River, Ougen River, Niergen River, Nuomin River, and Tongken River.

4.2 Climate

Suihua experiences a mid-temperate continental monsoon climate, characterized by long, dry winters; windy and drought-prone springs; warm, rainy summers; and cool autumns. The average temperature in January is −20.9°C, and in July it is 22.3°C. The annual average temperature is 2.78°C, with precipitation around 550 mm. The frost-free period lasts about 130 days, and annual sunshine hours total approximately 2,700.

Meteorological Data for Suihua City (1971–2000)

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |-----------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|----------|----------|----------|----------| | Record High (°C / °F) | 1.2 (34.2) | 8.0 (46.4) | 19.9 (67.8) | 29.5 (85.1) | 34.5 (94.1) | 38.3 (100.9) | 36.2 (97.2) | 35.5 (95.9) | 30.0 (86.0) | 24.8 (76.6) | 15.0 (59.0) | 4.3 (39.7) | 38.3 (100.9) | | Average High (°C / °F) | -14.8 (5.4) | -9.2 (15.4) | 1.0 (33.8) | 12.6 (54.7) | 20.6 (69.1) | 25.5 (77.9) | 27.3 (81.1) | 25.5 (77.9) | 19.8 (67.6) | 10.4 (50.7) | -1.7 (28.9) | -11.8 (10.8) | 8.8 (47.8) | | Daily Mean (°C / °F) | -20.9 (-5.6) | -15.9 (3.4) | -5.0 (23.0) | 5.8 (42.4) | 13.8 (56.8) | 19.7 (67.5) | 22.3 (72.1) | 20.3 (68.5) | 13.6 (56.5) | 4.4 (39.9) | -7.3 (18.9) | -17.4 (0.7) | 2.8 (37.0) | | Average Low (°C / °F) | -26.6 (-15.9) | -22.3 (-8.1) | -11.5 (11.3) | -0.8 (30.6) | 6.9 (44.4) | 14.1 (57.4) | 17.7 (63.9) | 15.5 (59.9) | 7.9 (46.2) | -1.0 (30.2) | -12.3 (9.9) | -22.5 (-8.5) | -2.9 (26.8) | | Record Low (°C / °F) | -41.8 (-43.2) | -38.0 (-36.4) | -29.7 (-21.5) | -14.7 (5.5) | -8.8 (16.2) | 3.2 (37.8) | 9.6 (49.3) | 5.0 (41.0) | -5.7 (21.7) | -17.7 (0.1) | -30.6 (-23.1) | -38.6 (-37.5) | -41.8 (-43.2) | | Average Precipitation (mm / inches) | 3.0 (0.12) | 3.8 (0.15) | 8.1 (0.32) | 19.6 (0.77) | 41.6 (1.64) | 94.5 (3.72) | 163.5 (6.44) | 116.2 (4.57) | 63.3 (2.49) | 24.1 (0.95) | 8.0 (0.31) | 5.3 (0.21) | 551.0 (21.69) | | Avg. Precipitation Days (≥0.1mm) | 5.5 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 7.1 | 9.8 | 13.9 | 14.0 | 13.3 | 10.4 | 7.0 | 6.3 | 6.8 | 103.7 |

5. Administrative Divisions

Suihua City currently administers 1 district, 6 counties, and oversees 3 county-level cities on behalf of the province.

• District: Beilin District
• County-level cities: Anda City, Zhaodong City, Hailun City
• Counties: Wangkui County, Lanxi County, Qinggang County, Qing'an County, Mingshui County, Suileng County

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | of which: Ethnic Townships | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 231200 | Suihua City | Suíhuà Shì | 34,873.12 | 3,756,167 | Beilin District | 152000 | 12 | 104 | 56 | 4 | | 231202 | Beilin District | Běilín Qū | 2,753.60 | 698,025 | Dayou Subdistrict | 152000 | 12 | 15 | 5 | 2 | | 231221 | Wangkui County | Wàngkuí Xiàn | 2,316.43 | 286,848 | Wangkui Town | 152100 | | 10 | 5 | 2 | | 231222 | Lanxi County | Lánxī Xiàn | 2,483.97 | 308,684 | Lanxi Town | 151500 | | 8 | 7 | | | 231223 | Qinggang County | Qīnggāng Xiàn | 2,680.16 | 287,557 | Qinggang Town | 151600 | | 12 | 3 | | | 231224 | Qing'an County | Qìng'ān Xiàn | 5,466.71 | 260,592 | Qing'an Town | 152400 | | 8 | 6 | | | 231225 | Mingshui County | Míngshuǐ Xiàn | 2,297.02 | 198,271 | Mingshui Town | 151700 | | 6 | 6 | | | 231226 | Suileng County | Suīléng Xiàn | 4,311.09 | 211,907 | Suileng Town | 152200 | | 6 | 5 | | | 231281 | Anda City | Āndá Shì | 3,598.75 | 357,535 | Anda Town | 151400 | | 13 | 1 | | | 231282 | Zhaodong City | Zhàodōng Shì | 4,323.12 | 666,532 | Zhaodong Town | 151100 | | 12 | 9 | | | 231283 | Hailun City | Hǎilún Shì | 4,642.27 | 480,216 | Hailun Town | 152300 | | 14 | 9 | |

