Qiqihar (齐齐哈尔)

1. Introduction

Qiqihar City, abbreviated as Qi, also known as Crane City, Bokui, and Longsha, is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China. It is a major city with local legislative power approved by the State Council and the second-largest city in Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China. The city borders Daqing City to the south, Suihua City to the southeast, Heihe City to the northeast, Hulunbuir City and Xing'an League of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to the west, and Baicheng City of Jilin Province to the southwest. Located in the western part of the Songnen Plain, the Nen River runs through the entire territory from north to south, with rivers such as the Nuomin River, Yalu River, Handahan River, Wuyuer River, Yin River, and Alun River flowing through. The Municipal People's Government is located in Jianhua District. Qiqihar is a national historical and cultural city with over 800 years of city-building history and 255 years as the provincial capital of Heilongjiang. It is also an important heavy industry base in China.

2. Origin of the Name

In 916 AD, the Khitan established the Liao Dynasty and set up "Jiqin Hari" near the Jiqin River. In the ancient Khitan language, "Hari" means "to block or defend," which can be interpreted militarily as "sentry post" or "outpost." "Qiqihar" is the homophonic adaptation of "Jiqin Hari." Some Jurchen-language documents from the Jin Dynasty refer to it as "Pangge," while Mongolian records from the Yuan Dynasty call it "Bieqie'er." During the Qing Dynasty, it was known by various homophonic adaptations in the Daur language, such as "Qiqigare," "Xiqihake," "Qichahali," or "Xizhagari," as well as the Manchu term "Zhechengala," which evolved into "Qiqihar" (Manchu: ᠴᡳᠴᡳᡤᠠᡵ, transliteration: cicigar). All these names carry connotations of "frontier" or "border," and some also refer to it as a natural pasture.

3. History

According to archaeological survey data, human activities were already present in the Qiqihar area during the late Paleolithic period, approximately 20,000 to 30,000 years ago. The city of Qiqihar was founded in 1125 AD. From 1699 (the 38th year of the Kangxi reign in the Qing Dynasty) to 1954, it served as the provincial capital of Heilongjiang Province. Renowned as a crucial hub "commanding the crossroads of four directions and serving as the metropolis of numerous cities," Qiqihar is a historically rich and culturally diverse frontier town in the northern borderlands.

3.1 Before the Qing Dynasty

The initial construction of Qiqihar as a city began in the early Jin Dynasty. At that time, the Shiwei tribe inhabited the Qiqihar region. In the second month of the third year of the Tianhui era (1125 AD), Emperor Taizong of Jin granted the Pangge City to the Wugu and Dilie tribes. Both The History of the Historical Territories in Northeast China and A Brief History of Ancient Heilongjiang record that Pangge City is present-day Qiqihar. The ancient city site of Qiqihar is located at the present-day Hala Ancient City site in the Meilisi District.

In the early years of the Qing Dynasty, the Qiqihar region was under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Household Department of Shengjing (Mukden) but was soon transferred to the Ningguta General.

In 1665, the Qing court established the Bukui Courier Station here.

In 1674 (the 13th year of the Kangxi reign), to resist the invasion of Tsarist Russia, the Qing government relocated the Jilin naval forces to present-day Qiqiha Tun in Qiqihar.

In 1683 (the 22nd year of the Kangxi reign), Qiqihar was designated as a naval base system, subordinate to the Heilongjiang General's Office. The following year, a firearms battalion was also established.

In 1691 (the 30th year of the Kangxi reign), to further strengthen defenses, Qiqihar City was built, known as the New Qiqihar City.

In 1699 (the 38th year of the Kangxi reign), the Heilongjiang General's Office was moved here from Mergen City. From then on, Qiqihar became the political, economic, military, and cultural center of Heilongjiang for nearly 300 years, "commanding the crossroads of four directions and serving as the metropolis of numerous cities."

In 1905 (the 31st year of the Guangxu reign), the Heishui Subprefecture was established.

In 1907 (the 33rd year of the Guangxu reign), the Heishui Subprefecture was upgraded to Longjiang Prefecture, with a prefect appointed. In the same year, the position of Heilongjiang General was abolished, and Heilongjiang Province was established, with Qiqihar as its provincial capital.

3.2 Modern Period

During the mainland period of the Republic of China (1911–1949), Qiqihar continued to serve as the provincial capital of Heilongjiang Province.

In 1924, the Heilongjiang Provincial Urban Administration Office was established to manage the affairs of Qiqihar City.

