Hutou Tourist Scenic Area is located in Hutou Town, Hulin City, Jixi City, Heilongjiang Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction, situated on the Sino-Russian border, on the left bank of the Ussuri River, and gets its name because it resembles a tiger's head. The scenic area features red historical culture, border river scenery, and wetland ecology as its core attractions, covering a total area of 25.8 square kilometers, with the core scenic area being approximately 5.2 square kilometers. The scenic area boasts rich historical relics and natural landscapes, including the national key cultural relics protection unit - Hutou Fortress Site, the First Tower of the Ussuri River, and Guandi Temple, etc. The architectural style integrates military sites, traditional temples, and modern viewing facilities. It is the ending place of World War II and an important border tourism node along the Ussuri River, receiving over 800,000 visitors annually. It is a comprehensive scenic area integrating patriotic education, border sightseeing, and ecological leisure.
History and Culture
The Hutou area has a long history. As early as the Neolithic Age, there were human activities. During the Shang and Zhou dynasties, it was inhabited by the Sushen people. In the Tang Dynasty, it was incorporated into the territory of the Bohai Kingdom. In the Qing Dynasty, it became an important border town. After the "September 18th Incident" in 1931, the Japanese army built the Hutou Fortress here as a military base for attacking the Soviet Union. In August 1945, the Soviet Red Army captured the Hutou Fortress, making it the final battlefield of World War II, ending the six-year-long World War II. Therefore, it is known as the "Ending Place of World War II".
The Hutou Fortress Site in the scenic area is an important evidence of the Japanese invasion of China. The existing underground fortifications cover an area of about 14,000 square meters, including command posts, barracks, ammunition depots, etc. It was listed as a provincial cultural relics protection unit in 1987 and promoted to a national key cultural relics protection unit in 2006. In addition, the Hutou Guandi Temple, built during the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty (1723-1735), has a history of nearly 300 years. It is the easternmost Guandi Temple in China, reflecting the folk culture and religious beliefs in border areas. It was included in the national key cultural relics protection units in 2013. These historical relics together constitute the profound red culture and border historical heritage of the scenic area.
Main Attractions
Hutou Fortress Site Museum
Hutou Fortress Site Museum is located in the core area of the scenic area, with a construction area of about 2,800 square meters, divided into the above-ground exhibition hall and the underground site. The above-ground exhibition hall systematically displays the construction process of the Hutou Fortress, the aggressive acts of the Japanese army, and the history of the final battle of World War II through historical photos, physical exhibits (including more than 300 items such as Japanese weapons, military uniforms, and documents), and multimedia means. The underground site part retains about 800 meters of Japanese underground fortifications, including passages, barracks, and reservoirs, reproducing the military layout of the fortress in those years. The museum receives about 500,000 visitors annually and is a national patriotic education demonstration base, with a visit time of about 1.5 hours.
The First Tower of the Ussuri River
The First Tower of the Ussuri River is a landmark building of the scenic area, located on the left bank of the Ussuri River. The tower is 55 meters high, with the viewing platform at an altitude of about 65 meters, and is of reinforced concrete structure. The tower is equipped with an elevator, allowing visitors to reach the top viewing platform directly to overlook the scenery on both sides of the Ussuri River and the Sino-Russian border towns (Imansky, Russia). On clear days, the visible distance can reach 10 kilometers. The bottom floor of the tower is the Natural Ecological Museum of the Ussuri River Basin, displaying animal and plant specimens and folk cultural exhibits of the river basin. The tower was built in 2007 and is a comprehensive facility integrating viewing, popular science, and border monitoring. The cost to climb the tower is 30 yuan per person, and the visiting time is about 1 hour.
Hutou Guandi Temple
Hutou Guandi Temple was built during the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty (1723-1735). It is the easternmost existing Guandi Temple in China, covering an area of about 850 square meters, with a construction area of 160 square meters. It is a traditional quadrangle building with blue bricks and gray tiles, consisting of the main hall, side halls, and mountain gate. The main hall enshrines statues of Guan Yu, Guan Ping, and Zhou Cang, and the walls are painted with murals of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", which are well-preserved. The temple is a spiritual symbol of the border military and civilians in the Qing Dynasty praying for peace and resisting foreign aggression, and also a witness of Sino-Russian border cultural exchanges. It was listed as a provincial cultural relics protection unit in 1984 and became a national key cultural relics protection unit in 2013. It is open to the public free of charge, and the visiting time is about 40 minutes.
