Daxinganling Prefecture (大兴安岭)

1. Introduction

The Daxing'anling Prefecture is a prefecture under the jurisdiction of Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China, located in the northwestern part of Heilongjiang Province, spanning across the two provinces of Heilongjiang and Inner Mongolia. The prefecture borders Heihe City to the southeast, connects with Hulunbuir City of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to the south and west, and faces Russia across the river to the north and east. Situated in the northern section of the Daxing'an Mountains, the area is mostly mountainous and hilly, with an extremely high forest coverage rate. The southwest is dominated by the Zhijichang Mountains, the south by the Yilehuli Mountains, and the northwest by the Emur Mountains. The Heilongjiang River winds along the northern and eastern borders, serving as the boundary river between China and Russia. Tributaries such as the Emur River and Huma River of the Heilongjiang River, as well as the Gan River of the Nenjiang River, flow through the region. The total area of the prefecture is 82,929 square kilometers. Daxing'anling Prefecture is the northernmost prefecture-level administrative region in China, often referred to as the "Arctic of China," and is also an important state-owned forest region in the country. The administrative office of the prefecture is located at No. 1 Jingguan Avenue, Jiagedaqi District.

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2. History

In October 1951, Lingnan was placed under the leadership of the newly established Oroqen Autonomous Banner in the Hulunbuir League.

On February 10, 1964, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council approved and forwarded the "Report on the Development of the Greater Khingan Range Forest Region" by the Ministry of Forestry and the Railway Corps (Zhongfa [64] No. 92). It was decided to establish the Greater Khingan Range Forest Region Campaign Headquarters, adopting the experience of the Daqing Oilfield campaign by the Ministry of Petroleum Industry, to concentrate efforts on a decisive battle in the forest regions of the northern and eastern slopes of the Greater Khingan Range. Luo Yuchuan, Vice Minister and Party Group Secretary of the Ministry of Forestry, served as the Political Commissar and Party Committee Secretary of the Campaign Headquarters. Guo Weicheng, Deputy Commander of the Railway Corps, served as the Commander (in September 1964, Guo Weicheng was transferred to the Southwest Third Front, and He Huiyan, Chief of Staff of the Railway Corps, took over as Commander of the Greater Khingan Range Campaign Headquarters). Zhang Shijun, Director of the Northeast Forestry Administration of the Ministry of Forestry, served as Deputy Commander, and Shen Honglin served as Deputy Commander and Head of the Engineering Department. The Campaign Headquarters was directly led by the Ministry of Forestry while also accepting leadership from the Heilongjiang Provincial Party Committee and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Party Committee. A system integrating military and local administration was implemented, with joint office operations. Parts of the administrative regions of the Oroqen Autonomous Banner and the Morin Dawa Daur Autonomous Banner in the Hulunbuir League of Inner Mongolia, the entire Huma County of the Heihe Prefecture in Heilongjiang Province, and part of the administrative region of Nenjiang County were designated as part of the campaign area. In early June 1964, the Ministry of Forestry selected and transferred forestry cadres who arrived successively. In early July 1964, the 3rd, 6th, and 9th Divisions of the Railway Corps entered the site for construction successively. On July 5, 1964, the Greater Khingan Range Forest Region Campaign Headquarters was officially established. The first phase of the project, spanning over 400 kilometers, opened to traffic in 1967, and the second phase opened to traffic in 1972.

On August 10, 1964, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council approved and forwarded the "Report on the Establishment of the Greater Khingan Range Special Administrative Region Government" by the Party Group of the Ministry of Forestry (Zhongfa [64] No. 478). They approved the proposal by the Party Group of the Ministry of Forestry to establish the Greater Khingan Range Special Administrative Region People's Committee (at the prefecture level) within the campaign area. Its jurisdiction was limited to the campaign area, including the entire territory of Huma County in Heilongjiang Province and part of the Oroqen Autonomous Banner in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The original population within the area was 25,000. It was under the leadership of the Campaign Headquarters of the Ministry of Forestry and the Railway Corps, with local administrative work led by the Heilongjiang Provincial People's Government. The Special Administrative Region Government was equivalent to a provincial-level municipal government, under the dual leadership of the Campaign Headquarters and the People's Committee of the respective province (region). Specific operations were led by relevant departments of the Heilongjiang Provincial People's Committee. The Special Administrative Region Government had three chief and deputy district heads, with subordinate offices including the General Office, Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Bureau, Culture, Education and Health Office, Finance and Trade Office, Civil Affairs Department, Public Security Department, and Intermediate Court. The total staffing was approximately 70 people. Nine forestry companies (forestry bureaus) established district governments, and forest farms established township (town) governments, implementing a system integrating government and enterprise administration—one team with two nameplates.

