About Hailar
What to see and do in Hailar
Weather in Hailar
Airport in Hailar
Visa
Hailar, city (1994 est. pop. 192,400), Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region., China, on the Hailar (Argun) River. It is an agricultural production center on the Chinese Eastern RR. Formerly known as Hulun, Hailar consists of an old and a new city'the old section, founded in 1734 as a fort, is typically Chinese; the new section is a modern, industrial quarter.
It is 80 kilometers from east to west and 40 kilometers from south to north. Hailaer governs a town and eight offices. The total area of Hailar is 1,440 square kilometers and 28 square kilometers of the city building.
Hailar District is an urban district which serves as the seat of the prefecture-level city Hulunbuir in northeastern Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China. Hulunbuir, due to its massive size, is a city in administrative terms only, being mainly grassland and rural. Hailar, therefore, is a de facto city. Hailar can also refer to the urban area around the Hailar district, with Hulunbuir being the wider geographical region that contains the urban area.
Long known as the "Pearl of the Grasslands", Hailar acts as a gateway between China and Russia. The district has an estimated population of 256,000.
If the town museum is anything to go by, Hailar's recorded history would appear to have been fairly modest prior to the 2nd world war. As a part of Inner Mongolia it hasn't always been under Chinese rule and indeed, celebrations on Chinese state television in 2007 celebrated 50 years of Inner Mongolia as an Autonomous Region, without giving any details at as to what this meant in real terms or what occurred before 1947.
Hailar was founded as a Chinese fort in 1734, and during the administration of the Republic of China it was the capital city of Xing'an Province. It is now a centre of agricultural production on the Chinese Eastern RR. Once known as Hulun, Hailar today is a relatively small but thriving modern industrial city of around 300,000, its population having soared from an estimated 20,000 some fifty years ago. It was occupied by the Japanese in the 2nd world war and perhaps the oldest building in Hailar that stands today was left by the invading forces.
Hailar is evaluated 'the Chinese outstanding traveling city'. It is the collection and distribution center for traveling in Hulunbuir, 300 kilometers around Hailaer was determined to be the core area of eastern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. It is with 13 fixed-point traveling hotels (8 hotels above star) and 15 travel agencies. More than 100 meetings are held here every year. The city of Hailar received 974,000 people in 2005, and the traveling income reaches RMB 729,000,000.
Hailar has two major department stores- Friendship Shopping Center (it also had a four star hotel: Friendship International Hotel) and Busen store- which are a major innovation and improvement on anything Hailar had even ten years ago and are similar to Western ones in their scope and variety, if not quite as good. On the other hand, the progress is much more dramatic in some areas than others. Whilst it is possible to buy a flat screen television there is nowhere where fresh orange juice can currently be bought or indeed, a bread knife. As yet, there is no McDonalds or Starbucks, though there is a KFC and an imitation Starbucks coffee house.
Hailar is discernibly an ethnic minority town with a strong Han contingent. As such, signs are usually bi-lingual and Mongolian influence pervades in songs played on shop CD players, domes on buildings and the chitter chatter of some locals. As is the case with any Northern Chinese city, cultural facilities differ from those in the West. There is no theatre,opera house or bar running salsa classes. Nor indeed a public library. On the other hand, it does have many KTVs dotted about the town, including one luxurious one in the Yes-Se Nightclub, a new black building (and one of the highest in Hailar). Hailar also has a sophisticated sex worker industry, ranging from impoverished massage parlours whose days are probably numbered to services provided in KTVs, bathhouses and hotels.
Located in the northeast of the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, Hailar remains relatively unexplored compared with other popular Mongol destinations such as Hohhot and Baotou. The area is mostly visited by foreigners from Russia, here to buy and sell in the thriving Chinese markets (or behind closed doors). Travellers here are normally either after a deeply 'wild China' experience, or are more specialist orientated (ornithologists, zoologists, train spotters, historians etc.). This area, due to its rugged remoteness, has some of Inner Mongolia's most interesting and almost 'authentic' scenery. The Hulunbuir Grasslands to the north are the best around. This is your chance to ride a horse on an almost infinitely wide expanse, eat traditional mutton banquets and stay overnight in a yurt (Mongolian tent). The grasslands also house the vast Hulun Lake, ideal for angling and camping, when the weather is good. Manzhouli, a border town between China and Russia, is also well worth visiting, thanks to its Sino-Russian trade market, where throngs of Russians flock to hunt for cheap products of semi-decent quality.