In 1929, the Heilongjiang Provincial Urban Administration Office was renamed the Heilongjiang Provincial City and Commercial Port Municipal Bureau, responsible for municipal affairs within the provincial capital Qiqihar and the commercial port area, subordinate to the Heilongjiang Provincial Government.

On November 4, 1931, the Japanese army attacked the Nenjiang River Bridge. Ma Zhanshan, the acting chairman of Heilongjiang Province, commanded the Chinese defenders in resistance. With the arrival of Japanese reinforcements, Ma Zhanshan was forced to retreat. On November 19, the Japanese army occupied Qiqihar. After the establishment of Manchukuo, Longjiang Province was established, with Qiqihar as its capital.

In 1936, the Qiqihar City Public Office was established, subordinate to the Longjiang Provincial Public Office. This marked the beginning of Qiqihar's status as a city, officially elevated to Qiqihar City.

From 1945 to 1949, Qiqihar served as the capital of Nenjiang Province and Heinen Province. After liberation, Qiqihar became the capital of the new Nenjiang Province. During the Chinese Civil War, Lin Biao ordered Xu Yingnian to lead troops to occupy Qiqihar. Xu Yingnian later served as the Secretary of the Qiqihar Prefectural Committee.

3.3 People's Republic of China Period

From 1949 to 1954, Qiqihar was the provincial capital of Heilongjiang Province.

In 1954, the provincial capital of Heilongjiang was moved to Harbin, and Qiqihar became a city directly under the provincial administration.

In 1958, Qiqihar was placed under the jurisdiction of the Nenjiang Special District Commissioner's Office.

In 1960, the State Council abolished the Nenjiang Special District. The counties under the Nenjiang Special District were placed under the leadership of Qiqihar City, initiating the system of cities administering counties. Qiqihar City once again became a city directly under the provincial administration.

In 1961, the State Council restored the Nenjiang Regional Commissioner's Office. Qiqihar City and its subordinate counties were placed under the jurisdiction of the Nenjiang Region.

In 1964, Qiqihar City was again designated as a city directly under the provincial administration.

In 1967, the Qiqihar City Revolutionary Committee was established, replacing the Qiqihar City People's Committee.

In 1980, the Qiqihar City Revolutionary Committee was renamed the Qiqihar Municipal People's Government.

In 1983, it was approved by the State Council as a larger city with independent legislative power.

In 1985, the "merger of prefecture and city" was implemented. The Nenjiang Regional Administrative Office merged with Qiqihar City, reinstating the system of cities administering counties. Qiqihar City remained a city directly under the provincial administration.

4. Geography

4.1 Location

Qiqihar City is located in the Songnen Plain of Northeast China, at longitude 122° to 126° E and latitude 45° to 48° N, in the middle reaches of the Nen River, which flows through the entire city. It borders Suihua City and Daqing City to the east, Baicheng City of Jilin Province to the south, Hulunbuir City of Inner Mongolia to the west, and Heihe City to the north. The name "Qiqihar" comes from the Daur language, meaning "frontier" or "natural pasture."

4.2 Area

The terrain of Qiqihar City is generally flat, with a total land area of 42,289 square kilometers. The elevation typically ranges between 200 and 500 meters, with an average altitude of 146 meters. The eastern and southern parts of the city are low-lying.

4.3 Soil

The main soil types in Qiqihar City include dark brown soil (including soddy dark brown soil and meadow dark brown soil), black soil, chernozem (including leached chernozem, meadow chernozem, carbonate meadow chernozem, chernozem, and carbonate chernozem), meadow soil (including meadow soil, carbonate meadow soil, gleyed meadow soil, salinized meadow soil, and stratified meadow soil), bog soil (including meadow bog soil, humus bog soil, and salinized bog soil), meadow alkali soil, and sandy soil (including meadow chernozem-type sandy soil and chernozem-type sandy soil). Most soils in Qiqihar City have the advantages of high heat capacity, good permeability, light texture, and flat terrain.

4.4 Climate

Qiqihar City has a mid-temperate continental monsoon climate. The four seasons are distinctly characterized: dry and windy springs, hot and rainy summers, short autumns with early frosts, and dry, cold, and long winters. Winters are long and severe, while summers and autumns are cool. The annual precipitation is 415 mm, with an average annual temperature of 3.2°C. The average temperature in January is -18.7°C, and in July, it is 22.8°C. The highest recorded temperature occurred on June 26, 1980, at 42.1°C, while the lowest recorded temperature occurred on January 8, 1956, at -39.5°C. The average annual frost-free period in Qiqihar ranges from 122 to 151 days. The annual solar radiation is 110 to 120 kilocalories per square centimeter, similar to the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. The radiation during the growing season (May to September) is 65 to 67 kilocalories per square centimeter.

