Genhe 根河市

Setting and landscape

The Jingling ridge (静岭) splits the city between the Gen River basin to the south and the Jiliu River (激流河) basin to the north. More than 700 peaks top 1,000 metres, most of them gently rounded with flat summits; the highest, Aokeliedui (奥科里堆山) in Alongshan (阿龙山镇), reaches 1,530 metres, and Chinese Wikipedia names it the highest peak of the northern Greater Khingan as well. Chinese Wikipedia describes Genhe as the coldest place in the world at its latitude, with a mean temperature of -5.3°C and a recorded low of -58°C. Dahurian larch (兴安落叶松) makes up 76 per cent of the forest, and in the primeval forest of the north grow 61 Siberian pines that Evenki hunters regard as sacred trees. At Mangui (满归), a stretch of the Jiliu nearly 100 metres long stays unfrozen even at -40°C, which the city's media centre puts down to geothermal heat beneath the riverbed.

What to see

Chinese Wikipedia calls Aoluguya Evenki Ethnic Township (敖鲁古雅鄂温克民族乡) China's only "home of reindeer". Its Evenki once lived deep in the forest by hunting and reindeer herding and were known as "China's last hunting tribe"; in 2003 they gave up the hunting life, and the township was moved south to a site 3 kilometres from the city. At the Aoluguya Reindeer Tribe Scenic Area (敖鲁古雅使鹿部落景区) visitors feed the reindeer moss, ride reindeer or, in winter, take reindeer sleds, and the Aoluguya Evenki Reindeer Culture Museum (敖鲁古雅鄂温克族驯鹿文化博物馆) tells the community's story.

The China Cold Pole Village (中国冷极村) serves a local set of dishes called "冷极八大碗" ("the cold pole's eight big bowls"); the China Cold Pole Festival (中国冷极节) reached its eleventh edition in winter 2024–2025. Other sights include the Genheyuan National Wetland Park (根河源国家湿地公园), Mangui town, the Yikesama National Forest Park (伊克萨玛国家森林公园) and Kalubenshan (卡鲁本山).

Getting oriented

The Yalin railway (牙林铁路) runs north to south through the city, and national roads G332 and G605 pass through it. Genhe Aoluguya Airport (根河敖鲁古雅机场), a general-aviation field, lies about 14 kilometres south-west of the city centre.

Highlights

• Aoluguya Reindeer Tribe Scenic Area 敖鲁古雅使鹿部落景区: Reindeer park, reindeer rides and sleds, and a museum of Evenki reindeer culture.
• China Cold Pole Village 中国冷极村: Serves the "eight big bowls" set of local dishes.
• Unfrozen stretch of the Jiliu River 激流河: Nearly 100 metres at Mangui that stays unfrozen at -40°C.
• Aokeliedui Mountain 奥科里堆山: 1,530 metres; named by Chinese Wikipedia as the highest peak of the northern Greater Khingan.