Hailar, Inner Mongolia
Encyclopedia
Hailar District is an urban district
that 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, and serves as a regional centre for commerce, trade, and transportation.
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 in the mid-20th century.
It was occupied and fortified by the Japanese during their expansion into Manchuria, Inner Mongolia, and China proper during the 1930s until the end of the Second World War in August 1945, and perhaps the oldest building in Hailar that stands today was left by the occupying forces. When the Soviet Union
declared war on Japan, Hailar was the scene of a bitter struggle in the wider campaign to push Japanese forces out of Manchuria and northeast China and Korea (see Soviet invasion of Manchuria (1945)).
serves the city, with flights to Beijing and Shenyang amongst others. Hailar's railway station is the penultimate major station before Manzhouli, the port city that stands close to the Russian border. It is on the famous Manchuria branch
of the Trans-Siberian express route. Trains to Harbin take about 12 hours, trains to Beijing 27. Hailar has a frequent series of buses that cover the town, albeit that they do not run after 6.30. As is the case all over urban China, taxis are ubiquitous 24/7.
(Dwb) that borders closely on a subarctic climate
to the north. Winters are long, very dry and severe, due to the semi−permanent Siberian High
, while summers are short, though very warm, and rather wet, due to the East Asian monsoon
. Monthly averages range from −25.1 °C in January to 20 °C (68 °F) in July, with an annual mean of −0.96 °C.
Sunny weather dominates year round, though the vast majority of the year's rainfall occurs during summer, with some snow in winter.
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.
District (China)
The term district, in the context of China, is used to refer to several unrelated political divisions in both ancient and modern China....
that serves as the seat of the prefecture-level city
Prefecture-level city
A prefectural level city , prefectural city or prefectural level municipality is an administrative division of the People's Republic of China, ranking below a province and above a county in China's administrative structure. Prefectural level cities form the second level of the administrative...
Hulunbuir
Hulunbuir
Hulunbuir is a region that is governed as a prefecture-level city in northeastern Inner Mongolia, in the People's Republic of China. Its administrative center is located at Hailar District, its largest urban area. Major scenic features are the high steppes of the Hulun Buir grasslands, the Hulun...
in northeastern Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, located in the northern region of the country. Inner Mongolia shares an international border with the countries of Mongolia and the Russian Federation...
, People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. 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
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. The district has an estimated population of 256,000, and serves as a regional centre for commerce, trade, and transportation.
History
Hailar was founded as a Chinese fort in 1734, and during the administration of the Republic of ChinaRepublic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
it was the capital city of Xing'an Province
Xing'an
Xing'an or Hsingan refers to a former province, which once occupied western Heilongjiang and part of northwest Liaoning provinces of China. The name is related to that of the Greater Khingan Mountains...
. It is now a centre of agricultural production on the Chinese Eastern RR. Once known as Hulun
Hulun
Hūlun was a powerful alliance of Jurchen tribes in the late 16th century, based primarily in what is today Jilin province of China.The Hūlun alliance was formed by Wan Hūlun was a powerful alliance of Jurchen tribes in the late 16th century, based primarily in what is today Jilin province of...
, Hailar today is a relatively small but thriving modern industrial city of around 300,000, its population having soared from an estimated 20,000 in the mid-20th century.
It was occupied and fortified by the Japanese during their expansion into Manchuria, Inner Mongolia, and China proper during the 1930s until the end of the Second World War in August 1945, and perhaps the oldest building in Hailar that stands today was left by the occupying forces. When the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
declared war on Japan, Hailar was the scene of a bitter struggle in the wider campaign to push Japanese forces out of Manchuria and northeast China and Korea (see Soviet invasion of Manchuria (1945)).
Transportation
Hailar Dongshan AirportHailar Dongshan Airport
Hailar Dongshan Airport is an airport in Hailar, Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China .-Airlines and destinations:...
serves the city, with flights to Beijing and Shenyang amongst others. Hailar's railway station is the penultimate major station before Manzhouli, the port city that stands close to the Russian border. It is on the famous Manchuria branch
Harbin-Manzhouli Railway
thumb|right|250px|The Binzhou Railway Bridge across the Songhua River in Harbin.Harbin-Manzhouli Railway or Binzhou Railway , is a double-track electrified arterial railroad in Northeast China between Harbin and Manzhouli on the Russian border. The line was originally built by Russia as the...
of the Trans-Siberian express route. Trains to Harbin take about 12 hours, trains to Beijing 27. Hailar has a frequent series of buses that cover the town, albeit that they do not run after 6.30. As is the case all over urban China, taxis are ubiquitous 24/7.
Services and shopping
Hailar has no less than 4 shopping malls - Friendship, Yishidan, Huahui and Busen- which are similar to Western ones in their scope and variety, if not quite as good. On the other hand, progress is much more dramatic in some areas than others. Whilst it is possible to buy a flat screen television there, other common household items in the West are impossible to find. As yet, there is no McDonalds or Starbucks, though there is a KFC and an imitation Starbucks coffee house.Architecture and environment
On the outskirts of Hailar there are still many red brick, one storey houses which might be called slums. These are steadily being replaced by six storey blocks of flats. Many steps have been made to beautify the town. Genghis Khan park is notable for its sculptures and landscaping, with a strong Mongolian motif running throughout. The main bridge that runs into town has a new clock which chimes "Westminster Chimes" the same tune as Big Ben. In winter, extensive ice sculptures are put up about the town, although they now melt a month earlier than they once did, due to rising temperatures. And finally, with its fake plastic trees with different colour neon leaves, Hailar is arguably a beautiful sight at night.Climate
Hailar experiences a monsoon-influenced humid continental climateHumid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold winters....
(Dwb) that borders closely on a subarctic climate
Subarctic climate
The subarctic climate is a climate characterized by long, usually very cold winters, and short, cool to mild summers. It is found on large landmasses, away from the moderating effects of an ocean, generally at latitudes from 50° to 70°N poleward of the humid continental climates...
to the north. Winters are long, very dry and severe, due to the semi−permanent Siberian High
Siberian High
The Siberian High is a massive collection of cold or very cold dry air that accumulates on the Eurasian terrain for much of the year. It reaches its greatest size and strength in the winter, when the air temperature near the center of the high-pressure cell or anticyclone is often lower than...
, while summers are short, though very warm, and rather wet, due to the East Asian monsoon
East Asian monsoon
The East Asian monsoon is a monsoonal flow that carries moist air from the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean to East Asia. It affects approximately one-third of the global population, influencing the climate of Japan , the Koreas, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and much of mainland China...
. Monthly averages range from −25.1 °C in January to 20 °C (68 °F) in July, with an annual mean of −0.96 °C.
Sunny weather dominates year round, though the vast majority of the year's rainfall occurs during summer, with some snow in winter.
Culture
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.
External links
- Hailar at Encyclopædia BritannicaEncyclopædia BritannicaThe Encyclopædia Britannica , published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., is a general knowledge English-language encyclopaedia that is available in print, as a DVD, and on the Internet. It is written and continuously updated by about 100 full-time editors and more than 4,000 expert...
- Official website of Hailar District Government
- Post codes of Inner Mongolia (English)