Jixi (鸡西)

1. Introduction

Jixi City is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China, located in the southeastern part of Heilongjiang Province. The city borders Qitaihe City and Shuangyashan City to the north, Mudanjiang City to the west, and Primorsky Krai of Russia to the east and south. Situated at the southern end of the Sanjiang Plain, the terrain is gentle, with the Wandashan Mountains in the north and the remnants of the Laoyeling Mountains in the west. The Wusuli River and its tributary, the Songacha River, along the eastern edge of the city, form the Sino-Russian border river. The Muling River flows from west to east across the entire territory and empties into the Wusuli River. In the south lies the Sino-Russian border lake, Xingkai Lake. Jixi is an important coal base and graphite production site in China. The People's Government of Jixi City is located at No. 18 Hongqi Road, Jiguan District.

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2. History

2.1 Ancient Times

Jixi derives its name from being located west of Jiguan Mountain (Manchu: Jiguan Gashan). In ancient times, it was a hunting ground for tribes such as the Sushen, Jurchen, and Goguryeo. During the Tang Dynasty, it belonged to the Bohai Kingdom (present-day Ning'an County, Heilongjiang Province). During the Jin, Yuan, and Ming Dynasties, it was successively under the jurisdiction of the Huligai Circuit, Liaoyang Province, and the Nurgan Regional Military Commission. In the early Qing Dynasty, due to the Manchu entry into the Shanhai Pass and the fact that the Heilongjiang region was the birthplace of the Jurchen people, it was referred to by the Qing court as the "Land of Dragon Ascension," and a policy of closure and prohibition was implemented, leading to a sharp decline in the population of the Jixi area. In the tenth year of the Shunzhi reign (1653), the Qing government strengthened administrative management over the Heilongjiang River basin, reformed the guard-post system established during the Ming Dynasty, and placed the vast lands of the Ussuri River basin under the jurisdiction of the Ningguta Angbang Zhangjing. In the first year of the Kangxi reign (1662), the position was changed to Ningguta General, and in the twenty-second year of the Qianlong reign (1757), the administrative seat was moved from Ningguta to Jilin Ula, beginning the designation as Jilin General. The former Ningguta General was renamed Ningguta Deputy Commander-in-Chief. During this period, a large number of residents in the vast Ussuri River basin, including Jixi, engaged in land reclamation, ginseng gathering, and other industries, gradually turning the area into a base for grain and medicinal herbs.

2.2 Modern Era

In the twenty-first year of the Guangxu reign (1895), the Qing government lifted the policy of closure and prohibition, leading to a massive influx of immigrants into Northeast China. In the thirty-fourth year of the Guangxu reign (1908), the Qing government established Mishan Prefecture in present-day Mishan City, Heilongjiang Province, with the Jixi area falling under its jurisdiction. During this period, coal resources were successively discovered within Jixi. In September 1914, with approval from the former Jilin Provincial Department of Agriculture and Mining, merchant Yuan Dazhang from Fengtian established the Mixi Coal Mining Company in Harbin. The mining site was located at Xidapo, 150 Chinese miles northwest of Mishan, and in 1916, operations moved to the present-day Laoyijing mine in Hengshan. This marked the beginning of formal coal production in Jixi. In January 1924, the Department of Industry of the Jilin Provincial Government signed the "Sino-Russian Official-Commercial Joint Venture Contract for the Lishugou Xiao Jianchang Gou Coal Mine" with Russian merchant Xie Jiesi, establishing the Muling Coal Mining Company (based in Harbin) for the joint Sino-Russian management of the Muling Coal Mine (present-day Lishu District, Jixi City). By 1931, a total of 1.631 million tons of raw coal had been produced. In 1932, the Japanese International Transport Co., Ltd., primarily engaged in mining coal and timber in the Muling mining area, was established. In 1933, the Muling Coal Mine was changed to joint Japanese-Russian management, and the Jixi area also fell under Japanese colonial rule. In 1934, the Didao coalfield was discovered. In June 1935, the South Manchuria Railway Company ("Mantetsu") and the Manchuria Coal Mining Company ("Mantan") competed for the development rights to the Didao Coal Mine. The Manchukuo government ruled that the mine would be directly operated by Mantan. Shortly thereafter, Mantan established the Mishan Coal Mining Co., Ltd. in Didao Street (present-day Didao District, Jixi City). On December 15 of the same year, Sijia Mei Station (present-day Jixi Station) was completed and opened to traffic. Because it was located west of Jiguan Mountain, it was named "Jixi Station," giving rise to the name "Jixi." Japanese people flooded into the Jixi area. In the autumn of 1938, Mantan began constructing the Didao Coal Washery, which was completed and put into operation in August 1943, becoming the largest coal washery in Asia at the time.