On January 18, 1965, the Production Department of the Greater Khingan Range Campaign Headquarters was reorganized into the Heilongjiang Greater Khingan Range Forestry Administration directly under the Ministry of Forestry, implementing a management system integrating government and enterprise administration with the Greater Khingan Range Special Administrative Region People's Committee. On March 25, 1965, with the approval of the Central Military Commission, the Engineering Department of the Campaign Headquarters was abolished, and the Railway Corps Greater Khingan Range Forest Region Command Post was established in Jiagedaqi. 1965 was the year when the forest region campaign fully expanded. The Dalabin Farm, a non-staple food production base for the Ministry of Forestry's Greater Khingan Range campaign, was established in Dayangshu, focusing on major battles for railway and highway construction.

On April 20, 1966, the State Council issued the "Reply on the Administrative Region Boundary Issues of the Greater Khingan Range Special Administrative Region" ([66] Guoneizi No. 115), agreeing to the administrative boundaries negotiated by the Ministry of Forestry, Heilongjiang Province, and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region People's Committee between the Greater Khingan Range Special Administrative Region and the Oroqen Autonomous Banner of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Huma County of Heilongjiang Province. Under the principle of unchanged original land ownership, within the territory of the Oroqen Autonomous Banner, the boundary starts from the estuary of the Guli River, passes through the watershed of the Guli River and the Duobukur River, the Da'ergen River, the source of the Ouken River, the watershed of Baihuapo, the Talietu River, and the Xiao Kuile River, to Laodaokou; then from the estuary of the Guli River, passes through the watershed of the Duobukur River and the Ali River, to the ridge of the Yilehuli Mountains. Within the territory of Huma County, where the Nenmo Highway is more than 20 kilometers from the Heilongjiang River coast, the Nenmo Highway serves as the boundary; where it is less than 20 kilometers, the boundary is set 20 kilometers from the Heilongjiang River bank, to facilitate Huma County's management of border defense work.

In March 1970, the Railway Corps Greater Khingan Range Forest Region Command Post was renamed the Railway Corps Northeast Command Post. On April 1, 1970, the Heilongjiang Provincial Revolutionary Committee issued the "Notice on Adjusting Some Administrative Divisions" (Long Gefa [1970] No. 78), renaming the Greater Khingan Range Special Administrative Region to the Greater Khingan Range Prefecture. Huma County, originally part of the Heihe Prefecture, and the Oroqen Autonomous Banner and Morin Dawa Banner, originally part of the Hulunbuir League, were placed under the jurisdiction of the Greater Khingan Range Prefecture.

On May 30, 1979, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council issued the "Notice on Restoring the Original Administrative Divisions of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region" (Zhongfa [1979] No. 42), instructing that "to benefit forestry production development, in accordance with the spirit of the State Council Document No. 115 of April 1966, the Jiagedaqi and Songling districts of the Oroqen Autonomous Banner shall remain under the leadership of Heilongjiang Province, with original land ownership unchanged, and tax revenue belonging to the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The Greater Khingan Range Forestry Administration and the Yakeshi Forestry Administration shall be changed to enterprises directly under the Ministry of Forestry. Factories, farms, and non-staple food production bases already established to ensure production and life in the forest region shall continue to be managed by the forest region." On January 29, 1980, the State Council Office issued the "Notice on the Ownership of Jiagedaqi and Songling Districts in the Greater Khingan Range Prefecture" ([1980] Shizi No. 4), reiterating that "the ownership issue of Jiagedaqi and Songling districts in the Greater Khingan Range Prefecture shall temporarily be implemented according to the provisions of Central Committee Document [1979] No. 42."