Southern Qiqihar belongs to a warm and dry agricultural climate zone, the central part to a temperate semi-arid agricultural climate zone, and the northern part to a cool and semi-humid agricultural climate zone.

The annual sunshine duration ranges from 2,600 to 2,900 hours, with 1,300 to 1,350 hours during the growing season (May to September).

Favorable climatic conditions in Qiqihar include abundant solar radiation and synchronized rainfall and heat. Unfavorable conditions include drought, waterlogging, low temperatures, early frost, and wind, which vary significantly in their impact on crops from year to year and across different regions. As of the end of 1998, Qiqihar City had 26.02 million mu of arable land, 11.45 million mu of grassland, 5.60 million mu of forest land, 2.75 million mu of water bodies and reed marshes, and 1.95 million mu of wasteland.

Meteorological Data for Qiqihar City (1981–2010)

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |-----------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|----------|----------|----------|----------| | Record High (°C / °F) | 2.4 (36.3) | 12.8 (55.0) | 23.0 (73.4) | 30.9 (87.6) | 35.5 (95.9) | 40.8 (105.4) | 39.9 (103.8) | 37.5 (99.5) | 33.3 (91.9) | 26.9 (80.4) | 14.5 (58.1) | 6.9 (44.4) | 40.8 (105.4) | | Average High (°C / °F) | -12.2 (10.0) | -6.2 (20.8) | 2.8 (37.0) | 13.5 (56.3) | 21.4 (70.5) | 26.7 (80.1) | 28.0 (82.4) | 26.4 (79.5) | 20.6 (69.1) | 11.6 (52.9) | -1.0 (30.2) | -10.1 (13.8) | 10.1 (50.2) | | Daily Mean (°C / °F) | -18.1 (-0.6) | -12.8 (9.0) | -3.5 (25.7) | 7.0 (44.6) | 15.2 (59.4) | 21.1 (70.0) | 23.3 (73.9) | 21.6 (70.9) | 14.9 (58.8) | 5.7 (42.3) | -6.3 (20.7) | -15.5 (4.1) | 4.4 (39.9) | | Average Low (°C / °F) | -23.2 (-9.8) | -18.6 (-1.5) | -9.5 (14.9) | 0.7 (33.3) | 8.8 (47.8) | 15.6 (60.1) | 18.9 (66.0) | 17.2 (63.0) | 9.8 (49.6) | 0.6 (33.1) | -10.7 (12.7) | -20.0 (-4.0) | -0.9 (30.4) | | Record Low (°C / °F) | -39.5 (-39.1) | -34.5 (-30.1) | -29.4 (-20.9) | -14.0 (6.8) | -7.4 (18.7) | 1.9 (35.4) | 9.9 (49.8) | 7.2 (45.0) | -3.5 (25.7) | -16.0 (3.2) | -27.9 (-18.2) | -35.0 (-31.0) | -39.5 (-39.1) | | Average Precipitation (mm / inches) | 2.2 (0.09) | 2.2 (0.09) | 6.6 (0.26) | 22.0 (0.87) | 30.5 (1.20) | 70.4 (2.77) | 143.1 (5.63) | 95.4 (3.76) | 41.3 (1.63) | 19.9 (0.78) | 4.1 (0.16) | 5.2 (0.20) | 442.9 (17.44) | | Average Precipitation Days (≥0.1 mm) | 3.5 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 5.1 | 7.2 | 11.2 | 13.7 | 11.2 | 9.1 | 5.1 | 3.5 | 4.9 | 80.9 | | Average Relative Humidity (%) | 66 | 57 | 47 | 46 | 47 | 60 | 72 | 73 | 64 | 56 | 58 | 66 | 59 | | Mean Monthly Sunshine Hours | 190.6 | 208.6 | 260.4 | 248.5 | 282.7 | 282.2 | 269.4 | 271.7 | 247.3 | 227.6 | 185.4 | 164.9 | 2,839.3 | | Percent Possible Sunshine (%) | 70 | 73 | 71 | 61 | 61 | 60 | 56 | 62 | 66 | 68 | 66 | 63 | 64 |

5. Administrative Divisions

Qiqihar City currently administers 7 municipal districts, 8 counties, and has jurisdiction over 1 county-level city.