On September 1, 1941, Dong'an Province established Jining County (meaning "peaceful") in present-day Jixi City as a province-administered county; the county magistrate was the Japanese Kubota Yutaka. During the Japanese occupation, the people of Jining County, especially the miners, put up fierce resistance. According to statistics, the Manchukuo regime created seven mass graves and five crematoriums in the Jixi mining area, killing over a hundred thousand miners. Furthermore, due to a lack of emphasis on safety, several particularly serious accidents occurred, each resulting in over a hundred deaths. On August 9, 1945, as Soviet troops approached the mining area, the then-director of the Didao Coal Mine, Tomikan Ichiro, ordered the destruction of the Hengshan, Didao, Chengzihe, Muling coal mines, and the Liumao Graphite Mine.

2.3 Contemporary Era

On August 12, 1945, the Soviet Far Eastern Army entered Jining County town. The Jixi area was liberated. On August 15, the Soviet military command stationed in Muling directed the mining area to resume production. In 1946, the Northeast Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party designated Jining, Mishan, and other areas as the strategic rear and base areas for the Liberation War. In June 1946, the Northeast Economic and Trade Commission established the Northeast Industrial and Mining Department to uniformly manage factories, mines, and forests across Northeast China, with its office located in Harbin. On October 18, 1947, the Jixi Office of the Northeast Industrial and Mining Department was established. On July 15, 1948, the Jixi Mining Administration was founded on the basis of this office, leading the various coal mines within Jixi and the Jixi Coal Mine General Machinery Plant. On July 30, 1949, the Northeast Administrative Committee approved the change of Jining County to Jixi County, under the jurisdiction of the then Songjiang Province. On June 19, 1954, Songjiang Province was dissolved, and Jixi County was placed under the administration of Heilongjiang Province. By 1956, the county's total population had grown to 234,154, an 83.3% increase from 1949; raw coal output reached 5 million tons. On December 18, 1956, the State Council decided to abolish Jixi County and establish Jixi City (prefecture-level), administering the five districts of Jiguan, Didao, Hengshan, Mashan, and Lishu. On March 7, 1957, Jixi City was officially established. In August 1958, it was downgraded to a county-level city, placed under the administration of the Mudanjiang Special District. In February 1966, it was restored to prefecture-level city status. In October 1970, Chengzihe District was established. In 1983, Jidong County was placed under the jurisdiction of Jixi City. The 1960s to 1980s were a period of rapid development for Jixi's coal industry, with coal production increasing significantly. By 1991, the raw coal output of the Jixi Mining Administration ranked second in the country, and it had assisted in constructing mines such as the Yimin River Coal Mine in Inner Mongolia. In 1992, Mishan City, which was previously administered by Mudanjiang City, was placed under the administration of Jixi City. In 1993, Hulin County was placed under the jurisdiction of Jixi City and was changed to Hulin City on October 11, 1996. By this point, Jixi City had formed its current administrative boundaries. In the late 1990s, due to economic system reforms, Jixi, as a major coal mining city, bore a heavy burden. Coupled with government-controlled coal prices being too low, Jixi's coal industry suffered substantial losses. There was a period of 68 consecutive months where miners' wages were in arrears, leading to a series of serious social problems, and coal production sharply declined for a time. Subsequently, with improvements in the coal industry's situation and enterprise restructuring, the city's coal production gradually recovered to an annual output level of 30 million tons, and the economy embarked on a positive track of rapid development.

