Heihe (黑河)

1. Introduction

Heihe City, formerly known as Aihui, is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China. It is located in the northwest of Heilongjiang Province, with its urban area facing Blagoveshchensk (Hailanpao), the capital of Russia's Amur Oblast, across the Heilongjiang River (Amur River). The city borders Qiqihar City and Suihua City to the south, Yichun City to the southeast, the Greater Khingan Mountains region to the north, Hulunbuir City of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to the west, and Russia's Amur Oblast to the east. Situated in the northern section of the Lesser Khingan Mountains, it encompasses vast forested areas, with the southwestern part belonging to the Songnen Plain. The Heilongjiang River on its northeastern edge serves as the Sino-Russian border river, with tributaries within the city including the Xun River, Zhan River, and Kurbin River. The Nen River on its northwestern edge forms the boundary between Heilongjiang Province and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, with tributaries such as the Wodu River, Menlu River, Keluo River, and Nemor River. Heihe City is an important border trade center in northern China. The People's Government of Heihe City is located at No. 2 Tongjiang Road, Aihui District.

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2. History

2.1 History of the Prefecture-Level City Jurisdiction

In 1858, the Qing Dynasty and the Russian Empire signed the Treaty of Aigun. Amid the southward advance of Russian influence, on December 13, 1683 (the 22nd year of the Kangxi reign), the Heilongjiang General's Office was established in the old Aigun city on the left bank of the Heilongjiang River. In 1685 (the 24th year of Kangxi), a new Aigun city was built on the right bank of the Heilongjiang River. In 1690 (the 29th year of Kangxi), a new Aigun city was established in Mergen (present-day Nenjiang County), governing the entire area of what is now Heihe City. In 1909 (the first year of the Xuantong reign), the Aigun Military Defense Circuit was established, and in the same year, the Aigun Directly Administered Subprefecture and Heihe Prefecture were set up.

2.2 Settlement History

Heihe City originally consisted of the large and small Heihe settlements (Jiangnan Hailanpao, Kekelieyi) in the northern part of Aigun. After Russia occupied Hailanpao on the north bank of the Heilongjiang River, Heihe settlement gradually developed into the important trading town of Heihe Town. In 1900, after Tsarist Russia burned down the new Aigun city, Heihe Town replaced Aigun as the local center. In 1909, Heihe Prefecture was established.

After the establishment of the Republic of China, the area was governed by the Heihe Circuit. In 1913, the Aigun Directly Administered Subprefecture was changed to Aigun County. Following the establishment of Manchukuo, Heihe Province was established on December 1, 1934. After the fall of Manchukuo, on November 19, 1945, the Heihe area came under the jurisdiction of Nenjiang Province. On December 14, it was transferred to Heilongjiang Province. On September 7, 1946, the Heihe Special District was established. In 1947, Heihe and Nenjiang provinces merged under the jurisdiction of Heinen Province. On February 7, 1947, it was renamed the Fifth Special District of Heihe. With the dissolution of Heinen Province, it returned to the jurisdiction of the Heihe Special District on September 17. In 1956, it was renamed Aihui County. In April 1967, it became the Heihe Regional Revolutionary Committee. On February 8, 1979, it was placed under the administration of the Heihe Regional Administrative Office. In 1980, Heihe City was established by separating from Aihui County. In 1983, Aihui County was merged into Heihe City. On February 8, 1993, the Heihe Region was changed to the prefecture-level Heihe City, and the former county-level Heihe City was reorganized into the Aihui District.

3. Geography

3.1 Natural Resources

• Minerals include gold, silver, copper, tin, lead, zinc, uranium (mainly located in the Nenjiang region, with no commercial extraction value), chromium, magnetite, pyrite, ilmenite, galena, limestone, fluorite, medical stone, asbestos, mica, marble, barite, quartz sand, pottery clay, oil shale, etc.

Major gold deposits include the Dong'an Rock Gold Mine in Xunke County, the Handaqi Gold Mine in Aihui District, the Wudaogou Gold Mine in Aihui District, the Mu'erqi Gold Mine, the Hutonghe Gold Mine, the Sandao Wanzi Gold Mine in Aihui District (among which the Shangmachang Gold Mine is still under exploration).

• Wildlife includes foxes, lynxes, otters, wild boars, roe deer, moose, red deer, bears, etc.
• Medicinal Plants include astragalus, Siberian ginseng, lily, atractylodes, white peony, bupleurum, codonopsis, etc.
• Local Specialties include bracken fern, daylily, mushrooms, hedgehog fungus, wood ear fungus, hazelnuts, blueberries, etc.

