Arctic Village Tourism Scenic Area is located in Mohe City, Daxing'anling Region, Heilongjiang Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction and the northernmost village in China, known as the "Crown of the Golden Rooster" and "North Pole of China". The scenic area features polar day and night, aurora borealis, ice and snow landscapes, and northernmost culture as its core attractions, covering a total area of 16 square kilometers, with a planned tourist area of about 3.6 square kilometers. The village retains ancient wooden buildings (log cabins) that complement modern tourist facilities. There are about 240 households with a permanent population of approximately 600 people. The annual average temperature here is -5.5°C, with the lowest temperature in winter reaching -52.3°C and annual snow days totaling 210. It is a iconic destination to experience extreme cold and ice-snow fun. Meanwhile, located near 53°33′30″ north latitude, it is the only place in China where aurora borealis and polar day can be observed.
History and Culture
The history of Arctic Village dates back to the late Qing Dynasty, when it was a post station. Due to its location on the Sino-Russian border and as a vital route for Mohe gold mining, it gradually developed into a village, originally named "Mohe Village" and later renamed "Arctic Village" for being the northernmost in China. In the 1980s, with the development of tourism, the village gradually transformed into a tourist scenic area and was rated as a national 5A-level tourist attraction in 2015.
Mohe City, where the scenic area is located, is a traditional settlement of ethnic minorities such as Oroqen and Ewenki, preserving rich fishing and hunting culture and ice-snow folk customs. For example, the Oroqen's "Bonfire Festival" and "Birch Bark Boat Making Technique", and the Ewenki's "Reindeer Culture" are displayed in the scenic area. In addition, modern festivals like the "Winter Solstice Culture Festival" and "Aurora Festival" in Arctic Village integrate northern ethnic traditions with modern tourism elements, attracting numerous tourists each year and serving as an important carrier to showcase China's northernmost regional culture.
Main Attractions
Shenzhou North Pole Square
Shenzhou North Pole Square is a landmark of Arctic Village, located on the bank of the Heilongjiang River. In the center of the square stands a 4.8-meter-high and 10-ton stone stele inscribed with "Shenzhou North Pole" on the front, echoing "Tianya Haijiao" in Sanya, Hainan, and is a must-visit for tourists to take photos. A viewing platform on the river side of the square offers a view of villages in Russia's Amur Oblast. The river can be toured by boat in summer and becomes a natural ice rink in winter. Covering about 2,000 square meters, it is one of the most crowded areas in the scenic area.
Arctic Sandbar
Arctic Sandbar is a sandbar island on the Chinese side of the main channel of the Heilongjiang River, about 1 kilometer from the main scenic area and accessible via a suspension bridge, covering approximately 0.18 square kilometers. It features landmarks like the "China's Northernmost Point" tower (53°33′43″ north latitude) and "North View Pass". The ground is paved with cobblestones forming the character "北" (north), surrounded by primitive pine forests. It is one of the best spots to watch polar day and aurora borealis. In summer (mid-to-late June), 24-hour daylight can be experienced, and in winter, it is covered in snow, forming a unique "white sandbar" landscape. A full tour takes about 1.5 hours.
Arctic Post
Arctic Post is China's northernmost border post, located about 2 kilometers northeast of the village, built in 1969. The existing watchtower is 17 meters high, made of reinforced concrete. A viewing platform outside allows visitors to overlook the post and surrounding border scenery (the interior is not open to the public). A stone stele inscribed with "China's Northernmost Post" stands beside it, serving as an important window to showcase China's border defense culture and a patriotic education base. The visit takes about 30 minutes.
Beichui Post Memorial Hall
Beichui Post Memorial Hall is located in the central area of Arctic Village, covering about 800 square meters, divided into three exhibition halls: "Border Defense History", "Polar Garrison", and "Folk Customs Integration". It displays over 300 exhibits including old post items, daily necessities of border guards, and Sino-Russian border trade historical materials, showcasing the border defense history and military-civilian life of Arctic Village through texts, images, and videos. It is an important place to understand local history and culture, open for free, with a recommended visit time of 1 hour.
