A Divine Land Close to the Arctic Circle

Mo Tingting

With the shape of a rooster， China is the worlds third largest country， ranking after Russia and Canada. It reaches Mohe County in Heilongjiang Province as the northernmost end， and James Shoal as the southernmost point. From east to west， the nation extends from the confluence of the Heilongjiang River and Wusuli River to the Pamirs. In China， a vast land spanning many degrees of latitude with complicated terrain， climate varies a great deal. When inhabitants of eastern China are greeting the dawn， people in western China still face four more hours of darkness. When flowers are already blooming in the balmy south in spring， Mohe County in northern China is still gripped in a world of ice and snow.

In 1970， Daxinganling became a district under the direct guide of Heilongjiang Province， the most northeastern province in China. Early in the late Paleolithic Age， human beings started to live in this area. It was already a state of the Zhou Dynasty （770 BC-221 BC）. In the 16th century， it was reined by the Manchu people. Daxinganling is a natural unpolluted area with peculiar landscape of forests， rivers， ice and snow. It is packed with incredible nature reserves， scenic spots and forest parks.

Belonging to Daxinganling region， Mohe County is the “golden crest on the bright pearl” in the world with unique geographical location， rich resources and celestial peculiar phenomena. Influenced by latitude and monsoon activities， Mohe features a sub-arctic climate. In spring， Mohe can hit an average of 5 degrees centigrade below zero， while the temperature of Sanya in Hainan Province is above 20 degrees. Mohe County， also known Ink River， is said to be named due to the water black as ink. Mountains and rivers create a beautiful backdrop for this modest county. Snow and the aurora borealis make Mohe more than just the countrys highest-latitude settlement.

Because of its long history， there are many relics. Among the relics， the ancient Golden Path and Rouge River are very famous. The Gold Path is said to be the way where gold was transported in ancient times. Errenzhuan， a song-and-dance duet popular in the northeast of China， came into being more than 200 years ago. It has developed gradually from northeastern Chinas Yangko and folk songs by learning from and absorbing other performing arts like Lianhualao， Ping Opera and shadow play， and is especially popular in Mohe， Heilongjiang， where the art form has evolved into a northern version that has its own features and differs distinctly from the art as practiced in the provinces in the south. This version features higher exquisiteness and beautiful voices in the performances.

And the natural wild resources are very bountiful in Mohe. There are 400 kinds or so rare animals like deer， wild boars， brown bears， snow hares， pheasants， sables， roes， reindeer and others. Mohe is also a good place for hunting and fishing. Furthermore， edible mushroom， edible fungus， hedgehog and edible tender leaves of brakes are all over the area and there are more than 300 kinds of valuable traditional Chinese medicines.

As the highest geographical point in China， Beiji Village in Mohe County surely deserves its reputation as Chinas “Arctic Village.” Built in the 1960s， Beiji Village is the only place in China to be fortunate to enjoy polar day and aurora borealis. The fantastic luminous rings dance across the sky changing color and size as they disappear to the east. Witnessing the aurora borealis in Mohe Countys Beiji village， breathing the freshest air in park， and enjoying the cold mineral spring here would be an unforgettable trip. Mesmerized by the blue sky， fluffy white clouds and crisp greenery of the forest， you will be reluctant to leave.

Immersing in the spring in north China

According to Chinas solar calendar， which comprises 24 solar terms， the Beginning of Spring， or Lichun， implies the arrival of spring. As weather warms up， it is a good time to get out of the house after a long winter and experience the nature， especially blossoms. When flowers are in full bloom in south China， the cold still stays in Mohe. The weather in Mohe makes a sharp contrast with that of most Chinese regions which have entered spring earlier.

In early spring， ice melts and flows into rivers and lakes. The most marvelous views in Mohe County are along the flowers blooming on the sides of Heilongjiang River. And a few mountains become top resorts for hiking and horseback riding. If you are ready to start a spring trip to China， do not miss the chance to experience the hiking in Mohe County.

Crossing the hill， you might see the broad forest with more than 200 kinds of trees such as white birch and elm. The birch tree is a plant species prevalent in North China. It grows along the wide expanse of mountain areas and riverbanks. During the spring season， its pure color serves as one of natures best decorations. In Chinese culture， birth tree symbolizes strength， confidence and elegance. The best way to enjoy the forest is to bathe in the rays from the sun， hear the wind through the birch trees and take a deep breath， letting the fresh air clear your lungs.

With undulating hills， flourishing greenness， melting snow， clear water and misty clouds， Mohe County is tranquil and magnificent. Spring sees green sprouting and flowers blossoming， and the silver snow atop the trees and vapor rising from the hot springs in Mohe make the park even more spectacular.

As the northernmost point of China， Mohe Village is also known as the “place that never sleeps". If you are lucky， coming to Arctic Village， Mohe County in spring can also enjoy the mysterious and magnificent aurora borealis， though its occurrence is extremely rare. Some local elders say they have seen it only once or twice in their whole life. The Arctic Village is seemed to be built up on the wide stretches of lush green pasture. Every household has a yard in which to grow vegetables and sunflowers. The low wooden fences separating households seemed purely decorative； neighbors chat to each other through them， and front gates are always open for visitors. As dinnertime approaches， smoke billows up from kitchen chimneys， adding a final， rustic touch to the fairy-tale scene. Its architecture reminds one of the log cabin villages of many a fairy tale. The walls of the buildings are built from pine logs， which are then coated in mud. This style of construction is pervasive in the timber-rich border regions of China and Russia. When spring comes， the Arctic Village really gives you an idyllic picture of country life.

In Mohe， you can pause， relax and reflect. For you， leaving the city behind and revealing the natures beauty is incredibly important. In retrospect， the daily worries of city life always seem trivial.