3.2 Climate

Meteorological Data for Maihui District, Heihe City (Average data from 1981 to 2010, Extreme data from 1971 to 2010)

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |-----------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|----------|----------|----------|----------| | Record High (°C / °F) | -0.4 (31.3) | 7.1 (44.8) | 20.4 (68.7) | 28.3 (82.9) | 35.1 (95.2) | 39.3 (102.7) | 37.2 (99.0) | 35.1 (95.2) | 31.1 (88.0) | 28.2 (82.8) | 12.5 (54.5) | 1.1 (34.0) | 39.3 (102.7) | | Average High (°C / °F) | -16.3 (2.7) | -10.3 (13.5) | -1.2 (29.8) | 10.4 (50.7) | 19.0 (66.2) | 24.9 (76.8) | 26.5 (79.7) | 24.3 (75.7) | 18.3 (64.9) | 8.4 (47.1) | -5.5 (22.1) | -15.3 (4.5) | 6.9 (44.5) | | Daily Mean (°C / °F) | -22.0 (-7.6) | -17.2 (1.0) | -7.7 (18.1) | 4.2 (39.6) | 12.4 (54.3) | 18.7 (65.7) | 21.1 (70.0) | 18.8 (65.8) | 11.9 (53.4) | 2.4 (36.3) | -11.0 (12.2) | -20.5 (-4.9) | 0.9 (33.7) | | Average Low (°C / °F) | -26.5 (-15.7) | -22.7 (-8.9) | -13.8 (7.2) | -2.0 (28.4) | 5.5 (41.9) | 12.4 (54.3) | 16.0 (60.8) | 13.9 (57.0) | 6.4 (43.5) | -2.7 (27.1) | -15.6 (3.9) | -24.7 (-12.5) | -4.5 (23.9) | | Record Low (°C / °F) | -44.5 (-48.1) | -40.9 (-41.6) | -32.8 (-27.0) | -19.1 (-2.4) | -8.4 (16.9) | 1.7 (35.1) | 7.9 (46.2) | 4.0 (39.2) | -5.3 (22.5) | -19.1 (-2.4) | -32.8 (-27.0) | -38.9 (-38.0) | -44.5 (-48.1) | | Average Precipitation (mm / inches) | 4.1 (0.16) | 3.0 (0.12) | 5.7 (0.22) | 25.2 (0.99) | 41.1 (1.62) | 86.0 (3.39) | 131.0 (5.16) | 121.4 (4.78) | 65.4 (2.57) | 23.5 (0.93) | 9.1 (0.36) | 6.3 (0.25) | 521.8 (20.55) | | Average Precipitation Days (≥0.1 mm) | 7.1 | 4.3 | 4.8 | 8.0 | 10.4 | 13.4 | 14.0 | 13.8 | 11.8 | 6.8 | 6.9 | 8.7 | 130.0 | | Average Snowfall Days | 11 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 12 | 60 | | Average Relative Humidity (%) | 68 | 63 | 56 | 53 | 53 | 67 | 77 | 79 | 71 | 60 | 65 | 69 | 65 | | Mean Monthly Sunshine Hours | 139.5 | 194.9 | 226.3 | 222.0 | 251.1 | 255.0 | 226.3 | 226.3 | 168.0 | 189.1 | 156.0 | 124.0 | 2,378.5 |

4. Administrative Divisions

Heihe City currently administers 1 district, 2 counties, and has jurisdiction over 3 county-level cities.

• District: Aihui District
• County-level cities: Bei'an City, Wudalianchi City, Nenjiang City
• Counties: Xunke County, Sunwu County

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | Of which: Ethnic Townships | |-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|----------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------|---------------|-------------------------------| | 231100 | Heihe City | Hēihé Shì | 66,861.93 | 1,286,401 | Aihui District | 164300 | 11 | 29 | 36 | 7 | | 231102 | Aihui District| Àihuī Qū | 14,372.54 | 223,832 | Xing'an Subdistrict | 164300 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 3 | | 231123 | Xunke County | Xùnkè Xiàn | 17,026.70 | 82,134 | Qike Town | 164400 | | 3 | 6 | 2 | | 231124 | Sunwu County | Sūnwú Xiàn | 4,313.26 | 73,387 | Sunwu Town | 164200 | | 2 | 9 | 1 | | 231181 | Bei'an City | Běi'ān Shì | 7,192.99 | 308,237 | Tiexi Subdistrict | 164000 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 1 | | 231182 | Wudalianchi City | Wǔdàliánchí Shì | 8,745.01 | 243,283 | Qingshan Subdistrict| 164100 | 1 | 7 | 4 | | | 231183 | Nenjiang City | Nènjiāng Shì | 15,211.43 | 355,528 | Nenjiang Town | 161400 | | 9 | 5 | |

