The northernmost county seat in China is Mohe, and the northernmost village in China is Beiji Village in Mohe County. At about 5 p.m. on August 6, 2010, the reporter finally arrived at Mohe, a northeastern border city of China, from Gagdaqi with the "Self-Driving Arctic Village Tour" team after a ten-hour journey.

The motorcade enters Mohe (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Recalling the landscapes along the way from Gagdaqi to Mohe, they are not only beautiful, but also very distinctive. The blueberries in Amur, the hometown of blueberries, the primeval forest with lush vegetation, and the wetlands with green and water all feast the eyes for motorists, and they still have endless memories...

Wetland landscape along the way (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Mohe County is located at the northern foot of the Daxinganling Mountains, on the south bank of the upper reaches of Heilongjiang, and is located in the northwest of Heilongjiang and the northernmost tip of the motherland. It is the county with the highest latitude in my country. There are continuous mountains in the territory with endless peaks. There are 94 mountains with an altitude of more than 400 meters. The highest peak is Baikaru Mountain, with an altitude of 1397 meters. There are more than a thousand rivers of large and small, including 98 famous rivers.

Amur, the Hometown of Blueberries (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Mohe once turned the county into ruins due to a fire that burned for 28 days in the Daxinganling Mountains on May 6, 1987. Today, Mohe County was rebuilt after the disaster, so the Mohe County is presented to people as a new city.

Reporter Mohe took a photo (Photo: Li Peng)

In order to remember the natural disaster that died, there is still a "five?" in Mohe. The Sixth Fires Memorial Hall "was built to reflect on the devastating forest fire that occurred in the Daxinganling Mountains on May 6, 1987.

Scenery along the way (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Nowadays, looking at this clean and beautiful small border town, compared with the long journey from the scorching heat of Beijing to this cool place, it makes motorists feel very excited. The temperature of more than ten degrees in the evening still makes some female riders a little uncomfortable and feel a little cold. I really don't know how lucky I am when I finally arrive in Mohe, I will go to the end of this trip-Beiji Village to explore.

Sunset at Mohe (Photo: Wang Libao)

On the morning of August 7, the motorcade set off from Mohe and headed towards Beiji Village along the Mobei Highway under construction. In fact, the actual distance from Mohe to Beiji Village is only more than 80 kilometers, but since this section of the road is currently being expanded, it is extremely difficult to walk. Generally, it takes two to three hours to travel depending on the road conditions. On the way, the motorcade first passed by Guanyin Mountain, so the riders went up the mountain for sightseeing.

Guanyin Mountain Zhongwooden plank road (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Walking into the 468-meter-long wooden plank road with 108 turns in the forest, it feels like visiting Alishan in Jiayi, Taiwan. The mountains here are soothing and the mountains are beautiful. At the foot of the mountain is the famous Yanzhi Gully. The mountain creek slowly flows down the mountain, indicating that the north water runs directly to Nanshan Mountain. The 10.8-meter original body of Guanyin in the Arctic Linhai faces south, and the 108-meter Dharmakaya statue of Guanyin on the Sea in Nanshan, Hainan sits south and north, facing each other from north to south. They respond from afar and become a must-see place for many tourists who come here to worship and pay homage.

The three shapes of Guanyin Mountain (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

The Zheng Guanyin Bodhisattva in Guanyin Mountain has three integrated shapes. Each Guanyin Bodhisattva holds a different magical instrument, representing different incarnations of Guanyin Bodhisattva and reflecting the convenience of Guanyin Bodhisattva to save all living beings. It is said that after the forest sea of Guanyin was restored to Guanyin Mountain in Mohe, the magical scene of "Buddha's light shining" appeared three times in one year on Guanyin Mountain. When the Buddha's light appeared, you could see a blue sky, faint white clouds, and a dazzling halo with all colors. Like a rainbow after the rain, it surrounds the statue of Guanyin, which is as white as jade, quiet and elegant. The scene is extremely magical and wonderful.

Scenery of Yanzhigou (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Driving not far from Guanyin Mountain and heading north, you will arrive at Yanzhigou on the west side of the highway. It is located 43 kilometers north of Xilinji Town, Mohe County and 32 kilometers south of Beiji Village. It was founded in 1889 and has historically been known as Mohe Gold Factory and Mohe Gold Mine Bureau, and now it is called Laogou Gold Mine. It is said that this was also one of the locations where the TV series "Entering the Kanto" was filmed.

Yanzhi Pavilion (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

During the Qing Dynasty, the gold here was exchanged for rouge for Empress Dowager Cixi, so the name Yanzhi Valley was personally given by Empress Dowager Cixi. Today, the golden rush of those days no longer exists. In addition to complex legends, what remains is the silent river valley and the tomb of prostitutes hidden in the forest not far away. The tomb of prostitutes is located deep in Yanzhi Valley, where four to five hundred women from the late Qing Dynasty sleep.

