Sanchakou Korean Ethnic Town in Dongning City, Mudanjiang

Sanchakou Korean Ethnic Township (三岔口朝鲜族镇), Dongning

Sanchakou Korean Ethnic Township (三岔口朝鲜族镇) is located in the eastern part of Dongning (东宁), Mudanjiang (牡丹江), and is the only ethnic minority border-port township in Heilongjiang Province. The township derives its name from the confluence of three rivers: Hubutu River (瑚布图河), Xiaowushegou River (小乌蛇沟河), and Daduchuan River (大肚川河).

Across the Hubutu River lies Russia’s Primorsky Krai (滨海边疆区). The township has a total border length of 65.3 kilometers and has been recognized as a National Characteristic Scenic Tourism Town. It is a unique borderland tourism destination where Korean ethnic culture, revolutionary history, China-Russia border culture, and ecological fishing traditions converge.

The township has a total population of 17,200, including 6,897 ethnic Koreans. It administers 13 border villages, among which four are purely Korean ethnic villages. Korean and Han communities have lived together for generations, preserving one of the most complete indigenous Korean ethnic folk cultural systems in Northeast China.

Korean Ethnic Cultural Heritage

Migration and Settlement History

During the late Qing Dynasty and the "Chuang Guandong" migration period (闯关东), Korean immigrants crossed into the region along the Ussuri River and Suifen River, reclaiming land and developing rice farming in Sanchakou.

Benefiting from the township’s relatively mild basin climate—one of the few accumulated-temperature zones in Heilongjiang with a frost-free period of approximately 150 days—they established thousands of hectares of rice paddies, making Sanchakou one of the earliest Korean rice-farming settlements in eastern Heilongjiang.

During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the area became an important base of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army (东北抗联). Notable leaders including Kim Il-sung (金日成), Wang Delin (王德林), and Zhou Baozhong (周保中) organized anti-Japanese forces here. Korean residents actively participated in the resistance movement, creating a rich legacy of revolutionary and ethnic integration.

Over more than a century, Korean and Han communities have coexisted harmoniously, deeply integrating their architecture, cuisine, festivals, and agricultural traditions.

Intangible Cultural Heritage and Folk Traditions

Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage: Korean Percussion Dance (朝鲜族击打舞)

The Korean Percussion Dance is the township’s most representative intangible cultural heritage. Originating from rice-farming traditions, it is performed with long drums, flat drums, and cymbals. Traditionally presented during agricultural off-seasons and festive celebrations, it remains a major cultural performance regularly showcased in local folk culture districts.

Seasonal Ethnic Festivals

Spring Rice Transplanting Festival (春耕插秧节)

• Collective rice planting by Korean farming families
• Rituals honoring the Earth God
• Accompanied by farmers' dances and seesaw performances

Summer and Autumn Folk Sports Festival (民俗运动会)

• Traditional Korean sports competitions
• Swing riding, seesaw jumping, wrestling, and tug-of-war
• One of the best-known ethnic celebrations along the Heilongjiang border

Late Autumn Kimchi Festival (辣白菜腌制节)

• Community-wide kimchi making
• Traditional rice sausage preparation
• Hands-on participation opportunities for visitors

Lantern Festival and 60th Birthday Banquet (上元节与花甲宴)

• Traditional Korean longevity celebrations
• Authentic Hwangap (60th birthday) banquet experiences

Traditional Architecture and Village Life

Traditional Korean villages preserve classic Korean-style residences featuring:

• Blue-tiled roofs and white walls
• Heated kang beds (火炕)
• Low windows
• Wooden lattice doors and windows

The township has developed Korean Folk Villages (朝鲜族民俗村), folk food streets, and Korean-themed homestay parks. Many traditional residences have been converted into guesthouses where visitors can experience heated kang beds and wear traditional Korean costumes.

Korean Cuisine: A Core Tourism Attraction

Supported by local rice farming and border-river fisheries, Sanchakou has developed a distinctive borderland Korean culinary culture.

Staple Foods

• Korean-style glutinous rice cakes (打糕)
• Korean rice sausage (米肠)
• Korean rice wine (玛格丽)
• Korean cold noodles (大冷面)

Signature Dishes

• Kimchi Stewed Tanhou Fish (辣白菜炖滩头鱼)
• Glutinous Rice Chicken (江米鸡)
• Soybean Paste Soup (酱汤)
• Dog Meat Hot Pot (狗肉锅)
• Perilla Leaf Rice Wraps (苏子叶包饭)

Local Specialties

• Sanchakou Organic Korean Rice (三岔口朝鲜族有机大米)
• Homemade Kimchi (辣白菜)
• Wild Vegetable Pickles (山野菜泡菜)

Every year from May to June, during the migration season of Tanhou Fish (滩头鱼), local Korean fishing households offer elaborate fish banquets, marking the peak tourism season.