Soviet red army martyr graveyard, almost every big cities in northeast china have this soviet red army martyr monument. in hailar, the graveyard is in a garden on the street corner, quiet and beautiful, a nice place for visitors to stay and rest.
Hailang Station, was a mistake by russian. in 1903, when russian built trans-sebria railway, they found this hailar station. however, russian knew few chinese and translated hailar to hailang and carved on the building of station. now, the two charactors are still remained on the roof.
Beishan Japanese underground fort, it is one of five hailar forts, also a only one open to the visiters. the forts have been used to block soviet red army. at last, in aug. 1945, japanese went out of the hole and surrendered to russians.
when entered the underground fort, it could be cold, dark and humid. it was said that many chinese workers who forced to build the fort died and the bodies were buried into the cement of the thick wall.
The chief reason most visitors come to Hailar, however, is to see the North Mongolian Hulunbuir grasslands, an apparently limitless rolling land of plains and low grassy mountains, traced by slow rivers teeming with fish. Hundreds of thousands of sheep, cattle and horses graze this seemingly inexhaustible pasture, spread over hundreds of kilometres. In summer they occupy the higher pastures and in winter they come down to the lowlands, still often deep in snow. Transport in the area is mostly by camel and pony. Not only is the grass scattered with a variety of flowers and huge fungi, but, as you soon discover, it's also alive with little black toads (which it's virtually impossible to avoid treading on), grasshoppers, birds and insects (mosquito repellent is essential).
As elsewhere in Inner Mongolia, there are the CITS-approved villages of Mongol herders, who earn part of their income from occasional groups of tourists, mostly from Japan. Though you could try to strike off independently, it's worth noting that the grassland tours here don't attract hordes of people. A day-trip from Hailar to eat a traditional mutton banquet on the grassland, for a group of four people, costs in the region of RMB 120 each. If you want to spend a night on the grasslands as well, reckon on around RMB 200. Inclusion of an English-speaking guide sends the price soaring to RMB 800, so you'll need to be in a large group to make this worth your while. For bookings and more information, contact CITS (Telephone0470/8246368) at their inconveniently located office on the third floor of the Beiyuan Hotel.
A compact place, Hailar is divided into two by the Yimin River. The train station is on the west bank; to reach the city centre from here, turn left as you exit, continue on for a block and then turn left again to cross the tracks via a pedestrian bridge. Once across the footbridge, you'll find buses #1 and #3 running a little way south to Zhongyang Jie, the city's main artery, passing the long-distance bus station, at the junction of Huochezhan Jie and Shanghua Jie, on the way. The bus station is useful only for the frequent service to the Russian border at Manzhouli (3hr; RMB 25). Zhongyang Jie turns into Qiaotou Jie at the Bei'er Dajiudian; the area between here and Zhongyang Qiao ' the river bridge ' is filled with shops selling everything from pirated CDs to Mongolian saddles. The district across the bridge, where the road becomes Shengli Dajie, is of minimal interest unless you're staying at one of its cavernous hotels. CAAC is off Qiaotou Jie (daily 8am'5pm; Telephone0470/8331010), on the small road leading east off the southwestern approach road to the bridge. There's a bank that will change money right next to the Bei'er hotel.
Hailar offers a range of accommodation, so be sure to bargain. One convenient place is the Binzhou Fandian (no phone), on the left-hand side of the train-station concourse as you exit the building. Rooms here are simple and clean, and the hot water works. Though it isn't close to the centre, its hourly (RMB 10) and half-day (RMB 30) rates make it a good pit stop if you've been out on the grasslands and want to wash up before heading out of town. In the centre, the best option is the Bei'er Dajiudian (Telephone0470/8332511; RMB 140 - 200), 36 Zhongyang Dajie, where the rate includes breakfast. The travel service here is helpful and its grassland tours cost less than those at CITS, though note that you will likely be wedged into a minibus with high-spirited (read: drunk) Chinese tourists.
Across the street, at no. 35, the Laodong Hotel has three-person dorms as well as doubles (Telephone0470/8331349; RMB 80-140, dorm beds RMB 50).
