What Fun Things Are There to Do in Mohe?

Mohe County sits at the northern foot of the Greater Khingan Range and on the south bank of the upper Heilongjiang River. It marks the northernmost point of China’s territory and is the country’s northernmost county by latitude.

It borders Tahe County to the east, Ergun Right Banner of Inner Mongolia to the west, Ergun Left Banner of Inner Mongolia to the south, and faces Russia across the Heilongjiang River to the north. Eleven ethnic groups live within its boundaries, including the Han, Mongolian, Hui, Manchu, Korean, Ewenki, Oroqen, Xibe and Tujia peoples.

Mohe boasts abundant natural resources with a gold-mining history of over a hundred years. The gold-bearing valley here was once named "Rouge Ditch" by Empress Dowager Cixi. Arctic Village, a tourist attraction under Mohe’s jurisdiction, is China’s northernmost village and the only spot nationwide where visitors can witness the aurora borealis and midnight sun.

The Heilongjiang River, the Sino-Russian boundary river, originates in Mohe. Its crystal-clear waters wind downstream, flanked by gorgeous and picturesque scenery on both banks. Lush primeval forests stretch across the county, perfect for jungle exploration, hunting and bonfire camping. Numerous historical relics from the Ming, Qing and Republic of China eras can be found here, such as the ancient Yaksa Battlefield. In recent years, cross-border tourist routes to Russia have been launched, adding extra joy to local travels.

Mohe’s Arctic Village is the northernmost riverside town on China’s mainland. Nestled at the foot of Qixing Mountain on the northern slope of the Greater Khingan Range, it lies at a latitude of 53°33′30″, facing Ignashino Village of Russia’s Amur Oblast across the river. It is widely known as "Arctic Village" and the "City of Endless Daylight".

This is the best place in China to admire the breathtaking aurora borealis and midnight sun. Its landmarks include the Northern Border Sentry Post, Divine Arctic Square, an ancient well, ruins of a Japanese puppet power plant, and the Northernmost Household. Every year around the Summer Solstice, all-night bonfire galas with singing and dancing are held along the riverbank.

Around the Summer Solstice, the sun stays visible for nearly 20 hours each day — a natural phenomenon known as the midnight sun. With luck, visitors may catch sight of dazzling, multicolored auroras. Daylight lasts almost 24 hours; at midnight, the northern sky glows pale white, resembling both dusk and dawn. Tourists can play chess or ball games outdoors in the middle of the night.

Admission Fee: 60 RMB

Rouge Ditch, also called Old Ditch or Old Gold Ditch, is located within Jingou Forest Farm in Mohe County. It has been a famous gold-mining haven since the late Qing Dynasty. Stretching 14 kilometres long, it is a tributary of the Emur River and renowned for its rich gold deposits.

Gold was discovered here more than a century ago. The sand and soil have been sifted dozens of times, yet gold can still be panned today, a testament to its vast gold reserves.

The site also features the ruins of Li Jinyong Memorial Shrine, a cemetery holding over 500 prostitutes from five nations, a gold-mining culture exhibition hall, and Rouge Pavilion.

Admission Fee: 20 RMB Transport: It takes roughly one hour to drive to Rouge Ditch from Arctic Village by private car or chartered vehicle. A special shuttle bus from downtown Mohe takes about 50 minutes and costs 25 RMB per person.

Fifteen kilometres northwest of Luoguhe Village in Mohe County, the Ergun River (the Sino-Russian boundary river) converges with the Shilka River flowing from Russia to form the source of the Heilongjiang River. The mighty Heilongjiang surges eastward for 150 kilometres along the lowland between the Inner and Outer Khingan Ranges, then abruptly curves into a perfect Ω-shaped river bend at Hongqiling. This magnificent 30-kilometre giant bend is known as the First Bend of the Heilongjiang River.

The bend is formed by dramatic terrain shifts. As China’s third-longest river, the Heilongjiang carries enormous volumes of water, so ordinary landforms cannot easily alter its course. The river is blocked by sheer, towering cliffs on one side, while the opposite bank features much gentler, lower terrain. The cliffside on China’s side offers a distinct landscape: flat hilltops blanketed in dense forests. Standing on the mountain at the initial turning point, visitors are greeted with a stunning natural scroll: a clear river rushes forward then slowly veers northward beneath your feet, curving right around cliffs and vanishing over the horizon. Across the river sits a beautiful island encircled by water, covered in mixed coniferous and broad-leaved primeval forest. The terrain slopes gently downward from far to near, and the multicoloured forest stretches into the distance, stirring the soul. The river wraps around the island to form a semi-circular golden sandy beach, earning the island its resounding name — Golden Ring Island.

At the 485-kilometre marker of the Jiagedaqi–Mohe Highway, the road winds halfway up a mountain. Pausing here, you will instantly enjoy sweeping bird’s-eye views. Looking upward, thick dark pine trees layer the mountains like ink, with rolling ridges shifting shape like surging clouds, and the roar of pine forests sounding like thousands of galloping horses. Gazing down the mountainside, a vivid natural oil painting unfolds in full view. The winding, twisting river snakes forward like a giant dragon. Lush green willows and tall, graceful poplars line both banks. Wild ducks dart across the water, and mountain birds chirp in chorus, sparking boundless imagination. Especially at dawn or after rainfall, swirling mist and morning fog wrap the mountains, creating the sensation of walking on auspicious clouds, as if wandering among immortals.

Admission Fee: 20 RMB