World War II End Memorial Park
World War II End Memorial Park is located south of the Hutou Fortress Site, covering an area of about 12,000 square meters. In the park stands the "Monument to the End of World War II", which is 21 meters high, symbolizing peace in the 21st century. The monument is made of reinforced concrete, with war reliefs carved on its surface. The memorial park reproduces the historical scenes of the Battle of Hutou Fortress through sculptures, inscriptions, and memorial walls, among which the "Last Shot" sculpture vividly depicts the moment when World War II ended. The memorial park was built in 2005 and is an important place to remember the martyrs and history. It is open to the public free of charge, and the recommended visiting time is 1 hour.
Yueya Lake Scenic Area
Yueya Lake Scenic Area is located about 5 kilometers northwest of Hutou Town. It gets its name because the lake is shaped like a crescent moon. It covers a total area of about 7.2 square kilometers, with a water area of 2.6 square kilometers, and is a typical wetland lake in the Ussuri River basin. A large area of wild lotus grows in the lake. In summer (July-August), the lotus blooms, covering an area of more than 1,000 mu, hence the name "Lotus Township of the North". There are lotus viewing plank roads, viewing platforms, and ecological exhibition halls by the lake, displaying wetland animal and plant resources (including rare birds such as red-crowned cranes and oriental storks). In winter, the lake surface is frozen, and ice activities can be carried out. The scenic area is linked with the main scenic area of Hutou and is an important part of ecological tourism, with a visiting time of about 2 hours.
Cuisine
Ussuri River Big White Fish
Ussuri River Big White Fish is the signature dish of Hutou Town, with the scientific name Culter alburnus. Because it grows in the clear waters of the Ussuri River, its meat is tender and white, rich in protein. There are various cooking methods, with steaming and pan-frying being the most common. Steamed Big White Fish can retain its freshness to the greatest extent, while pan-fried one is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. A portion of steamed Big White Fish (about 500 grams) in restaurants around the scenic area costs about 120-180 yuan. The Big White Fish Feast at "Jiangbian Yujia" Restaurant is particularly famous, using freshly caught fish of the day, receiving more than 200 visitors daily on average.
Hezhe Fish Feast
The Hezhe people are an ethnic minority in the Ussuri River basin, making a living by fishing and hunting, and the fish feast is their traditional cuisine. The fish feast includes more than ten kinds of dishes such as sashimi (Talaha), fish shavings, and fish ball soup, all made from fish produced in the Ussuri River. Among them, "Talaha" is made by slicing fresh fish into thin pieces, slightly roasting them over charcoal fire, and then eating with seasonings, with a tender taste. The Hezhe Ethnic Village in the scenic area offers the experience of fish feast, with an average consumption of about 80-100 yuan per person, and visitors can also watch the production of Hezhe fish skin paintings and traditional song and dance performances.
Mountain Wild Vegetable Stewed with Potatoes
Mountain Wild Vegetable Stewed with Potatoes is a common farm dish in the local area. It uses wild vegetables picked in spring such as Aralia elata, dandelion, and Artemisia selengensis, stewed together with potatoes, with a refreshing taste and rich nutrition. The wild vegetables are all from the surrounding mountains and forests, natural and pollution-free, and when paired with the softness of potatoes, it is a healthy dish that relieves greasiness. A portion in restaurants around the scenic area costs about 30-40 yuan, often served as a side dish with the fish feast, and is loved by tourists.
Tickets
Free admission. Some attractions in the scenic area may charge separately. Subject to the actual announcement of the scenic area. As of July 2, 2025, no official WeChat public account has been found.
Opening Hours
The scenic area is open all year round. In the peak season (May 1 - October 31), it is open from 8:00 to 17:30 (admission stops at 17:00); in the off-season (November 1 - April 30 of the next year), it is open from 8:30 to 16:30 (admission stops at 16:00). Among them, the Hutou Fortress Site Museum is closed every Monday (except legal holidays); in winter (December - February of the next year), some plank roads in Yueya Lake Scenic Area are closed, and only the main scenic area is open; the First Tower of the Ussuri River may be temporarily closed due to weather reasons (such as extreme snowstorms), so it is recommended to consult the scenic area service phone in advance.
Tour Route
Recommended one-day tour route: Arrive at the scenic area at 8:30 am, first visit the Hutou Fortress Site Museum (1.5 hours) to learn about World War II history; then go to the World War II End Memorial Park (1 hour) to remember the history. At 11:00, climb the First Tower of the Ussuri River (1 hour) to overlook the border river scenery and Sino-Russian border towns. Have lunch at a restaurant near the scenic area, tasting the Ussuri River Big White Fish. At 13:30 pm, visit Hutou Guandi Temple (40 minutes) to experience traditional culture; at 14:30, go to Yueya Lake Scenic Area (about 15 minutes by car), enjoy lotus viewing in summer, or experience ice activities in winter (2 hours). Return to Hutou Town at 16:45, visit the border trade market in the town, buy Russian specialties and local mountain products, and end the trip at 17:30. If time permits, you can stay in Hutou Town and experience the Ussuri River cruise the next day (ticket price 50 yuan per person, voyage 1 hour).