Lurking on the east bank of the river is Hailar's throwback to the bad old days of Chinese tourism, the enormous, impersonal Hulunbeier Hotel (Telephone0470/8211000; Fax8221123; RMB 80'300), with a large range of bland doubles in its many wings, as well as accommodation in cement "yurts" dotting its parking lot. For a better atmosphere at similar rates, head further east to the Beiyuan Hotel (Telephone0471/8235666; RMB 140 - 200), 22 Shengli San Lu, north off Shengli Dajie. Its major drawback is being surrounded by the district government and police offices, meaning street and nightlife congregate elsewhere.
The best area for eating is in the pedestrianized commercial district east of the Bei'er Hotel and north of Qiaotou Dajie. Be sure to study the menu (or even better, the kitchen), as Hailarites have a taste for dog, judging by the number of canine skeletons hanging about. The pedestrian zone has a bazaar atmosphere, and is worth wandering through its sprawl across both sides of Zhongyang Dajie. You'll find bookshops, and Internet cafes here as well.
Favorite Spots:
Jinzhanghan Resort: About 40 minutes by bus to Hailar. It is located in a valley of a crooked river.
The landscape is beautiful and the reception condition is good.
Honghuaerji: About three hours to Hailaer by bus. It is near Xing'anling, the place where the plateaus join the forests.
Moerdaoge: Enter the forest area by small sized trains. It will take you about four or five days to have a good trip here.
Hailar, located in the remote reaches of northern Inner Mongolia, has a fairly mean climate. Lying at the high latitude that it does, the city and its surrounds becomes very cold in winter, reaching temperatures below -20 C. The region at this time is drab, as the grasslands turn cardboard brown or are covered with an icy snow layer.
If you are here to see the grasslands or visit Manzhouli your best bet is to come between July and September, when the grasses are usually green. It is still worthwhile bringing a coat though, since even in the hottest days of summer, night temperatures drop dramatically.
January -29 C to -19 C
February -26 C to -14 C
March -16 C to -4 C
April -3 C to 9 C
May 4 C to 8 C
June 11 C to 24 C
July 15 C to 26 C
August 13 C to 24 C
September 5 C to 17 C
October -4 C to 8 C
November -16 C to -6 C
December -26 C to -16 C
Hailar Dongshan Airport is an airport in Hailar, Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China (IATA: HLD, ICAO: ZBLA).
Except for Monday, there are daily flights between Beijing and Hailar, that take about two hours. Intra-province air transport is also fairly convenient, although less frequent. It is possible to fly to Hohhot (two and a half hours) and Xilinhot (two hours and twenty minutes).
Hailar Dongshan Airport is just 7km away from the city proper (RMB 20 by taxi). The airport bus departs from the CAAC booking office (on Qiantou dajie, near to the Minzu Hotel) for RMB 3.
Airlines and destinations
Air China (Beijing-Capital, Hangzhou, Hohhot)
China United Airlines (Beijing-Nanyuan)
China Southern Airlines (Hohhot)
To be able to travel to Hailar you need to have a valid China Visa, issue from your local government at the China Embassy, Chinese visa fall into four types: diplomatic visa, courtesy visa, service visa and ordinary visa. Ordinary visa is further divided into the following 8 categories each marked with a letter: (1) Tourist and family visit visa (L-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to China for tourist purpose, family visit or other personal affairs.
(2) Business Visa (F-visa ) is issued to a foreign citizen who is invited to China for visit, research, lecture, business, exchanges in the fields of science, technology, education, culture and sports, or attending various kinds of trade fairs or exhibitions, or short-term study, intern practice for a period of no more than 6 months.
(3) Student Visa (X-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to China for the purpose of study or advanced study for a period of six or more months.
(4) Work Visa (Z-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to China to work and his or her accompanying family members, or to give commercial performances in China.
(5) Transit Visa (G-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who is to transit through China on his or her way to a third country (or region).
(6) Crew Visa(C-visa)is issued to crew member performing his/her duties on board an international train, or on an international airliner, to a sailor on board an international ocean-liner or freighter, and also to their accompanying family members..
(7) Journalist Visa (J-visa)is issued to foreign journalists. J-visa has two categories: J-1 visa and J-2 visa. J-1 visa is issued to resident foreign journalists in China and their accompanying spouses and under-age children, J-2 visa to foreign journalists who visit China for temporary news coverage.
(8) Permanent Residence Visa(D-visa)is issued to a foreign citizen who has been approved by China's public security authority to reside in China permanently.
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