On May 14, 1981, the State Council's "Reply on the Establishment of Tahe County and Mohe County in Heilongjiang Province" ([81] Guohanzi No. 49) agreed to establish Tahe County from the three communes of Kaikukang, Yixiken, and Shibazhan in the central part of the original Huma County and the Tahe District; and to establish Mohe County from the two northern communes of Mohe and Xing'an of the original Huma County and the three districts of Amuer, Tuqiang, and Gulian, with the county seat located in Xilinji.

On February 24, 2018, with the approval of the State Council, Mohe County was abolished, and the county-level Mohe City was established. The Mohe Municipal People's Government is located in Xilinji Town.

3. Geography

3.1 Location

The Greater Khingan Range region is located on the northeastern slope of the Greater Khingan Mountains, in the northernmost part of the People's Republic of China, specifically in the northwestern part of Heilongjiang Province and the northeastern part of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. It lies between 50°11' to 53°33' north latitude and 121°12' to 127°00' east longitude.

To the north, the Greater Khingan Range region faces Russia's Zabaykalsky Krai and Amur Oblast across the Heilongjiang River. To the east, it borders Nenjiang County of Heihe City in Heilongjiang Province. To the west, it is bounded by the Oroqen Autonomous Banner and the Left Banner of Ergun in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

3.2 Rivers

There are over 500 rivers of various sizes within the Greater Khingan Range region. With the Yilehuli Mountains as the watershed, rivers to the north belong to the Heilongjiang River system. Major rivers include the Heilongjiang River, Emur River, Pangu River, Huma River, and Xilgenqi River. Rivers to the south belong to the Nenjiang River system. Major rivers include the Nenjiang River, Naduli River, Duobukur River, Ouken River, and Gan River.

3.3 Climate

The Greater Khingan Range region has an average annual temperature of -2.6°C. It experiences a cold temperate semi-humid monsoon climate. January is the coldest month, with an average temperature of only -22.2°C; July is the hottest month, with an average temperature of 19.4°C. The extreme minimum temperature is -52.3°C, and the extreme maximum temperature is 39.7°C. The average annual precipitation ranges from 428.6 mm to 526.8 mm. The frost-free period lasts 80–110 days per year, while the ice-bound period lasts 180–200 days. | Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |-----------------|-----------|-----------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|-----------|-----------|------------|------------| | Record high °C | -1.0 | 6.3 | 19.2 | 27.8 | 35.2 | 39.7 | 37.2 | 36.1 | 31.0 | 25.3 | 13.1 | 0.5 | 39.7 | | Record high °F | 30.2 | 43.5 | 66.6 | 82.0 | 95.4 | 103.5 | 99.0 | 97.0 | 87.8 | 77.5 | 55.6 | 32.9 | 103.5 | | Average high °C | -14.6 | -8.6 | -0.4 | 10.3 | 18.9 | 24.5 | 25.7 | 23.9 | 17.9 | 8.2 | -5.3 | -14.2 | 7.2 | | Average high °F | 5.7 | 16.5 | 31.3 | 50.5 | 66.0 | 76.1 | 78.3 | 75.0 | 64.2 | 46.8 | 22.5 | 6.4 | 44.9 | | Daily mean °C | -22.2 | -17.8 | -8.5 | 3.0 | 11.2 | 17.0 | 19.4 | 17.2 | 10.0 | 0.9 | -12.4 | -21.0 | -0.3 | | Daily mean °F | -8.0 | 0.0 | 16.7 | 37.4 | 52.2 | 62.6 | 66.9 | 63.0 | 50.0 | 33.6 | 9.7 | -5.8 | 31.5 | | Average low °C | -28.4 | -25.2 | -16.1 | -4.1 | 2.8 | 9.6 | 13.9 | 11.8 | 3.9 | -5.1 | -18.2 | -26.8 | -6.8 | | Average low °F | -19.1 | -13.4 | 3.0 | 24.6 | 37.0 | 49.3 | 57.0 | 53.2 | 39.0 | 22.8 | -0.8 | -16.2 | 19.7 | | Record low °C | -45.6 | -43.1 | -42.8 | -32.3 | -19.8 | -9.0 | -5.6 | 0.7 | -8.7 | -24.7 | -37.5 | -43.7 | -43.7 | | Record low °F | -50.1 | -45.6 | -45.0 | -26.1 | -3.6 | 15.8 | 21.9 | 33.3 | 16.3 | -12.5 | -35.5 | -46.7 | -46.7 | | Average precipitation mm | 5.1 | 2.8 | 7.0 | 21.9 | 35.4 | 92.0 | 163.9 | 122.0 | 54.6 | 21.3 | 9.6 | 7.5 | 543.1 | | Average precipitation inches | 0.20 | 0.11 | 0.28 | 0.86 | 1.39 | 3.62 | 6.45 | 4.80 | 2.15 | 0.84 | 0.38 | 0.30 | 21.38 | | Average Relative Humidity (%) | 71 | 67 | 58 | 52 | 50 | 69 | 80 | 80 | 72 | 62 | 69 | 73 | 67 |