6. Economy

6.1 Industry

Suihua City is an emerging industrial city. Its main industrial economic entities were primarily formed during the Eighth and Ninth Five-Year Plan periods. It has now established a relatively complete industrial system supported by six pillar industries: food, chemical, pharmaceutical, building materials, machinery, and textiles. During the transition from a planned economy to a market economy, especially since entering the Ninth Five-Year Plan period, Suihua's industry, after a long period of incubation and development, has accumulated a certain foundation. By tapping into potential, leveraging comparative advantages, and seeking projects, partners, and capital in the market, the city has successively established a number of large and new enterprises in sectors such as food, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals that have market prospects and competitiveness. This has maintained a steady development trend and gradually expanded the overall industrial scale. By the end of 2001, the number of enterprises under the full statistical scope in the city had grown to over 15,000, with a total industrial output value reaching 22.95 billion yuan and an annual average number of employees exceeding 210,000. The number of industrial enterprises above a designated size reached 198, with total assets amounting to 14.2 billion yuan and an output value of 6.29 billion yuan. In recent years, the industrial development of Zhaodong, Anda, and Qing'an has been relatively rapid, with their respective economic outputs accounting for 36.1%, 14.0%, and 11.3% of the city's total industrial output. In terms of industrial development, the city has adhered to promoting adjustment through development and through incremental growth, closely focusing on resources and the market. It has prioritized the cultivation and development of a number of new industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, grain-based chemicals, textiles, building materials, and electromechanical products. Through competitive mechanisms, industrial concentration has been gradually increased, forming an advantageous industrial structure dominated by the food industry and supported by the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. Currently, 71% of the city's industrial output value, value-added, and profits and taxes come from these three major industries. During the restructuring, transformation, and construction efforts of the Eighth and Ninth Five-Year Plan periods, emphasis was placed on strengthening a number of key enterprises vital to the city and counties. Currently, there are over 70 enterprises with annual profits and taxes exceeding one million yuan, and 15 enterprises with profits and taxes exceeding ten million yuan. The city now boasts a number of large enterprises such as Zhaodong Huarun Jinyu Company, Hailun Sugar Industry Group Company, and Anda Hongxing Dairy Group Company. By intensifying product development and market promotion efforts, a group of famous and high-quality brands with strong market competitiveness have been established. The city has developed 46 varieties of green food across 14 series. A number of green brands, such as Qiheyuan rice, Hongxing liquid milk, Lüzhou fresh-keeping milk, Qingquan brand liquor, and Songbei King soybeans, have gained recognition in the market. Yupai edible alcohol, Juyuan brand waterproof coiled material, and San A brand steel plate silos have already captured a significant share of the national market.

6.2 Agriculture

The city has a cultivated land area of 1,444,054 hectares, accounting for 15.7% of the total cultivated land area in the province. The cultivated land in the city is fertile, flat, and contiguous, with approximately 80% consisting of highly fertile soils such as black soil, chernozem, and meadow soil, suitable for growing various grain and cash crops. Major grain, bean, and tuber crops include corn, soybeans, rice, wheat, sorghum, millet, and potatoes. Major cash crops include sugar beets, flax, flue-cured tobacco, medicinal herbs, melons, and vegetables.

6.3 Animal Husbandry

The city has 7.736 million mu of grassland, mainly distributed in the Songnen Plain. The Songnen Plain grassland is one of China's three major natural grasslands, known for its excellent grass quality, contiguous pastures, and abundant high-quality Leymus chinensis (sheep grass), which is palatable and enjoys a high reputation both domestically and internationally.

