The province of Heilongjiang is one of the best tourist destinations in China. Some of the interesting places in the province include:

St.Sofia Orthodox Church – a 20th century Neo-Byzantine infrastructure which is renowned as the largest Orthodox Church in the Far East. The Church was built for the Orthodox people and Russian population in the area.

Yabuli Ski Resort – the high elevation and the excellent snow consistency makes for great skiing. It is the biggest and most beautiful ski resort in China. The resort was used as a hunting ground during the Qing Dynasty.

Jile Temple – one of the four famous temples in Northeast China. A temple fair is often held to commemorate the day Buddha was born. It is also an occasion to welcome spring. Many people flock to the temple grounds during the celebration and enjoy the wonderful weather.

Wudalianchi Geopark –a natural volcano garden that covers an area of 720 square kilometers of fascinating volcanic geological landforms. The park shows the best preserved volcanic cluster in China.

Jingpo Lake – is China’s biggest lake. Its name means “mirror lake”. A boat ride down its tranquil waters is a sight to behold. One is taken past lushly-wooded slopes and many picturesque islets. Each year, thousands of visitors go to Jingpo Lake and bask in the beauty and tranquility of nature.

Stalin Park (Sidalin Gongyuan) – most local folks spend time in the park to enjoy the colors and activities of the different seasons. Winter freezes the nearby SongHuaJiang River and people enjoy skating and other ice-related activities. In summer, the tree-lined paths of the park are a very relaxing place to take a stroll and commune with nature.

Harbin Flood Control Monument (Harbin Fang Hong Ji Nian Ta) – a commemorative site to honor the volunteers who helped during the flood of 1957.

Sun Island Recreational Center –a 3,800 hectare recreational center composed of one big island and several islets. Extremely popular in the summer months, people enjoy swimming, boating, and sunbathing. Forested areas also extend from the middle part of the island to the northern end. These are great areas for picnics and relaxation. Skiing, hockey, and ice skating are popular during the winter.

Zhaolin Park – was built in 1900 to honor the memory of General Li Zhaolin. It was originally named “Daoli Park” but was changed to its present name in 1946. The park hosts the ice festival and ice lantern show every winter. In summer, the place is filled with flowers in full bloom and twittering birds are everywhere.

According to the census recorded in 2004, this province had a total population of 38,170,000 with over 35 ethnic groups.

The majority of the population is of Han Chinese nationals. The ethnic minorities residing in this area include the Hui, Manchus, Mongols, Koreans, Daur, Oroqin, Hezhen, Xibe and Russians.Each of these ethnic groups lead and follow cultures and traditions which are unique to each group. Heilongjiang is known as one of the provinces in China with the most number of ethnic minority groups.

Heilongjiang cooking is also called Longjiang Cuisine. Mouth-watering dishes are made from a wide variety of ingredients ranging from fresh mountain vegetables, freshwater fish and shrimps, meat from game animals, and fowls. Longjiang dishes have a characteristic pleasant aroma, a delicious taste and tenderly cooked meat.


Some of the famous dishes served in Heilongjiang, include Crystal Sugar and Snow Clams, Green Onions and Liaoning Sea Cucumbers, Imperial White Meat and Snow Sausage, Stewed Spareribs and Potatoes and Nurhachi Golden Meat.