Jixi

Jixi is a major prefecture-level city located in the southeastern Heilongjiang Province of the People's Republic of China. It sits on the southern edge of the Sanjiang, or Three Rivers, Plain. The city is positioned near the border with Russia's Primorsky Krai.

Geographically, much of the area lies within the junction of the Changbai and Wanda Mountains. The region is defined by significant water features, including the Muling River, the Songacha River, and the Ussuri River. Lake Xingkai, the largest lake in the prefecture, is also a major landmark. The local climate is a monsoon-influenced, humid continental type, known as Dwb or Dwa in the Köppen classification. This means the region experiences bitter, dry winters and warm, humid summers. Because of its proximity to the Sea of Japan, the summers are often cool and refreshing.

The economy of Jixi is built primarily around its massive mineral wealth. It serves as one of the most important coal mining bases in China. The region holds an estimated 8 billion tons of coal reserves. This amount ranks second among the 13 prefecture-level cities in Heilongjiang Province. Beyond coal, Jixi possesses 780 million tons of graphite reserves. This makes it the leader in graphite reserves across all of Asia. These resources support a variety of industries, including metallurgy, machinery, and coal chemical production. Other sectors like pharmaceuticals, food manufacturing, and electricity supply also contribute to the local economy. For example, the company Heilongjiang Rixin Food processes edible fungus with an annual capacity of 2,500 tons.

Jixi has a complex history that stretches back to ancient times. Early inhabitants included the Jurchen and Goguryeo peoples. During the Han dynasty, the region saw significant progress in primitive agriculture. The area later came under the control of the Balhae during the Tang dynasty. In 1644, the Manchu conquest of Ming territories led to a blockade of the Amur River basin. This caused the local population to decrease sharply. However, by 1662, the Kangxi Emperor ordered the territory to be dominated by the general of Ninguta. This era turned the Ussuri River basin into a major base for collecting medicinal materials like ginseng.

The modern industrial era began in the late 19th century. As Russia advanced through Siberia, Qing officials proposed opening Manchuria for farming to counter Russian influence. This policy change led to a large migration of Han Chinese from the Shandong Peninsula and Zhili. Coal resources were discovered frequently during this period of expansion. In 1914, the Mixi Coal Mine Company began regular coal production. The arrival of the Chinese Eastern Railway also brought a nucleus of Russian Jews to northern Manchuria. By 1924, the Muling Coal Mine Corporation was operating as a joint venture between a Jewish businessman and the Jilin Province government. This company reached an output of 1.6 million tons by 1931.

Political shifts in the 20th century brought significant hardship to the region. Following the Mukden Incident in 1931, Japan seized Manchuria and established the Manchukuo government. Jixi became a Japanese colony during this time. In 1935, the South Manchuria Railway completed the construction of the Jixi Railway Station. The Japanese military presence was heavy, and in 1941, the Manchukuo government established Jining County. This period was marked by violence, as Japanese settlers slaughtered more than 100,000 miners in the area. As the Soviet Red Army approached in August 1945, local officials ordered the destruction of coalpits in Hengshan, Didao, and Muling to prevent their use.

After the war, Jixi underwent rapid administrative and industrial growth. The Soviet Army captured Jining County in August 1945, and mining production was ordered to resume. In 1947, the Jixi Mining Bureau was founded to manage collieries and machinery factories. Jining County was renamed Jixi County in 1949. By 1956, the city was formally established as a prefecture-level city. During China's First Five-Year Plan, many industrial projects were built, such as the Chengzihe No. 9 subvertical. By 1956, coal output had risen to 5 million tons per year. The city continued to expand its jurisdiction through the 1970s and 1980s, eventually reaching its current domain. By 1991, Jixi's total coal output ranked second in the Chinese mainland.

Today, Jixi is a well-connected urban center with a diverse population. The 2020 census recorded 1,502,060 people in the administrative area. Most residents are Han Chinese, though there are also Korean, Manchu, and Mongol communities. The city is accessible via the Jixi Xingkaihu Airport and a robust railway network. Jixi is even famous for being home to the last working steam locomotive in China. For travelers, the region offers unique sites like the Hutou Fortress, a former Japanese military base. The Ussuri River provides a beautiful, unpolluted landscape, and Zhenbao Island has been preserved as a nature reserve.