Christmas Village
Christmas Village is located about 3 kilometers southeast of Arctic Village, a theme park integrating Finnish Christmas culture and Chinese ice-snow characteristics, covering about 100,000 square meters. It features a 17-meter-tall giant Santa Claus statue, Christmas Post Office, snow sculpture groups, and a reindeer park. The Christmas Post Office offers mail with "Arctic Christmas" postmarks. The reindeer park houses over 20 Finnish reindeer, and visitors can pay to feed and take photos with them (50 yuan per person). The "Christmas Ice and Snow Carnival" is held in winter (December to February), making it a popular spot for family tours, with a recommended visit time of 2 hours.
Cuisine
Iron Pot Stewed Cold-Water Fish
Iron Pot Stewed Cold-Water Fish is a signature dish of Arctic Village, using wild fish from the Heilongjiang River such as crucian carp, carp, and taimen (the most precious). It is slowly stewed in a traditional iron pot with potatoes, corn, tofu, etc. The fish, growing in cold waters, has firm flesh and rich soup. Corn cakes can be pasted on the pot edge, absorbing the soup for a sweet taste. The average consumption in scenic restaurants is about 80-120 yuan per person. The "Northernmost Family" restaurant is most famous for this dish, receiving over 300 tourists daily.
Hand-Held Meat
Hand-Held Meat is a traditional food of ethnic minorities like Mongolians and Oroqen. In Arctic Village, it mainly uses locally raised mutton or roe deer meat (farmed). The meat with bones is boiled and eaten by hand, dipped in garlic paste or leek flower sauce. It is tender and non-greasy, rich in protein, and good for keeping warm in winter. A serving (about 500 grams) in scenic restaurants costs about 60-80 yuan, and it is more distinctive when paired with "sticky bean buns".
Frozen Pears and Frozen Persimmons
Frozen pears (mostly huagai pears) and frozen persimmons are common winter fruits in Arctic Village, naturally frozen in the local extreme cold (-30°C or below). Frozen pears are black and become soft and juicy after thawing; frozen persimmons are crystal clear with a sweet and glutinous taste. They can be bought in village markets or restaurants, about 3-5 yuan each, representing Northeast China's "frozen food culture". It is recommended to eat them with warm water to avoid stomach discomfort.
Tickets
The ticket price is 68 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "北极漠河旅游" to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
The scenic area is open year-round. In peak season (May 1 - October 31), it is open from 8:00 to 18:00; in off-season (November 1 - April 30 next year), from 8:30 to 17:00. In winter (December to February), Arctic Sandbar can only be reached by the scenic area's special ice transport vehicle (round trip 20 yuan per person). The best time to watch aurora borealis is on clear nights from September to April. Polar day occurs from June 15 to July 15. It is recommended that tourists check the weather forecast and astronomical data in advance.
Tour Route
Recommended two-day tour route: On the first day, arrive in the morning, visit Shenzhou North Pole Square (1 hour) to take photos with the "Shenzhou North Pole" stele and view Russian scenery; then go to Arctic Sandbar (1.5 hours) to visit China's Northernmost Point. Have lunch in a village restaurant, trying Iron Pot Stewed Cold-Water Fish. In the afternoon, visit Arctic Post (30 minutes) and Beichui Post Memorial Hall (1 hour) to learn about border defense history. In the evening, go to Arctic Village Old Street to experience the night view of log cabins and stay in a village homestay. On the second day, visit Christmas Village in the morning (2 hours) to take photos with Santa Claus and interact with reindeer; return to the village for lunch. In the afternoon, choose activities based on the season: take a boat tour on the Heilongjiang River in summer (1 hour, 50 yuan per person) or participate in ice activities like snow tubing and snowmobiling in winter (about 100 yuan per person). End the trip in the evening.
Transportation
- Airplane: Take a flight to Mohe Gulian Airport (about 80 kilometers from Arctic Village). The airport has daily flights to and from Harbin and Jiagedaqi in Daxing'anling Region. After landing, take an airport bus (30 yuan per person) or a taxi (about 150 yuan) to Arctic Village, with a 1.5-hour drive.