• Municipal Districts: Longsha District, Jianhua District, Tiefeng District, Ang'angxi District, Fulaerji District, Nianzishan District, Meilisi Daur District
• County-level City: Nehe City
• Counties: Longjiang County, Yi'an County, Tailai County, Gannan County, Fuyu County, Keshan County, Kedong County, Baiquan County

Longsha District, Jianhua District, and Tiefeng District are collectively referred to as the "Northern Three Districts," with Jianhua District, where the municipal government is located, serving as the center. The remaining four districts are called the "Southern Four Districts" (although Nianzishan District and Meilisi Daur District are actually located to the west, not the south, of the Northern Three Districts), and together with Fulaerji District, they constitute the central urban area of Qiqihar.

The leadership structure consists of a collective body formed by the Qiqihar Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, the Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision Bureau, and the public security and court organs.

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (km²) | Permanent Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | Of which: Ethnic Townships | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 230200 | Qiqihar City | Qíqíhā'ěr Shì | 42,255.46 | 4,067,489 | Jianhua District | 161000 | 38 | 71 | 52 | 6 | | 230202 | Longsha District | Lóngshā Qū | 153.15 | 355,849 | Nanhang Subdistrict | 161000 | 7 | | | | | 230203 | Jianhua District | Jiànhuá Qū | 120.61 | 332,566 | Shangkui Subdistrict | 161000 | 5 | | | | | 230204 | Tiefeng District | Tiěfēng Qū | 742.69 | 271,372 | Longhua Subdistrict | 161000 | 7 | 1 | | | | 230205 | Ang'angxi District | Áng'ángxī Qū | 748.27 | 67,824 | Xinxing Subdistrict | 161000 | 4 | 2 | | | | 230206 | Fulaerji District | Fùlā'ěrjī Qū | 375.21 | 197,424 | Hong'an Subdistrict | 161000 | 8 | | 2 | 1 | | 230207 | Nianzishan District | Niǎnzishān Qū | 299.37 | 56,553 | Fanrong Subdistrict | 161000 | 4 | | | | | 230208 | Meilisi Daur District | Méilǐsī Dáwò'ěrzú Qū | 2,000.21 | 125,399 | Meilisi Subdistrict | 161000 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | | 230221 | Longjiang County | Lóngjiāng Xiàn | 5,887.24 | 414,285 | Longjiang Town | 161100 | | 8 | 6 | | | 230223 | Yi'an County | Yī'ān Xiàn | 3,676.42 | 353,872 | Yi'an Town | 161500 | | 6 | 9 | | | 230224 | Tailai County | Tàilái Xiàn | 3,917.78 | 249,153 | Tailai Town | 162400 | | 8 | 2 | 2 | | 230225 | Gannan County | Gānnán Xiàn | 4,790.74 | 288,203 | Gannan Town | 162100 | | 5 | 5 | | | 230227 | Fuyu County | Fùyù Xiàn | 4,017.53 | 224,040 | Fuyu Town | 161200 | | 6 | 4 | 1 | | 230229 | Keshan County | Kèshān Xiàn | 3,186.12 | 255,041 | Keshan Town | 161600 | | 7 | 8 | | | 230230 | Kedong County | Kèdōng Xiàn | 2,083.21 | 156,983 | Kedong Town | 164800 | | 5 | 2 | | | 230231 | Baiquan County | Bàiquán Xiàn | 3,597.01 | 282,019 | Baiquan Town | 164700 | | 7 | 9 | | | 230281 | Nehe City | Nèhé Shì | 6,659.90 | 436,906 | Tongjiang Subdistrict | 161300 | 2 | 11 | 4 | |

6. Economy

6.1 Industry

Qiqihar is a heavy industrial base established with state investment during the First Five-Year Plan period, representing a typical industrial city with one main urban area and multiple satellite towns. The city boasts a large-scale cluster of industrial enterprises and has formed a relatively comprehensive industrial production system covering machinery, metallurgy, power generation, electronics, light industry, textiles, chemicals, building materials, pharmaceuticals, papermaking, food, and other sectors. Industries are primarily distributed in the central urban area and satellite cities such as Fulaerji and Nianzishan.

Among them are China First Heavy Industries Group, hailed by Premier Zhou Enlai as a "national treasure"; Beiman Special Steel, known as the "jewel in the palm"; Qiqihar Rail Transit Equipment Co., Ltd., the largest railway freight car production base in the country; Qiqihar First Machine Tool Plant and Qiqihar Second Machine Tool Plant, renowned as two of the "Eighteen Arhats" in China's machine tool industry; the well-established old industrial bases such as the nationally famous special ammunition production base Qiqihar Jianhua Industrial Company and the Northern Hua'an Industrial Group formed by the merger of the national defense education base Hua'an Group; as well as emerging enterprises like Heihua Group, Heilong Group, Xiongying Group, and Huahe Group. Qiqihar's main industrial products encompass over a thousand varieties, with renowned brands such as mining equipment, metallurgical equipment, large metal-cutting machine tools, railway freight cars, special steel, automobiles, boilers, ice skates, shotguns, and wooden furniture enjoying prestige both domestically and internationally.