Transportation
- Long-distance bus: Hulin Passenger Transport Center has direct buses to Hutou Town, with one bus per hour from 6:30 to 17:00 every day, the journey is about 1 hour, and the fare is 12 yuan per person; after arriving in Hutou Town, you can walk 10 minutes to reach the core area of the scenic area, or take a local tricycle (5 yuan per person).
- Train: Hulin Station is the nearest railway station to the scenic area (about 65 kilometers from Hutou Town), with trains to and from Harbin, Mudanjiang, Mishan and other places; after exiting Hulin Station, you can transfer to the above long-distance bus to Hutou Town, with a total journey of about 1.5 hours.
- Self-driving: Starting from Hulin City, drive east along Hurao Highway (S309), the total distance is about 65 kilometers, the journey is 1 hour, and there are "Hutou Tourist Scenic Area" signs along the way; starting from Jixi City, drive along Jihu Expressway (S11) and then transfer to Hurao Highway (S309), the total distance is about 220 kilometers, the journey is 2.5 hours. The parking lot in the scenic area is free, and can accommodate small cars and tourist buses.
- Border tourism special line: Hulin Tourism Bureau has opened a one-day tour special line to Hutou, including transportation and tickets, departing from Hulin City at 8:00 every day and returning at 16:30, with a cost of about 150 yuan per person, which can be booked through Hulin travel agencies.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Hutou Fortress Site Museum: A national key cultural relics protection unit, with 800-meter-long underground fortification sites and rich historical exhibits. It is a core attraction to understand the history of the final battle of World War II and has important patriotic education significance.
- The First Tower of the Ussuri River: A 55-meter-high viewing tower that can simultaneously view the scenery of the Ussuri River and the townscape of Imansky, Russia. It is a landmark viewing facility of the scenic area, with a wide view from the top, suitable for taking photos as a souvenir.
- Yueya Lake Scenic Area: In summer, thousands of mu of lotus bloom, which is a rare wetland lotus scenery in the north; in winter, the frozen lake surface allows ice activities, with unique ecological landscapes, complementing the historical attractions.
Travel Suggestions
- Best travel season: Summer (June - August) with a cool climate, suitable for viewing lotus and border river scenery, with temperatures around 20-28°C; autumn (September - October) with clear sky and beautiful scenery on both sides of the Ussuri River, and fewer tourists; winter (December - February) to experience ice and snow landscapes and the winter atmosphere of the fortress site, but need to pay attention to cold protection (temperatures around -15 to -25°C).
- Tour equipment: In summer, bring sun protection products, mosquito repellent, and rain gear (there are occasional showers in mountainous areas); in winter, wear down jackets, snow boots, gloves and other cold-proof equipment. Some roads in the scenic area may be icy in winter, so it is recommended to wear non-slip shoes.
- Dining suggestions: Restaurants around the scenic area mainly serve fish feasts and farm dishes. It is recommended to dine on the main street of Hutou Town with transparent prices; if you want to save costs, you can bring your own dry food to eat in the rest area of the scenic area, but you need to keep the environment clean.
- Shopping suggestions: Russian chocolates, honey, telescopes and other commodities, as well as local wild vegetables, black fungus and other specialties can be purchased in the border trade market of Hutou Town. Pay attention to distinguishing the authenticity of goods and consume rationally.
- Recommended travel duration: A one-day tour can cover the core attractions. If you want to experience in depth, you can arrange a two-day tour, adding the Hezhe Ethnic Village and the Ussuri River cruise project.
Precautions
- Taking photos and touching exhibits are prohibited in the Hutou Fortress Site Museum. You must abide by the visiting order and follow the guidance of the staff; the temperature in the underground fortifications is low (about 15°C in summer), so it is recommended to bring a thin coat.
- The Ussuri River is a Sino-Russian border river. When visiting, you must abide by border management regulations, not cross the national border, not throw objects or shout at the Russian bank, and avoid taking photos of Russian military facilities when taking pictures.
- There are many mosquitoes in the wetland of Yueya Lake Scenic Area in summer, so take anti-mosquito measures; the plank road is of wooden structure, which is slippery on rainy days, so walk carefully and do not deviate from the designated route.
- Keep quiet in some historical relics in the scenic area (such as Guandi Temple), respect religious beliefs and cultural customs, and do not touch cultural relics and statues at will.
- When going in winter, the road surface may be covered with snow and ice. Drive slowly and it is best to install snow chains on the wheels; some outdoor attractions in the scenic area may be temporarily closed due to extreme weather, so it is recommended to check the weather and opening information one day in advance.