3. Geography

3.1 Topography

Jixi City is located on the southern edge of the Sanjiang Plain. Most of its territory lies at the junction of the Laoyeling Range, the northern extension of the Changbai Mountains, and the Wandashan Mountains, characterized primarily by hilly terrain. The city's total land area is 22,351 square kilometers, consisting of 40% plains, 50% hills, with the remainder comprising water systems such as lakes and rivers. Within its borders lies the Sino-Russian border lake, Khanka Lake, covering an area of 4,380 square kilometers. Major rivers include the Muling River, the Ussuri River, and the Song'acha River, all belonging to the Heilongjiang River basin. The highest peak is Shending Peak, the main peak of the Wandashan mountain range, with an elevation of 831 meters. The forest coverage rate across the entire area is 29.7%.

3.2 Mineral Resources

• Coal: Total reserves of 8 billion tons, with an annual output exceeding 30 million tons.
• Graphite: Total reserves of 780 million tons, ranking first in Asia, with an annual output of 70,000 tons.
• Sillimanite: Reserves of 67 million tons, also ranking first in Asia, with an annual output of 3,000 tons.
• Marble: Geological reserves of 630 million tons, not yet exploited on a large scale.
• Gold: Reserves of approximately 5 tons, with an annual output of over 100 kilograms.
• Heavy Metals (Platinum & Palladium): Reserves of 3.29 tons and 5.66 tons, respectively.

3.3 Climate

Jixi has a temperate continental monsoon climate with four distinct seasons and pronounced monsoons. Winters are cold, long, and dry. However, due to its proximity to the Sea of Japan, which brings oceanic influence and moderation, summers are relatively cool. Precipitation is concentrated from May to September, while spring and autumn are short. The average January temperature is -16.4°C, the average July temperature is 21.9°C, and the annual average temperature is 3.6°C. The extreme minimum temperature is -34.7°C, and the extreme maximum temperature is 37.6°C. The average annual precipitation is 541.8 mm.

Jixi City Meteorological Data (1981–2010)

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | | :--- | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | | Avg. High (°C / °F) | -10.7 (12.7) | -5.7 (21.7) | 2.2 (36.0) | 13.0 (55.4) | 20.1 (68.2) | 24.8 (76.6) | 26.8 (80.2) | 26.0 (78.8) | 20.8 (69.4) | 12.4 (54.3) | 0.6 (33.1) | -8.5 (16.7) | 10.1 (50.3) | | Daily Mean (°C / °F) | -16.0 (3.2) | -11.5 (11.3) | -3.4 (25.9) | 6.8 (44.2) | 13.8 (56.8) | 19.0 (66.2) | 21.7 (71.1) | 20.8 (69.4) | 14.6 (58.3) | 6.3 (43.3) | -4.6 (23.7) | -13.3 (8.1) | 4.5 (40.1) | | Avg. Low (°C / °F) | -20.3 (-4.5) | -16.4 (2.5) | -8.6 (16.5) | 0.9 (33.6) | 7.7 (45.9) | 13.6 (56.5) | 17.2 (63.0) | 16.4 (61.5) | 9.1 (48.4) | 1.0 (33.8) | -9.0 (15.8) | -17.3 (0.9) | -0.5 (31.2) | | Avg. Precipitation (mm / in) | 6.5 (0.26) | 5.4 (0.21) | 11.3 (0.44) | 23.1 (0.91) | 55.0 (2.17) | 84.5 (3.33) | 131.6 (5.18) | 119.4 (4.70) | 52.8 (2.08) | 32.6 (1.28) | 11.1 (0.44) | 8.6 (0.34) | 541.9 (21.34) | | Avg. Rainy Days (≥0.1 mm) | 5.3 | 5.8 | 5.9 | 8.7 | 13.0 | 15.8 | 14.6 | 13.0 | 10.9 | 8.8 | 6.8 | 6.9 | 115.5 | | Avg. Relative Humidity (%) | 65 | 60 | 55 | 52 | 57 | 68 | 78 | 79 | 71 | 60 | 61 | 65 | 64 | | Mean Monthly Sunshine Hours | 180.9 | 198.4 | 244.1 | 232.4 | 254.3 | 238.7 | 236.0 | 227.3 | 221.4 | 206.9 | 173.0 | 151.0 | 2,564.4 | | Percent Possible Sunshine (%) | 64 | 68 | 66 | 58 | 56 | 51 | 50 | 52 | 59 | 61 | 61 | 56 | 58 |

4. Administrative Divisions

Jixi City currently administers 6 municipal districts, 1 county, and manages 2 county-level cities on behalf of the province.

