Study in Daqing, Heilongjiang Province

Population: 2,622,000

Area: 21,220 square kilometers (8,193 square miles)

Nationalities: Han

Administrative Division: 5 district (Saertu, Longfeng, Ranghulu, Datong, Honggang); 3 counties (Zhaozhou, Zhaoyuan, Linxun); 1 autonomous county (Dorbod Mongol Autonomous County)

Seat of the City Government: No.19, Dongfeng Lu, Saertu District, Daqing City

Location: Situated in the west region of Heilongjiang Province, Daqing City neighbors Suihua in the east and Qiqihar in the northwest. It is bordered to the south by Jilin Province and is about 159 kilometers (99 miles) northeast of Harbin.

History: Daqing region was the hunting land of the Mongolian Dorbod tribe during the early years of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).Soviet Russia established Saertu Station during the construction of the Middle East Railway. Land reclamation in this region began in 1904 and villages were gradually developed. It was in 1959, with the discovery of the Daqing Oilfield, that Daqing City - formerly Anda City - was established.

Physical Features: The city’s terrain is flat and slopes gently downward from the northeast to the southwest. The city has vast areas of meadow and water.

Climatic Features: Daqing enjoys a temperate continental monsoon climate. Affected by the cold air from inland Mongolia and the warm current of the Pacific Ocean, Daqing has chilly and snowy winters and windy springs and autumns. Its annual average temperature is around 4.7C (40.5F)

Special Local Products: Sunflowers, mung beans, carrots, monkey head mushrooms and black fungi.

Local Highlights:

Petroleum may be Daqing’s most famous export, but the full-bodied Mongolian flavor of Dorbod Mongol Autonomous County is also worth tourists’ consideration. The fertile grassland, far-reaching reed marshes and lakes, natural forest and unsophisticated Mongolian flavor shape the unique atmosphere to be enjoyed in Daqing.

Attractions:

Lianhuanhu Scenic Area: the only international waterfowl hunting ground in China and wonderful summer resort of Daqing located 21 kilometers west of Dorbod Mongol Autonomous County.

Lianhua (Lotus) Lake: a South Chinese-style water town which is unusual because it is situated in a typical North Chinese industrial city.

Recommended Scenic Spots: Museum of Petroleum Technology in Daqing, Dumeng Grassland, Lindian Hot Springs