4. Administrative Divisions

The Greater Khingan Range region administers 1 county-level city, 2 counties, and 4 county-level administrative districts.

• County-level City: Mohe City
• Counties: Huma County, Tahe County
• Administrative Districts: Within Heilongjiang Province: Xinlin District, Huzhong District Within Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region: Jiagedaqi District, Songling District

| Division Code | Division Name | Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | Ethnic Townships | |-------------------|-------------------------|------------------------|----------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------|---------------|----------------------| | 232700 | Greater Khingan Range Region | Dàxīng'ānlǐng Dìqū | 82,928.80 | 331,276 | Jiagedaqi District | 165000 | 4 | 29 | 10 | 2 | | 232701 | Mohe City | Mòhé Shì | 18,427.69 | 54,036 | Xilinji Town | 165300 | | 6 | | | | 232721 | Huma County | Hūmǎ Xiàn | 14,204.66 | 36,362 | Huma Town | 165100 | 2 | 6 | 1 | | | 232722 | Tahe County | Tǎhé Xiàn | 14,061.82 | 51,056 | Tahe Town | 165200 | 5 | 2 | 1 | | | 232761 | Jiagedaqi District | Jiāgédáqí Qū | 1,358.58 | 137,105 | Hongqi Subdistrict | 165000 | 4 | 2 | 2 | | | 232762 | Songling District | Sōnglǐng Qū | 16,801.78 | 15,996 | Xiaoyangqi Town | 165000 | 3 | | | | | 232763 | Xinlin District | Xīnlín Qū | 8,702.71 | 20,362 | Xinlin Town | 165000 | 7 | | | | | 232764 | Huzhong District | Hūzhōng Qū | 9,371.55 | 16,359 | Huzhong Town | 165000 | 4 | | | |

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5. Transportation

5.1 Railway

Fuxi Railway and Yijia Railway

5.2 Civil Aviation

The civil aviation industry in the Greater Khingan Range region developed relatively late. There are currently two civil aviation airports within the jurisdiction: the Mohe Gulian Airport, which was completed and opened in 2008, and the Jiagedaqi Gaxian Airport, which began operations in 2012.

6. Education

6.1 Higher Education

There is one institution of higher education within the jurisdiction: the Daxing'anling Vocational and Technical College (specialized college).

6.2 Secondary Education

The existing senior high schools in Daxing'anling include: Daxing'anling Experimental Middle School (East Campus), Daxing'anling Experimental Middle School (West Campus), Tahe County No.2 Middle School, Mohe County No.1 Middle School, Huma County Senior High School, Huzhong District No.2 Middle School, Xinlin District No.1 Middle School, etc.

7. Population

By the end of 2022, the total population of the entire region was 388,327. The number of births was 809, with a birth rate of 2.06‰; the number of deaths was 3,567, with a mortality rate of 9.08‰; the natural population growth rate was -7.02‰.