• Municipal Districts: Jiguan District, Hengshan District, Didao District, Lishu District, Chengzihe District, Mashan District
• County-level Cities: Hulin City, Mishan City
• County: Jidong County

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (sq km) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | Of which: Ethnic Townships | | :---------------- | :---------------- | :----------------- | :--------------- | :------------------------------------ | :------------------ | :-------------- | :--------------- | :-------- | :------------ | :---------------------------- | | 230300 | Jixi City | Jīxī Shì | 22,494.48 | 1,502,060 | Jiguan District | 158100 | 29 | 25 | 23 | 4 | | 230302 | Jiguan District | Jīguān Qū | 147.60 | 402,345 | Hongjunlu Subdistrict | 158100 | 7 | | 2 | | | 230303 | Hengshan District | Héngshān Qū | 548.69 | 87,822 | Fendou Subdistrict | 158100 | 7 | | 2 | | | 230304 | Didao District | Dīdào Qū | 500.39 | 65,980 | Dongxing Subdistrict | 158100 | 4 | | 2 | | | 230305 | Lishu District | Líshù Qū | 408.90 | 39,833 | Jieli Subdistrict | 158100 | 5 | 1 | | | | 230306 | Chengzihe District | Chéngzǐhé Qū | 176.54 | 69,951 | Chengzihe Subdistrict | 158100 | 5 | | 2 | 1 | | 230307 | Mashan District | Máshān Qū | 416.72 | 17,301 | Mashan Subdistrict | 158100 | 1 | 1 | | | | 230321 | Jidong County | Jīdōng Xiàn | 3,233.36 | 211,855 | Jidong Town | 158200 | | 8 | 3 | 2 | | 230381 | Hulin City | Hǔlín Shì | 9,331.14 | 267,870 | Hulin Town | 158400 | | 7 | 4 | | | 230382 | Mishan City | Mìshān Shì | 7,731.14 | 339,103 | Mishan Town | 158300 | | 8 | 8 | |

5. Economy

According to preliminary calculations, Jixi City achieved a GDP of 41.95 billion yuan in 2010, representing a growth of 16.1%. Jixi's economy is primarily built around its abundant coal resources. The ratio of the coal-based economy to the non-coal economy once reached as high as 8:2 and currently stands at approximately 4:6. The industrial sector is dominated by coal chemical industry, steel, and machinery manufacturing. The former Jixi Coal Machinery Plant, once the largest coal machinery plant in Asia, has been restructured into Jixi Coal Mining Machinery Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of IMM International Coal Mining Machinery Group, and is currently the largest coal machinery manufacturer in China.

Like other resource-based cities, Jixi also faces challenges such as resource depletion and the need for urban transformation. The currently developed non-coal economy mainly focuses on environmental protection industries, agriculture, and tourism, which have achieved certain results. Additionally, leveraging its rich graphite reserves, the government is vigorously promoting large-scale mining and deep processing of graphite ore, achieving significant results. Currently, graphite production accounts for 38% of the national total.

• The composition of the city's three industries is 26.6:39.1:34.3.
• Total grain output reached 2.148 million tons, an increase of 6.4%.
• Industrial enterprises above designated size achieved an added value of 6.67 billion yuan, growing by 24.1%.
• Main business revenue of industrial enterprises above designated size reached 21.21 billion yuan, an increase of 6.6%.
• Fixed asset investment amounted to 11.18 billion yuan, a growth of 48.0%.
• Total retail sales of consumer goods reached 10.27 billion yuan, an increase of 19.2%.
• Full-caliber fiscal revenue achieved 4.25 billion yuan, growing by 23.1%.
• Total import and export volume for the year reached 499 million USD, an increase of 4.1%.