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5. Transportation

5.1 Aviation

• Heihe Aihui Airport

5.2 Railway

• Binbei Railway
• Qibei Railway
• Beihei Railway
• Fuxi Railway

5.3 Highway

• Expressways
  • G1211 Jihei Expressway
  • G1213 Beimo Expressway
  • S12 Beifu Expressway
  • G1117 Suibei Expressway
  • G4512 Shuangnen Expressway
• National Highways
  • National Highway 202 has its 0 km starting point here.
  • National Highway 331 passes through.
  • National Highway 332 passes through.
  • National Highway 603 is entirely located within Heihe City.
  • National Highway 604 has its 0 km starting point here.
• Provincial Highways
  • Provincial Highway 211 has its 0 km starting point here.
  • Provincial Highway 215 has its 0 km starting point here.
  • Provincial Highway 302 is entirely located within Heihe City.
  • Provincial Highway 303 has its 0 km starting point here.
  • Provincial Highway 508 is entirely located within Heihe City.
  • Provincial Highway 204 passes through.
  • Provincial Highway 516 is entirely located within Heihe City.
  • Provincial Highway 602 is entirely located within Heihe City.
  • Provincial Highway 608 is entirely located within Heihe City.
  • Provincial Highway 612 is entirely located within Heihe City. Cross-border Transportation

6. Education

• Heihe Museum
• Heihe University
• Heihe Vocational School (Secondary Specialized School)
• Heihe Agricultural Vocational High School (Senior High School)
• Heihe No. 1 High School (Senior High School)
• Heihe No. 2 Middle School (Junior High School)
• Heihe No. 5 Middle School (Senior & Junior High School)
• Heihe No. 1 Primary School
• Heihe No. 2 Primary School
• Heihe No. 3 Primary School
• Heihe No. 4 Primary School
• Heihe No. 5 Primary School
• Heihe No. 6 Primary School
• Heihe No. 3 Middle School

7. Population

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's resident population was 1,286,401. Compared with the 1,673,899 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was a decrease of 387,498 people over the ten-year period, a decline of 23.15%, with an average annual growth rate of -2.6%. Among them, the male population was 645,376, accounting for 50.17% of the total population; the female population was 641,025, accounting for 49.83% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 100.68. The population aged 0–14 was 133,236, accounting for 10.36% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 856,543, accounting for 66.58% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 296,622, accounting for 23.06% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 201,070, accounting for 15.63% of the total population. The urban population was 838,921, accounting for 65.21% of the total population; the rural population was 447,480, accounting for 34.79% of the total population.

7.1 Ethnic Groups

In addition to the Han ethnic group, there are 37 ethnic minorities, among which the Orogen, Russian, and Ewenki ethnic groups are more prominent.

Among the city's resident population, the Han ethnic population was 1,247,187, accounting for 96.95%; the total ethnic minority population was 39,214, accounting for 3.05%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han population decreased by 377,140, a decline of 23.22%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.09 percentage points; the total ethnic minority population decreased by 10,358, a decline of 20.89%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.09 percentage points. Among them, the Manchu population decreased by 5,937, a decline of 23.51%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.01 percentage points; the Daur population decreased by 1,272, a decline of 18.21%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.03 percentage points; the Mongolian population decreased by 781, a decline of 15.46%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.03 percentage points; the Hui population decreased by 1,768, a decline of 33.19%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.04 percentage points; the Korean population decreased by 169, a decline of 5.23%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.04 percentage points; the Orogen population decreased by 451, a decline of 23.81%, with its proportion of the total population remaining unchanged; the Ewenki population decreased by 74, a decline of 9.54%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.01 percentage points.

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Aihui District

Nenjiang City

Han Chinese account for 96.95% of the population; ethnic minorities make up 3.05%.
Apart from the Han Chinese, there are 37 ethnic minority groups, among which the Oroqen, Russian, and Evenki ethnic groups are particularly notable.

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