Qiqiha'er Travel Guide

Qiqiha'er (Qiqihar) lies in northeastern China in Heilongjiang Province, with Inner Mongolia just off to the west. It is the main hub of the region yet is only really worth visiting for those into the outdoors.

Worth It?: Only really for bird lovers and those crossing into Inner Mongolia.
What to Do: see Bukui Mosque, bird watch in Zhalong Nature Reserve.
Best Time to Go: May through July to see the migratory birds and for the best weather.
How Long?: A couple of days if exploring the region.
Trivia: the Sushen, Donghu, and Huimo ethnic groups came together in Qiqiha'er.

Qiqiha'er lies on the main road and rail route between Harbin (the Heilongjiang capital) and Hailar (Inner Mongolia). This region was settled by various peoples as far back as 10,000 years ago and there are several high profile digs in the area.

Bukui Mosque is a Qiqiha'er highlight. It is one of Heilongjiang Province's very best mosques and hails from the Qing Dynasty (1644 to 1911). The other main appeal of a visit to Qiqiha'er is the nearby Zhalong Nature Reserve, known for its huge crane population.

Travel to Qiqiha'er - Getting There

Qiqiha'er Sanjiazi Airport is a civilian/military airport 13kms from Qiqiha'er, with flights arriving here from Beijing (2 hours), Shanghai, and Guangzhou. Qiqiha'er is a 4-hour train journey from Harbin, the nearest large center.

Qiqiha'er Things to Do

Qiqiha'er Attractions

Bukui Mosque

one of the largest and best preserved mosques in the province.

Side trips from Qiqiha'er

Zhalong Nature Reserve: located an hour south of Qiqiha'er (27kms), Zhalong is known for its migratory birds.
Lesser Xing'an Mountain: Xiao Xing'an Ling is a scenic mountain near to Qiqiha'er with good trekking.

Events

Qiqiha'er Crane Watching Festival: a popular ornithologist's festival in August takes place at Zhalong Nature Reserve.
Qiqiha'er Ice and Snow Event: a late December snow and ice event with sculptures galore.