Great Khingan Mountains in Inner Mongolia and Heilongjiang

Greater Khingan Mountains

Greater Khingan Mountains (大兴安岭) is situated in the northeast of Inner Mongolia. It is a watershed between Inner Mongolian Plateau and Songliao Plain.

Introduction of Great Khingan Mountains

Basic knowledge of Great Khingan Mountains

Length: 1,200 kilometers
Altitude: 1100-1400 meters

Geography

The area has an elevation of 1,200 to 1,300 metres (3,900 to 4,300 ft), and the highest peak Huanggangliang reaches 2,035 metres (6,677 ft). The range is much broader in the north, at 306 kilometres (190 mi), than it is in the south, at 97 kilometres (60 mi). It was formed during the Jurassic Period (roughly 200 to 145 million years ago), and is essentially a tilted fault block; its ancient fault line forms its eastern edge, facing the Northeast China Plain. The ranges are markedly asymmetrical, with a sharp eastern face and a more gentle western slope down to the Mongolian Plateau at an elevation of 790 to 1,000 metres (2,590 to 3,280 ft). The eastern slopes are more heavily dissected by the numerous tributaries of the Nen and Songhua rivers, but generally, the mountains are rounded with flat peaks. The ranges are composed largely of igneous rocks.

Population

Its slopes are a relatively rich grazing area. The Khitan people lived on the eastern slopes before establishing the Liao Dynasty in the tenth century. On the western slopes lived the nomadic people, who raised sheep and camels and used the Mongolian plateau for their pastoralist economy.

Much of the area is inhabited by peoples speaking Mongol and, in the north, Tungusic languages, such as the Oroqen people and the Evenk people. Logging continues to be the major economic activity.

Best season to visit the Greater Khingan Mountains

Summer (June to August) is the best time to visit there as the Greater Higgnan Mountains is the northern extreme of China, the average temperature there is only -2.8 degree centigrade. 

Recommended Accommodation

Jiagedaqi, the capital of the Greater Khingan mountains region, is equipped with a variety of commercial hotel and authority guest house, accommodation is more convenient. At Mohe county Xilinji town there is Tourist Administration, where can take tourists to visit the arctic village, but Xilinji town has no hotels and guest houses.

How to get there

• Airway-The airport in Mohe village is under construction. Jiagedaqi Airport is close to Greater Khingan Mountains.
• Railway-The fist travel stop in Great Khingan Mountains is Mohe county. It takes you 9 hours to Jiagedaqi from Harbin. After via the trains to Mohe, it takes you another 10 hours.
• Highway- The Jiagedaqi-Tahe-Mohe Highway is available.

Useful Travel Tips

• Itinerary for travel to the Greater Higgnan Mountains: Tourist will pass by Jiagedaqi city from Harbin to Mohe, so they can visit the Gaxian Cave at Jiagedaqi, enjoy the folk culture of Oroqen ethnic minority people and stay overnight there.
• The accommodation condition is not good at Mohe, the village only has small guesthouse costs about RMB40 per night per bed.
• Clothes and Equipments: Mohe and Greater Higgnan Mountain Areas is of extreme cold temperature, -30 to -40 degree centigrade are quite common in winter. Takeing Thick cotton clothes, thermal underwear, old wadded cotton trousers, hat with you.

More Attractions in Inner Mongolia

• Mammoth Park in Hulunbuir City
• Hulunbuir Nationality Museum
• Zhalanaor Museum in Hulunbuir City
• Taiping Village in Hulunbuir City
• Golden Horde Mongolian Tribe
• Mastryoshka Doll Square
• Hulun River in Hulunbuir City
• Moerdaoga in Erguna City
• Aoluguya Ewenke National Township
• Genhe Wetland in Hulunbuir City
• Hulunbuir Grassland in Inner Mongolia
• Mongolian Tribe Resort in Hailar City
• Xishan National Park in Hailar City
• Huitengxile Grassland in Hohhot City
• Dalate Pass Yellow River in Erdos City
• General’s Government Office in Hohhot City

Edited by  Lynette Fu/付云锐