China: All about Heilongjiang Province Quiz

Answer: Songhua

At around 1,180 miles (1,900 km) long, the Songhua is the longest tributary of the Amur River, the tenth longest river in the world, which creates the border between northeast China and Russia's far east. The Songhua is also the third largest river in China in regards to discharge. Heilongjiang province gets its name from "Heilong Jiang" which is what the Amur River is called in Chinese.

Situated in the south of Heilongjiang province, Harbin has been an important industrial city of China since the First Five-Year Plan of 1951-1956. Han culture is prevalent in the city, as well as smaller doses of Manchu and Russian culture. Due to its cold winters, Harbin is nicknamed the "ice city."

Answer: Jilin and Inner Mongolia

Jilin lies south of Heilongjiang and Inner Mongolia lies both south and west. Heilongjiang also has a border with Russia, with the Amur River creating this border. Heilongjiang's border with Russia is around 2,115 miles (3,405 km) long and constitutes around two thirds of China's entire border with Russia.

Answer: Mohe

With its name translating roughly to "Desert River," Mohe is situated in the northwest of Heilongjiang. In rare instances, the aurora borealis (the northen lights) can be seen from Mohe. Mohe Gulian Airport was constructed by 2008 and is the first airport that China has ever constructed on an area of permafrost.

Mohe features the northernmost passenger rail train service and station in China, which was opened to the public in 1972. The station has regular trains going to Harbin and Qiqihar in Heilongjiang, and also to Shenyang in Liaoning Province.

Chinese author Chi Zijian was born in Mohe.

Answer: Zhalong Nature Reserve

Established in 1979, Zhalong Nature Reserve is a freshwater alkaline marshland. It consists of many shallow lakes and meadows, and is a protected area on the orders of the Chinese government. Birds from the Arctic frequently migrate to the Zhalong Nature Reserve, including the marsh grassbird, which utilizes the area as one of its few breeding grounds.

Zhalong Nature Reserve is the most well preserved open marshland area in Northern China. There are some residents of the area that live on the surrounding islands.

Answer: Josef Stalin

Established in 1953, Harbin Stalin Park features many statues, clubs and playgrounds for its visitors. It also features an embankment around 25 miles (40 km) long along the Songhua River and a Flood Control Monument which was constructed in 1958, in order to commemorate the thousands of people who have died because the Songhua has flooded.

The sandy areas surrounding the Songhua create somewhat of a beach atmosphere for the park's visitors during the summer. During the winter months the Songhua freezes over, sporting ice so thick that it can support the weight of a truck. Ice skating and other winter sports are popular in the park during this time.

Answer: Mudanjiang

Japan invaded Manchuria (now northeast China and parts of the Russian far east) in 1931. The Japanese turned what is now Mudanjiang into an administrative and military area, leading to significant growth of the city.

By 1945, the Soviet Union had occupied the area, and Mudanjiang became the capital of Songjiang Province in 1948 (a province which was incorporated into Heilongjiang province in 1954).

Answer: Daoli

Daoli is one of Harbin's nine districts.

Built by the Russians in 1907 after the Trans-Siberian railway was completed in 1903, St. Sophia Orthodox Cathedral is said to be the largest Eastern Orthodox Church located in the Far East. It is no longer a church but an art and history gallery, and is known for its shining example of Neo-Byzantine architecture. The former church is a popular site for wedding photography due to the lavish fountains and doves that reside in the surrounding square. There is a mural of the Last Supper displayed on the main dome.

Answer: Khabarovsk Krai

Khabarovsk Krai is a krai (administrative territory) of Russia, lying east of Jiamusi across the Ussuri River, which flows through both Northeast China and Russia. The Ussuri is around 560 miles (900 km) long. Also east of Jiamusi lies the confluence of three rivers: the Songhua, the Ussuri and the Amur.

Jiamusi is an important trading city of Northeast China. However, it is not the most important industrial city of Heilongjiang, with cities such as Harbin and Daqing being more profitable.

Answer: Ashi

The Songhua runs east through Harbin (where Volga Manor is located) and once is out of the city, is merged from the south with the Ashi River.

Located in Harbin's Xiangfang District, Volga Manor is named after the Volga River and is located in Harbin. The theme park is dedicated to Russian culture.

Answer: Hegang

On November 21 2009, the Xinxing coal mine in Hegang was the site of an explosion due to a combination of trapped gases and insufficient ventilation. The blast was so potent that it could be felt from over five miles away. 108 people died in the accident and 29 required medical treatment, with around 420 people being recused alive.

Located in the northeast of Heilongjiang Province, Hegang has long been a major coalmining city of China (with around 80% of the city's residents being involved with mining in the 1950s), however the city's mining industry is in decline. In 2008, Hegang was the site of another coal mining disaster in the Fuhua Coal Mine, when the coal spontaneously combusted, killing 31 people.

Answer: Daqing

Translating to "Great Celebration" to honour the 10th anniversary of the People's Republic of China's existence, Daqing has been a major oil hub for China since the late 1950s when the Daqing Oil Field was discovered in the Songliao Basin. Daqing's economy is now highly dependant on petroleum, with over half of its GDP being generated by the industry, annually.

Answer: Harbin

Since the early 1960s, what has evolved into the Harbin International Ice and Snow festival started as an ice lantern show and gathering. It has occurred every year since, with the exception of Mao Zedong's rule during the Cultural Revolution between 1966-1977, having since been re-established since 1985.

The festival takes place between December and February and displays some of the world's largest ice sculptures.

Answer: Datudingzi Mountain

Part of the Zhangguangcai Range, Datudingzi Mountain is around 5,540 feet (1,690 m) high. Datudingzi Mountain is situated around 105 miles (170 km) from Harbin.

Answer: Qiqihar

Situated around the Nen River around 225 miles (360 km) from Harbin, Qiqihar is an industrial city known well for its manufacturing activities.

Bukui Mosque is the oldest mosque in Heilongjiang Province, and also the largest glaze-tiled building in the province. Once standing as two separate mosques, Bukui was established as a whole mosque in 1958. The building is so old that there is a saying in the area: "the mosque existed long before the town Bukui." In a combination of both Chinese and Islamic architecture, the building features carvings of lotuses, gourds and crescents, making it a rare and intriguing building of China.

Answer: Harbin-Qiqihar intercity railway

Harbin-Qiqihar intercity railway has been open to the public since 2015, with construction beginning in 2009. The trains can reach a speed of 155 miles (250 km) per hour, with the stations on the line being as follows: Harbin, Harbin North, Zhaodong, Anda, Daqing East, Daqing West, Dorbod and Qiqihar South.