Li Jinyong Ancestral Hall (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

There is a hillside on the edge of Jingou, and Li Jinyong's Ancestral Hall was built on the hillside. Li Jinyong was the first minister assigned by the Qing government to be responsible for gold mining here. He made great contributions to the excavation of Jingou. There is a lot of incense in the ancestral hall, and gold diggers often go up the mountain to ask for the protection of their ancestors 'gods. There is a bronze statue of Li Jinyong on the mountain behind the ancestral hall. Not far from the bronze statue is the Yanzhi Pavilion. Standing here and overlooking it, through the green pines and cypresses, the scenery of Yanzhi Gully is looming.

North Pole Village Gate (Photo: Wang Libao)

After leaving Yanzhigou, the motorcade headed straight for Beiji Village. After more than 40 minutes of driving, the motorcade finally arrived at the Arctic Village. In the reporter's imagination, Beiji Village should be an original village. However, when we arrived at the entrance of the village, it was quite different from the imagined scene. Today, it is a well-planned Arctic Village Scenic Area.

Reporter Beiji Village took a photo (Photo: Li Peng)

Walking into the gate of the Beiji Village Scenic Area, what catches people's eyes is a wooden archway, with the four big red characters reading "Northern Border of China" that are eye-catching.

Scenery of Beiji Village (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

When I walked in and took a look, it turned out that this was written by Comrade Yang Shangkun, former President of the State, in July 1996. Along the road on the left side of the wooden archway not far into the village is the memorial stone of Beiji Village.

Walking into the Arctic Village (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Mohe tour guide Song Fangsen said that Beiji Village, formerly known as Mohe Village, was inhabited since 1860 and lives in the northernmost tip of the motherland. It is known as the "City that Never Sleeps" and is the best observation point in the country to view the northern lights and the beautiful white night scenery. There are 243 households and 963 people in the village.

Scenery of Beiji Village (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

In 1997, the Mohe County government opened Beiji Village as the "Beiji Village Scenic Tourist Area" and became the northernmost tourist attraction in the country. It is surrounded by mountains and rivers, with simple folk customs, a strong rural flavor and a well-preserved ecological environment. The vast expanse of Heilongjiang flows through the village. On the other side is the village of Ignathenov in Amur Oblast, Russia.

Photo taken in Beiji Village (Photo: Wang Libao)

Arctic Village is famous for its northern lights and polar day phenomena. Around the summer solstice, almost 24 hours a day is daylight. Looking north at midnight, the sky is white, the sunset in the west has not yet died, and the east is facing faint again. It is like evening and dawn. People can play chess and ball outdoors. Every year, the Summer Solstice Festival attracts domestic and foreign tourists from all over the country to enjoy this annual natural landscape.

The northernmost post office in China (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

After taking a group photo in front of the Beiji Village Memorial Stone, the riders began to enter the village for sightseeing. Not far after walking, I saw the "first house at the entrance of the village". This is a small farmhouse with all-wooden structure houses. In the Northeast, this wooden house is called "woodcut ridge". After that, people will find that there are similar courtyards on both sides of the road. These farmhouses are basically family hotels. The reporter walked into a house randomly and saw that the owner was hospitable. The house was very clean and equipped with a bathroom. The conditions were quite good.

Mohe Rural Credit Cooperative (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Continue to move forward and come to a crossroads in Beiji Village, which already seems relatively prosperous. The northernmost post office in China, the northernmost financial institution in China, some shops, restaurants, hotels, and schools are all located in the surrounding area near the intersection.

Photo taken at the northernmost post office (Photo: Wang Libao)

There are fruit vendors on both sides of the road. The reporter joked with one of the older ladies selling fruit and said: "You should write a sign: The northernmost watermelon stall in China. Ensure that your business is prosperous!" These words made the fruit vendor smile from ear to ear and repeatedly said: Good idea! Good idea! Why didn't I think of that...

Group photo at the North Pole (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

After lunch at the Arctic Village Inn at noon, the riders began their journey to explore the Arctic Village. The car first drove north along the road along the bank of Heilongjiang for about 3 kilometers, and arrived at a parking lot at the northernmost tip of my country.

Photo taken by the northernmost financial institution (Photo: Li Peng)

After getting off the bus, the riders crossed a suspension bridge on the inland river and came to the small island on the side of our country's territory connected to the wooden plank road. They passed through Xuanwu Square and came to Beiwangyakou Square. China's North Pole, China's northernmost toilet, the stone pillar saying "I have found the north", and countless various characters "North" inscribed by famous scholars and scholars are all in this area.

I found the stone in the north (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

The small Beiwangyakou Square was built in recent years after the rise of tourism in the Arctic Village. It is said that this is the apex of the "cockscomb" of the Chinese territory that is like a rooster. The symbol of China's North Pole is an art steel carving of three more than 20 meters high.