6.2 Animal Husbandry

Animal husbandry primarily focuses on raising dairy cattle, yellow cattle, and Northeast fine-wool sheep.

7. Transportation

Qiqihar is a major transportation hub in the western region of Northeast China.

7.1 Railway

• Qiqihar Station (Top-class Station): Qiqihar serves as the central railway hub in the western region of Northeast China.
• Qiqihar South Station (First-class Station): High-speed rail station.

7.2 Civil Aviation

• Qiqihar Sanjiazi Airport

7.3 Highway

• The Harbin to Manzhouli main highway passes through the area.
• National Highway 301 passes through the area.

7.4 Water Transport

• The Nen River is navigable, allowing upstream travel to Nenjiang County and downstream navigation to Harbin.

8. Education

8.1 Junior High Schools:

• Qiqihar No. 3 Middle School
• Qiqihar No. 28 Middle School
• Qiqihar No. 29 Middle School
• Qiqihar No. 34 Middle School

8.2 Senior High Schools (Provincial Key High Schools):

• Qiqihar Experimental Middle School
• Qiqihar No. 1 Middle School
• Qiqihar Middle School (formerly Railway No. 1 Middle School)
• Qiqihar No. 8 Middle School
• Qiqihar Longjiang No. 1 Middle School
• Qiqihar Nehe No. 1 Middle School
• Qiqihar Keshan No. 1 Middle School
• Qiqihar Ethnic Middle School

8.3 Undergraduate Institutions (722 nationwide):

• Qiqihar University
• Qiqihar Medical University
• Qiqihar Institute of Engineering

8.4 Higher Vocational Colleges (1,105 nationwide):

• Qiqihar Teachers College
• Heilongjiang Vocational and Technical College of Communications

9. Population

In 2022, the city's total registered population was 5.125 million. Among them, the rural population was 3.187 million, and the urban population was 1.939 million. The number of births throughout the year was 14,660, with a birth rate of 2.9‰; the number of deaths was 29,526, with a death rate of 5.8‰; the natural population growth rate was -2.9‰.

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population was 4,067,489. Compared with the 5,367,003 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was a decrease of 1,299,514 people over the ten-year period, a decline of 24.21%, with an average annual growth rate of -2.73%. Among them, the male population was 2,044,598, accounting for 50.27% of the total population; the female population was 2,022,891, accounting for 49.73% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 101.07. The population aged 0–14 was 426,335, accounting for 10.48% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 2,659,528, accounting for 65.39% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 981,626, accounting for 24.13% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 657,320, accounting for 16.16% of the total population. The urban resident population was 2,181,650, accounting for 53.64% of the total population; the rural resident population was 1,885,839, accounting for 46.36% of the total population.

9.1 Ethnic Groups

Among the city's permanent resident population, the Han ethnic population was 3,967,039, accounting for 97.53%; the combined population of various ethnic minorities was 100,450, accounting for 2.47%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han ethnic population decreased by 1,256,849, a decline of 24.06%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.2 percentage points; the combined population of various ethnic minorities decreased by 42,665, a decline of 29.81%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.2 percentage points. Among them, the Manchu population decreased by 22,145, a decline of 36.58%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.18 percentage points; the Daur population decreased by 7,108, a decline of 25.06%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.01 percentage points; the Mongolian population decreased by 4,741, a decline of 22.54%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.01 percentage points; the Korean population decreased by 1,377, a decline of 11.52%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.04 percentage points.

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10. Culture

10.1 Cuisine

The most famous food in Qiqihar is barbecue, with various barbecue restaurants lining the streets and alleys, earning the city the nickname "Barbecue Capital." Barbecue shops featuring Qiqihar-style barbecue have also emerged across China. In recent years, restaurants specializing in Qiqihar barbecue have even appeared abroad.

11. Sister Cities

• Utsunomiya, Japan
• Goyang, South Korea
• Wodonga, Australia
• Weißenfels, Germany
• Stockholm, Sweden
• 10th of Ramadan City, Egypt
• Mariupol, Ukraine
• Khabarovsk, Russia

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Daur language meaning "frontier"

No. 1 Xinming Street, Jianhua District

Nehe City

Han Chinese account for 97.53% of the population; ethnic minorities account for 2.47%.

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