Four Major Tourism Experiences (四大板块全域旅游资源)

Korean Folk Culture Experience Tour (朝鲜族民俗体验游)

Korean Folk Culture Street (朝鲜族民俗风情街区)

The township’s main culinary district features dozens of Korean restaurants where visitors can:

• Taste authentic Korean cuisine
• Purchase rice cakes, kimchi, and handicrafts
• Experience local ethnic traditions

Korean Homestay Clusters (朝鲜族民俗民宿集群)

Four Korean villages jointly operate traditional guesthouse courtyards where visitors can:

• Make kimchi
• Learn rice cake production
• Study traditional drum performances
• Wear Korean costumes for photography
• Fish in rural rice paddies

Korean Folk Museum (民俗博物馆)

The museum preserves traditional farming tools, costumes, and household items while documenting the history of Korean migration and rice cultivation in the region.

Red Tourism and Revolutionary Education Tour (红色历史研学游)

The township is home to the Dongning Fortress (东宁要塞), a National 4A Tourist Attraction and National Patriotic Education Base.

Highlights include:

• Asia’s largest Japanese military fortress complex from World War II
• The final battlefield of the Soviet-Japanese conflict in the Far East
• Anti-Japanese Heroes Education Hall (抗日英雄党性教育馆)
• Tuanshanzi Comintern Secret Passage (团山子共产国际秘密通道)
• Soviet Army Memorial Monument (苏军抗战纪念碑)

Special exhibitions commemorate the participation of Korean residents in the Northeast Anti-Japanese resistance.

China-Russia Border and Cross-Border Experience Tour (中俄边境口岸跨境风情游)

Dongning Port (东宁口岸)

A National First-Class Land Port and one of Heilongjiang’s major gateways to Russia.

Visitors can:

• View the national border gate
• Observe the Hubutu River boundary line
• Enjoy panoramic views of nearby Russian settlements

China-Russia Border Trade Zone (中俄互市贸易区)

Popular products include:

• Russian amber
• Matryoshka dolls
• Russian chocolates
• Gemstones and jewelry

Hubutu River Border Scenery (瑚布图河边境风光)

Visitors may enjoy:

• Riverside boardwalks
• Border fishing villages
• River cruises
• Scenic viewpoints offering "One Glance into Russia" experiences

Short Cross-Border Excursions

From Dongning Port, visitors can arrange short trips to:

• Ussuriysk (乌苏里斯克)
• Vladivostok (海参崴)

These routes create a unique travel experience combining Korean cuisine in China with urban exploration in Russia.

Ecological Leisure and Rural Retreat Tour (塞北江南生态休闲游)

With a forest coverage rate of 85%, Sanchakou is often referred to as the "Jiangnan of Northern China" (塞北小江南).

Tanhou Fish Ecological Fishing Village (滩头鱼生态渔村)

Located at the confluence of the Suifen River and Hubutu River, this area offers:

• Cold-water fish fishing experiences
• Fresh river fish cuisine
• Geographical indication fish products

Korean Rice Field Scenic Belt (万亩朝鲜族稻田观光带)

Seasonal activities include:

• Cycling through rice paddies
• Rice-field camping
• Harvest experiences during autumn

Mountain Forest Harvesting Experiences (山林特产采摘)

Local forests produce:

• Matsutake mushrooms
• Black fungus
• Wild ginseng
• Wild vegetables

Visitors may participate in seasonal harvesting activities and purchase locally processed mountain products.

Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park Vicinity (东北虎豹国家公园)

The township lies near the edge of the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park, making it suitable for wilderness exploration itineraries.

Recommended Tourism Routes

Korean Folk Culture Route

Folk Culture Street → Korean Homestay → Korean Percussion Dance Performance → Rice Field Sightseeing → Korean Fish Banquet

Revolutionary Education Route

Dongning Fortress → Anti-Japanese Memorial Museum → Comintern Secret Passage

China-Russia Border Route

Dongning Port → Border Trade Zone → Hubutu River Cruise → Border Fishing Village

Ecological Wellness Route

Mountain Product Harvesting → Rice Field Leisure Activities → Border River Fishing

Recommended Souvenirs and Local Products

Korean Ethnic Specialties

• Organic Korean Rice
• Handmade Kimchi
• Korean Rice Sausage
• Traditional Rice Wine

Border River Products

• Dried Tanhou Fish
• Salmon Products

Forest Products

• Black Fungus
• Matsutake Mushrooms
• Dried Wild Vegetables

China-Russia Cross-Border Products

• Russian Amber
• Agate
• Matryoshka Dolls
• Russian Snacks

Best Time to Visit (最佳出游时节)

May – June: Tanhou Fish Season (滩头鱼季)

• Fresh border-river fish cuisine
• Riverside spring scenery
• Korean Fishing Festival activities

July – August: Summer Escape

• Green rice paddies
• Cool mountain forests
• Ethnic sports festivals
• Folk performances

September – October: Harvest Season

• Golden rice fields
• Kimchi-making celebrations
• Mountain product harvesting
• The richest atmosphere of Korean ethnic culture throughout the year