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the permanent resident population of the region was 331,276. Compared with the 511,560 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was a decrease of 180,284 people over the ten-year period, a decline of 35.24%, with an average annual growth rate of -4.25%. Among them, the male population was 166,895, accounting for 50.38% of the total population; the female population was 164,381, accounting for 49.62% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 101.53. The population aged 0–14 was 26,494, accounting for 8% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 227,390, accounting for 68.64% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 77,392, accounting for 23.36% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 54,276, accounting for 16.38% of the total population. The urban population was 309,983, accounting for 93.57% of the total population; the rural population was 21,293, accounting for 6.43% of the total population.

7.1. Ethnic Groups

Among the permanent resident population of the region, the Han ethnic population was 320,046, accounting for 96.61%; the population of various ethnic minorities was 11,230, accounting for 3.39%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han ethnic population decreased by 175,052, a decline of 35.36%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.17 percentage points; the population of various ethnic minorities decreased by 5,232, a decline of 31.78%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.17 percentage points. Among them, the Manchu population decreased by 2,087, a decline of 34.81%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.01 percentage points; the Mongolian population decreased by 1,564, a decline of 34.82%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.01 percentage points; the Hui population decreased by 799, a decline of 41.27%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.04 percentage points; the Korean population increased by 41, a growth of 4.12%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.12 percentage points; the Daur population decreased by 473, a decline of 33.59%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.01 percentage points; the Oroqen population decreased by 271, a decline of 24.68%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.04 percentage points; the Evenki population decreased by 67, a decline of 22.56%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.01 percentage points.

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8. Culture

8.1 National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units

• Moergen to Mohe Ancient Post Road and Relay Stations

8.3 Nature Reserves

National Level | Name | Total Area (m²) | Protected Object | Current Level Approval Date | |--------------------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------| | Heilongjiang Chuona River National Nature Reserve | 105,580 | Wetland Ecosystem | January 21, 2012 | | Heilongjiang Huzhong National Nature Reserve | 167,213 | Forest Ecosystem | May 9, 1988 | | Heilongjiang Nanweng River National Nature Reserve | 229,523 | Wetland Ecosystem | June 6, 2003 | | Heilongjiang Shuanghe National Nature Reserve | 88,849 | Wetland Ecosystem | January 14, 2008 | | Heilongjiang Duobukur National Nature Reserve | 128,959 | Wetland Ecosystem | January 21, 2012 | | Heilongjiang Arctic Village National Nature Reserve | 137,553 | Forest Ecosystem | May 2, 2016 |

Provincial Level | Name | Total Area (m²) | Protected Object | Current Level Approval Date | |--------------------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------| | Heilongjiang Lingfeng Provincial Nature Reserve | 68,373 | Cold-temperate Coniferous Forest | January 25, 2006 | | Heilongjiang Mohe Dusi Blueberry Provincial Nature Reserve | 27,829 | Wild Plants | November 19, 2013 | | Heilongjiang Panzhong Provincial Nature Reserve | 55,074 | Forest Ecosystem | January 25, 2006 | | Heilongjiang Huyuan Chui Willow Nature Reserve | 34,954 | Wild Plants (Red-hair Willow)| March 30, 2016 | | Heilongjiang Changqing Provincial Nature Reserve | 82,741 | Forest Ecosystem | December 7, 2015 | | Heilongjiang Pangu River Provincial Nature Reserve | 40,783 | Wetland Ecosystem | February 14, 2014 | | Heilongjiang Huma River Provincial Nature Reserve | 52,050 | Cold-water Fish | January 3, 1982 |

8.4 National Forest Parks

• Forests of the Greater Khingan Range
• Jiagedaqi National Forest Park
• Arctic Village National Forest Park
• Huzhong National Forest Park

8.5 Tourist Attractions

• Arctic Village Tourist Attraction in Mohe County, Greater Khingan Range Region (National 5A-level)

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Jiagedaqi District

Jiagedaqi District

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