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Heilongjiang

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Heilongjiang is a large province in northeast China.

It holds the northernmost and easternmost points of the entire country. The province sits along the border of Russia. Its name comes from the Amur River. In the Mandarin language, this name means "black dragon river." This river marks the boundary between China and Russia.

Koppen-Geiger Map v2 CHN Heilongjiang 1991–2020
Koppen-Geiger Map v2 CHN Heilongjiang 1991–2020

The land here has many different shapes and features. Huge mountain ranges like the Greater Khingan Range cover much of the area. These mountains hold China's largest remaining virgin forests.

雪乡风光 - panoramio - 江上清风1961 (24)
雪乡风光 - panoramio - 江上清风1961 (24)

Other parts of the province are flat and low. Many rivers like the Songhua and Nen flow through these plains. These rivers all eventually lead to the Amur. People use this land for farming and finding oil or coal.

History tells us that many different groups lived here long ago. People like the Sushen, Mohe, and Khitan once called this land home. Later, the Jurchen Jin dynasty arose within these borders. In 1683, the province was officially created as an administrative area.

镇守黑龙江等处地方将军印,黑龙江将军府
镇守黑龙江等处地方将军印,黑龙江将军府

For a long time, the area was mostly closed to many people. In the early 1900s, many people began to move there. This changed the group of people living in the region forever.

Harbin is the capital and the largest city in the province.

Cathedral of Holy Wisdom, Harbin 5
Cathedral of Holy Wisdom, Harbin 5

It is a very important place for many people. The province has many other big cities too. These include Qiqihar, Mudanjiang, Jiamusi, and Daqing. There are many ways to travel across the land. You can use a huge network of roads or railways.

Main Building HIT
Main Building HIT

Some trains even carry millions of passengers every year.

Life in Heilongjiang is shaped by its unique weather. The climate is often called humid continental.

Koppen-Geiger Map v2 CHN Heilongjiang 1991–2020
Koppen-Geiger Map v2 CHN Heilongjiang 1991–2020

This means the winters are very long and bitter. In January, temperatures can drop very low. Summers are much shorter but they are warm. Most of the rain falls during these summer months. The wind energy from the plains is also very useful. It helps people power things in the region.

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🖼️ Images & Media (11)
File:Cathedral of Holy Wisdom, Harbin 5.jpg
Cathedral of Holy Wisdom, Harbin 5.jpg
File:CEM-44-La-Chine-la-Tartarie-Chinoise-et-le-Thibet-1734-Amur-2572.jpg
CEM-44-La-Chine-la-Tartarie-Chinoise-et-le...
File:镇守黑龙江等处地方将军印,黑龙江将军府.jpg
镇守黑龙江等处地方将军印,黑龙江将军府.jpg
File:Koppen-Geiger Map v2 CHN Heilongjiang 1991–2020.svg
Koppen-Geiger Map v2 CHN Heilongjiang...
File:雪乡风光 - panoramio - 江上清风1961 (24).jpg
雪乡风光 - panoramio - 江上清风1961 (24).jpg
File:黑龙江省人民政府大楼2017夏.jpg
黑龙江省人民政府大楼2017夏.jpg
File:China_Heilongjiang_pop_SbA5y_pyramid2019.png
China_Heilongjiang_pop_SbA5y_pyramid2019.png
File:ハルビン極楽寺玄関.jpg
ハルビン極楽寺玄関.jpg
File:黑龙江日报报业集团2017.jpg
黑龙江日报报业集团2017.jpg
File:Harbin Siberian Tiger Park 2.JPG
Harbin Siberian Tiger Park 2.JPG
File:Main Building HIT.jpg
Main Building HIT.jpg
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