Reporter Jiedbei took a photo (Photo: Wang Libao)

Each steel carving has the same half of the character "North", which together makes three characters "North". Each word "north" is like a flying deer or a soaring eagle. The steel carving of the triangular pyramid with the character "North" shines brightly in the sun, contains the essence of the North Star, embodies the brilliance of the sun and the moon, and is sacred and respectable. The North Pole symbol points directly to the North Star, and below is the location of the Arctic Village on earth.

The northernmost bathroom in China (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

There is also a huge map of China on the ground at the North Pole, marking China's major cities and the distance between them and the square. It marks the vertical distance between Arctic Village and Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei, Nansha, Urumqi, Sanya, Dandong and other places across the country. The reporter saw that the distance mark from here to Beijing was 1568 kilometers.

Distance from the North Pole to Beijing (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Walking into a small forest from the North Pole, not far from the roadside is Boundary Monument No. 138 of the People's Republic of China established in 1993. After walking out of the woods, everything suddenly became clear. It turned out that this was the boundary river Heilongjiang on the Sino-Russian border.

Photo taken on the boundary monument of the team (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

The Heilongjiang River on the Sino-Russian border river originates from the Mohe River. The river water is crystal clear and twists down. The scenery on both sides is beautiful and beautiful. The virgin forests in the territory are lush and lush, allowing exploration, hunting, and campfires to stay in the wild.

China's North Pole symbol (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Standing by the river and looking closer, the clear river water flows quietly. Looking far into the distance, you can clearly see the small spire-shaped Russian-style houses and the lined barbed wire fences in the shade of green trees on the other side of the river. You can vaguely see the tall buildings across the river. That is the now-abandoned Russian outpost. The new outpost is said to be hidden halfway up the mountain on the other side.

Reporter Jie He took a photo (Photo: Wang Libao)

Returning to the fork in the forest and walking towards another path, a huge four-pillar statue of the seal stood in front of him. This is the "golden rooster crown" of Beiji Village. Below the dragon head seal erected above is the raised male face engraved with the four characters "Golden Rooster's Crown", and the ground corresponds to the four characters "Golden Rooster's Crown" with the recessed female face. The shape of the entire Golden Rooster Crown is really majestic and spectacular.

Golden Rooster Crown Style (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Returning to the village from the inland river and the small island on the side of the boundary river, the riders drove south to the "northernmost home in China." The connected building of the two houses is also a "woodcut"-style wooden house, facing south and north, and there is a field of colorful wildflowers in full bloom in front of the door. There are still old corn hanging on the wall outside the door. The house on the right is now a handicraft shop. Although it is small in size, it has a large number of customers. Bikers find it meaningful to buy some souvenirs here.

The northernmost restaurant in China (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

After leaving the "northernmost home in China", the riders came to the "Shenzhou Arctic" square. In the round Arctic Square, there stands a stone tablet of "China's Arctic". Behind the stele embankment is the rolling Heilongjiang River. On the other side of the river, the mountains, cliffs and green jungles of Russia are like a landscape painting screen, setting off this Sino-Russian border to be particularly magnificent.

"Shenzhou Arctic" Square (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Exploring the Arctic Village requires not only the customs and natural features here, but also a look at the border posts guarding the northernmost tip of the motherland. The first sentry post in the northern border of China is located on the right bank of Heilongjiang in Beiji Village. The lookout tower plays an extremely important role in the border defense cause. She is not only a Sino-Russian border lookout for a certain company of the People's Liberation Army stationed in Beiji Village, but also a lookout post in the northernmost part of China.

The northernmost border guard post (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

The entire watchtower is a six-sided column with stairs leading to the top of the tower. The top of the tower has an area of 10 square meters and can be viewed with high-power telescopes. The watchtower is a brick-concrete structure. The first floor and the top of the tower are relatively spacious, and the other floors are occupied by iron stairs. There are two two-story buildings on both sides of the watchtower, which are a meeting station and a soldier's barracks, surrounded by brick walls. Although it is not yet fully open to tourists. But it is a place where anyone visiting the Arctic Village must visit and take photos.

Russia across the river (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

The last place that riders explored in Beiji Village was the Oroqen Ethnic Museum. The museum is located among the green trees in the Arctic Village. Its architectural design is based on the Big Dipper Star worshipped by the Oroqen people since ancient times and the "Immortal Pillar" of their original residence. The entire museum is designed into seven "Immortal Pillar" exhibition halls arranged in turn.

Corner in the exhibition hall (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

The exhibition hall fully demonstrates the historical changes and development process of the Oroqen nation through seven themes: Xing 'an hunting god, hunting people's homes, hunting Xing' an, mysterious shaman, simple folk customs, cultural and sports activities and new life.

Oroqen Museum (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

After visiting the Oroqen Museum, the self-driving journey to explore the Arctic Village also came to a successful conclusion. The reporter and his party set out from Beijing at the end of July. After eight days, they traveled more than 900 kilometers to Beiji Village. Although it was hard, everyone felt that they benefited a lot. Some motorists also agreed to wait until winter to visit Beiji Village again to enjoy the magnificent snow scenery on the border of the motherland. (Photo and text: Feng Ganyong)