Arxan overview 阿尔山

About Arxan

Its compact station and Russian-influenced neighbouring buildings make an easy first stop, while the mineral-spring complex explains the town's name, meaning hot sacred water. Keep a town visit separate from the extensive national forest park. A station-and-springs circuit gives the settlement its own identity before a longer excursion to the volcanic lakes and lava fields.

Arxan was established as a township-level administrative unit in 1952 and went through several changes in status, becoming a town, then a commune, then a town again. In December 1992 it was separated from Keyou Front Banner as an economic development zone directly administered by the Hinggan League, and the State Council approved its establishment as a county-level city in June 1996.

Arxan covers an area of 7,408.7 square kilometers and is known as China's smallest county-level city. It lies at the foot of the Greater Khingan Range and has a subarctic climate with severely cold winters and warm, rainy summers; the monthly average temperature ranges from about -24.8 degrees Celsius in January to 17.1 degrees Celsius in July, and winter lows can reach -40 degrees Celsius. Mountain springs overflow into pools across the area, forming 42 hot springs whose mineral composition and water temperature vary considerably, from as high as 45 degrees Celsius to as low as 1 degree Celsius.

What to look for

• The small Arxan railway station and nearby Russian-influenced buildings.
• The mineral-spring complex at the China Hot Spring Museum, where different-temperature springs are presented.

Location & getting there

Getting to Arxan

Begin at Arxan Railway Station in the town centre, then arrange a short local transfer to the hot-spring complex.

• If arriving through Arxan Airport, continue to the main town for this circuit; the forest park has its own separate Jinjianggou reception area.