Manzhouli overview 满洲里

About Manzhouli

Its visitor landmarks express that connection in different ways: the National Gate follows the working railway frontier, while the Matryoshka complex turns Russian decorative forms into a large theme park. Pair those western attractions with a short Beihu lakeside walk for a view of the everyday city beyond the monumental buildings.

Manzhouli grew from a station built where the China Far East Railway (中东铁路) crossed into Chinese territory in 1901, at a site known locally as the Huolejin Bulage spring (霍勒津布拉格); as the first stop after entering Manchuria from Russia the station was named Manzhou Station (满洲站), and the Russian pronunciation Manzhouliya (满洲里亚) was later shortened in Chinese to Manzhouli. The settlement was designated a trading center in 1905 and gained a customs post in 1908. Under the Republic of China it was known as Lubin (胪滨) and administered under Hsingan province; from 1932 to 1945 it lay within Manchukuo, the Japanese-controlled state, before becoming part of Inner Mongolia in 1946.

The city covers 696.3 square kilometers and lies directly on the border with Russia, not far from Mongolia, functioning as a major land port of entry; its population was almost 250,000 in 2010. In 1992 Manzhouli became one of the first Chinese land border cities opened to trade, and it has since grown as a conduit for cross-border commerce between China and Russia.

What to look for

• The railway-border landscape at the National Gate and its locomotive display.
• The doll-shaped architecture of the Matryoshka complex, followed by the smaller-scale Beihu waterfront.

Location & getting there

Getting to Manzhouli

Use Manzhouli Railway Station or Xijiao Airport for arrival, then arrange a local transfer to the city's western visitor district.

• The National Gate and Matryoshka complex have separate reception areas; allow a further transfer for the central Beihu Park.