6. Transportation

6.1 Railway

Jixi is the junction of the Linmi Railway (Linkou-Mishan) and the Chengji Railway (Xiachengzi-Jixi). Although it is a key transportation hub, there has been limited investment in railway infrastructure since the founding of the People's Republic of China, with much of the infrastructure dating back to the Manchukuo era. Post-liberation development has primarily focused on freight transport. For passenger services, due to a lack of passenger train maintenance capabilities, the operation of high-grade trains relies on Mudanjiang. Jixi Railway Station is a first-class station handling both passenger and freight traffic. It is the largest national railway passenger station and marshalling yard in the Jixi region, handling 80% of the passenger traffic east of Mudanjiang. It serves over 2.5 million passengers annually and transports nearly 10 million tons of freight. Currently, Jixi Station operates originating passenger trains to destinations within the province such as Mudanjiang, Dongfanghong, and Hulin. Jixi is also famous for preserving China's last steam locomotives in its coal mines, gaining some recognition among railway enthusiasts in countries like Japan and Germany. It often attracts tourists from various places for visits and photography. On December 6, 2021, with the full opening of the Mudanjiang-Jiamusi High-Speed Railway, Jixi ended its history of not having high-speed rail, which is also beneficial for enhancing its external connectivity.

6.2 Highway

Jixi is the junction of the G11 Hegang-Dalian Expressway, the S11 Jiansanjiang-Jixi Expressway, and the Fanghu Highway (Fangzheng-Hulin). Long-distance coaches are available to cities including Beijing, Dalian, Shenyang, Qingdao, Harbin, Changchun, Jilin, Yanji, Ussuriysk in Russia, as well as provincial destinations like Mudanjiang, Jiamusi, and Qitaihe. In recent years, highway construction efforts have intensified. In 2010, the total highway mileage constructed in Jixi City reached 1,772 kilometers, with a total investment of 3.53 billion RMB. National Highways 201 and 331 pass through the area.

6.3 Aviation

Jixi Xingkaihu Airport is a domestic regional airport located in Hada Town, Jidong County, Jixi City, 22 kilometers from Jixi Railway Station. It is the easternmost regional airport in China. The flight area meets the 4C standard. The runway is 2,300 meters long and 48 meters wide, with an apron area of 16,500 square meters. Currently, it operates flights to routes including Jixi-Harbin, Jixi-Qingdao-Shanghai, Jixi-Beijing, Jixi-Dalian, and Jixi-Shenyang-Sanya.

7. Education

7.1 Higher Education Institutions

• Heilongjiang University of Technology
• Jixi Campus of Heilongjiang University of Science and Technology

7.2 Vocational Education

• Heilongjiang Technician College
• Jixi Vocational Education Center

7.3 Provincial Key High Schools

• Jixi No.1 High School, Heilongjiang Province
• Jixi Experimental High School (formerly Jixi Mining Group No.1 High School)
• Jixi No.4 High School

8. Population

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population was 1,502,060. Compared with the 1,862,165 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was a total decrease of 360,105 people over the ten years, a decline of 19.34%, with an average annual growth rate of -2.13%. Among them, the male population was 757,067, accounting for 50.4% of the total population; the female population was 744,993, accounting for 49.6% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 101.62. The population aged 0–14 was 137,811, accounting for 9.17% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 985,463, accounting for 65.61% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 378,786, accounting for 25.22% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 260,011, accounting for 17.31% of the total population. The urban population was 1,091,691, accounting for 72.68% of the total population; the rural population was 410,369, accounting for 27.32% of the total population.

8.1 Ethnic Groups

Among them, the Han ethnic group accounts for nearly 95%. Among the ethnic minorities, the Korean ethnic group constitutes the majority, with small numbers of Manchu, Mongolian, Hui, Xibe, and Hezhen ethnic groups, among others.

Among the city's permanent resident population, the Han ethnic population was 1,451,562, accounting for 96.64%; the total ethnic minority population was 50,498, accounting for 3.36%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han ethnic population decreased by 347,321, a decline of 19.31%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.04 percentage points; the total ethnic minority population decreased by 12,784, a decline of 20.2%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.04 percentage points. Among them, the Korean ethnic population decreased by 6,467, a decline of 17.68%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.04 percentage points; the Manchu ethnic population decreased by 5,093, a decline of 25.77%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.08 percentage points.

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9. Sister Cities

9.1 Domestic Sister Cities

• Shiyan City, Hubei Province
• Zhaoqing City, Guangdong Province
• Xiamen City, Fujian Province
• Changsha City, Hunan Province
• Anshan City, Liaoning Province

9.2 International Sister Cities

• Samcheok City, South Korea (May 21, 2008)
• Novosibirsk Region, Russia (July 4, 2014)

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Jiguan District

Jiguan District

Han Chinese account for 96.64% of the population; ethnic minorities account for 3.36%.

Xingkai Lake Pine

Azalea