6.4 Forestry and Mineral Resources

The city has a forest area of 638,000 hectares, with a timber stock volume of 39.97 million cubic meters and a forest coverage rate of 18.7%. Precious tree species include Korean pine, fir, Mongolian pine, spruce, Manchurian ash, Manchurian walnut, Amur cork tree, as well as linden, birch, elm, and poplar.

The eastern part of Suihua City consists of hilly forest land at the foothills of the Lesser Khingan Mountains, while the western part is vast grassland, rich in wild flora, fauna, and mineral resources. Major grass species include Deyeuxia angustifolia, Calamagrostis epigeios, reed, Carex meyeriana, cattail, and Scirpus triqueter. Wild medicinal herbs include Acanthopanax senticosus, Schisandra chinensis, Corydalis yanhusuo, Gentiana scabra, Xanthium sibiricum, Euphorbia fischeriana, dandelion, Saposhnikovia divaricata, mugwort, wolfberry, plantain seeds, and motherwort. Wild edible plants include daylily, bracken, dandelion, Sonchus arvensis, and Allium macrostemon. Fungal plants include black fungus, mushrooms, and Hericium erinaceus. Wild animals include bear, wild boar, wolf, sika deer, sable, mink, roe deer, Mongolian gazelle, fox, squirrel, hedgehog, and hare. Major mineral resources include sand and gravel, marble, pottery clay, petroleum, natural gas, and iron.

7. Transportation, Communications, and Power Supply

7.1 Transportation

Suihua is a vital transportation hub within the province and a regional central city north of Harbin, located 91 kilometers from the provincial capital. Its well-developed transportation network includes two expressways—G1111 Hegang-Harbin and S13 Suihua-Beian—two national highways (Ha-Yi and Ha-Hei), and six high-grade roads. Two major railways, Harbin-Jiamusi and Harbin-Beian, intersect within the city. Suihua Railway Station is a Class I marshalling station handling both passenger and freight services. The city boasts a passenger transport center and a freight hub with advanced domestic standards, making it one of the province's six major passenger and freight transfer centers.

• National Highway 222 passes through the area.

7.2 Communications

The Suihua Telecommunications Bureau and Mobile Communications Bureau serve as one of the province's eight central telecom network hubs. The city is equipped with comprehensive facilities for local telephony, fax, telegraph circuits, domestic and international long-distance calls, and mobile communications, enabling direct telephone connections with 770 domestic regions and 182 countries and territories worldwide.

7.3 Power Supply

The power supply is sourced from the State Grid, with a transmission voltage of 220 kV. As a primary substation, it provides ample electricity to the urban area and over ten surrounding cities and counties.

8. Education

• Suihua University

9. Population

At the end of 2022, the city's registered population was 5.084 million, including 1.239 million urban registered residents and 3.845 million rural registered residents. The city's permanent resident population was 3.630 million.

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population was 3,756,167. Compared with the 5,418,153 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was a decrease of 1,661,986 people over the ten years, a decline of 30.67%, with an average annual growth rate of -3.6%. Among them, the male population was 1,891,784, accounting for 50.36% of the total population; the female population was 1,864,383, accounting for 49.64% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 101.47. The population aged 0–14 was 402,398, accounting for 10.71% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 2,463,730, accounting for 65.59% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 890,039, accounting for 23.7% of the total population, of which those aged 65 and above numbered 589,286, accounting for 15.69% of the total population. The urban population was 1,639,864, accounting for 43.66% of the total population; the rural population was 2,116,303, accounting for 56.34% of the total population.

Suihua is one of the regions in China with the highest population decline rate over the past decade and faces severe aging. According to China's decennial census data, from 2010 to 2020, Suihua's permanent resident population decreased by 30.67%, and the proportion of the population aged 65 and above increased from 7.23% to 23.70%.

9. Ethnic Groups

Among the city's permanent resident population, the Han ethnic group numbered 3,679,555, accounting for 97.96%; the Manchu ethnic group numbered 56,376, accounting for 1.5%; the Korean ethnic group numbered 11,230, accounting for 0.3%; and other ethnic minorities numbered 9,006, accounting for 0.24%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han population decreased by 1,625,256, a decline of 30.64%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.05 percentage points. The total population of ethnic minorities decreased by 36,730, a decline of 32.41%, with their proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.05 percentage points. Among them, the Manchu population decreased by 37,462, a decline of 39.92%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.23 percentage points; the Korean population increased by 527, a growth of 4.92%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.1 percentage points.

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Beilin District

Beilin District

The Han population accounts for 97.96%; the Manchu population accounts for 1.5%

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