- Train: Mohe Station is the nearest railway station (about 77 kilometers from the scenic area), with trains to and from Harbin, Shenyang, and Jiagedaqi. Take a tourist bus (25 yuan per person) or a taxi (about 120 yuan) from Mohe Station to Arctic Village, with a 1.2-hour drive. The tourist bus runs hourly from 6:00 to 18:00 daily.
- Self-driving: Depart from Mohe City, drive north along Jiamo Highway (S207), about 77 kilometers, 1.2 hours. "Arctic Village" signs are along the way. In winter, replace with snow tires as some sections may be icy. It is recommended to depart after 10:00 AM to avoid severe morning icing. Parking in the scenic area is free for cars and tour buses.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Shenzhou North Pole Square: The core landmark of the scenic area. The "Shenzhou North Pole" stele symbolizes China's northernmost point, offering views of both Sino-Russian riversides. The river is wide in summer and icy in winter, making it a must-visit.
- Arctic Sandbar: Location of China's Northernmost Point (53°33′43″ north latitude), the best area to watch polar day and aurora borealis. The "north" character landscape and primitive pine forests are distinctive, with high tourism value.
- Christmas Village: A theme park integrating Chinese and Western ice-snow culture. It features unique winter snow sculptures and reindeer interactions. The Christmas Post Office offers special mail, suitable for families and young tourists.
Travel Suggestions
- Best travel seasons: Summer (June-August) with temperatures around 15-25°C, suitable for summer vacations and polar day viewing; winter (December-February) for ice activities and extreme cold experience, with a high chance of seeing aurora borealis (temperatures often below -30°C, so keep warm); spring and autumn (April-May, September-October) with fewer tourists, suitable for quiet travelers.
- Cold protection equipment: In winter, wear professional cold-proof clothing (with over 80% down content), snow boots (with ice cleats), scarves, and gloves (it is recommended to wear two layers: thin touchscreen gloves inside and thick waterproof gloves outside). Cold-proof clothing can be rented in the scenic area (50 yuan per day). In summer, bring mosquito repellent and a thin coat (about 10°C temperature difference between morning and evening).
- Accommodation suggestions: Various options from homestays to star hotels are available in the village. Prices are higher in peak seasons (June-August, December-February), with homestays averaging 400-800 yuan per night and hotels 600-1500 yuan per night. It is recommended to book 1-2 weeks in advance. Some homestays offer "Northeast kang" experience, suitable for 3-4 people.
- Dining suggestions: It is recommended to eat in restaurants on the main street of the village with transparent prices, such as "Northernmost Family" and "Arctic Family". You can order half portions (Northeast dishes are large). Cold-water fish is expensive (taimen about 150 yuan per catty), so share with others to avoid waste.
- Aurora observation: The best time is clear winter nights (December-February). Stay away from village lights, and it is recommended to go to Arctic Sandbar or the Heilongjiang River bank. Follow the "Mohe Aurora Forecast" WeChat public account in advance, with an accuracy rate of about 70%.
Precautions
- Do not stay outdoors for too long in winter; warm up indoors every 30 minutes to prevent frostbite. Electronic devices like mobile phones and cameras may shut down automatically below -25°C. It is recommended to keep them in inner pockets for warmth or use warm covers (available in scenic area stores for 20 yuan each).
- The Heilongjiang River is a Sino-Russian border river. When visiting, abide by border regulations: do not cross the main channel center line (marked by boundary markers), do not throw objects or shout at the opposite bank, and avoid taking photos of sensitive facilities like Russian posts.
- Arctic Sandbar is a river beach wetland in summer with muddy areas, so wear non-slip shoes. The suspension bridge may be icy in winter; hold the handrail and do not run.
- Respect local ethnic customs. When entering the reindeer park, follow staff instructions. Do not touch reindeer heads or grab their food randomly to avoid being bitten.
- Mobile phone signals are weak in some parts of the scenic area (especially Arctic Sandbar). It is recommended to agree on meeting times and places with companions in advance. Paper maps can be obtained at the visitor center; it is recommended to carry them.