Heilongjiang First Bay

This is a super rip-off attraction. The ticket costs 50 yuan. You can't drive your own car in, you have to take the scenic area bus which costs 85 yuan. There are only two attractions, "Wussuri Shoal" and "Longjiang First Bay", which are attractions that you can just take a look at. The whole journey is no more than 20 kilometers, but the scenic area bus charges 85 yuan, which is even more unfair than a taxi.

The higher we climbed, the more distinct the river's bend became. Standing at the summit, gazing down at the Russian forest on the other side, I felt a mysterious and alluring illusion. If I hadn't been told that the other side was Russia, it would have been just a forest. But when I was told, it seemed to take on a new meaning. The same scene became something different.

In winter, I climbed up a steep plank road with nearly a thousand steps, and stood breathlessly on the highest observation deck in the entire Mohe loop tour. Looking at the perfect river bay in front of me, I felt that the northernmost winter is vast, and I felt that all the hard work was worth it.

Actually, this standard image of the First Bay of the Heilongjiang River has been repeated countless times in countless cookie-cutter online photo albums, but that's just how people are. The more beautiful a picture is, the more they want to see it in person. The truth is, when you compare your photos with others, they're all pretty much the same. But once you've visited this place in person, you create a story that's uniquely yours. The Russian territory on the other side, the whistling north wind in your ears, will etch itself deeply in your memory, and that's the only thing you can remember. I'm saying all this just to encourage you to make the climb, even though it's a daunting process.

After countless hardships, I finally climbed to the viewing platform, breathless and exhausted. Upon reaching the top, I gazed out into the distance and was instantly captivated by the stunning scenery. The round island resembled the sun, and the slowly eastward-flowing river circling the island resembled a crescent moon. Surrounded by mountains, the sun, moon, river, and mountains blended seamlessly into one harmonious whole, earning it the name "Sun, Moon, River, and Mountain."

Heilongjiang First Bay is the most characteristic river bay scenery I have seen in so many places during my self-driving tour. Of course, I went to Heilongjiang First Bay probably to visit it after visiting Arctic Village and Beihong Village.

The First Bay of the Heilongjiang River and the Ussuri Shoals are part of the same scenic area, with admission costing 110 yuan. It's a must-see destination in Mohe! First, take the shuttle bus to the Ussuri Shoals. Across the river lies Russia. On the shore, various rocks marking the northernmost point stand tall, awaiting your arrival.

Afterwards, we headed to the First Bay of Longjiang River. The autumn trees had turned golden, the blue sky and white clouds were reflected on the water, and the river water changed different colors. It was magnificent under the sunset!

You need to climb the plank road up the mountain to enjoy the views! With over 900 steps, it's not easy to climb, especially since it was hot and stuffy today... But I persevered until I reached the summit and was rewarded with a breathtaking view! It's truly breathtaking. The island, nestled in the river bay, is covered in lush greenery. A sandy belt rims the island, and in the sunlight, it looks like it's rimmed with gold, hence the name "Golden Ring Island." The blue sky, white clouds, green trees, and river water make this a truly worthwhile experience, and the effort of climbing is well worth it! The observation deck has a further set of steps leading up, and there's a stone tablet dedicated to the First Bend of the Heilongjiang River. I couldn't take another step up!

Heilongjiang First Bay, also known as Longjiang First Bay, is located on the Heilongjiang River northeast of Mohe County. There's a fork in the provincial road from Mohe to Heihe that leads to the scenic spot. We visited during the Mid-Autumn Festival in 2016, when the fork in the road leading to the scenic spot was under construction and was being paved. It should be accessible now. The observation deck is several dozen meters high, with about 500 steps to climb. From the top, you can see the Longjiang Bay. A wide-angle camera is required to capture the full view; mobile phones can use panorama mode.

Longjiang First Bay is 13.6 kilometers from the scenic area entrance. Visitors must take the scenic area's eco-friendly buses, a nearly half-hour drive. After reaching Longjiang First Bay, if you ascend the mountain to view the panoramic views, the round trip, including the hike and bus ride, takes about three hours. The plank road to the summit has over 880 steps and a steep slope. The climb takes over half an hour at the fastest possible pace, making it quite tiring, but well worth it.

The ticket for Longjiang First Bay includes two attractions, Wusuli Shoal and Longjiang First Bay. When we went, only Longjiang First Bay was open, so the half-price price was 55 yuan (including the ticket and the scenic area shuttle bus). The ticket office is 20 kilometers away from the scenic area. Private cars are not allowed to enter and you must take the scenic area shuttle bus. To see the panoramic view of Longjiang First Bay, you need to climb more than 800 steps, which usually takes half an hour. Use the panoramic mode on your phone to take spectacular photos.

It doesn’t take long to climb up, and you can see the turn very nicely.

The First Bend of Heilongjiang River. As a person from Northeast China, I was so excited when I visited the source of the mother river for the first time.

It was really tiring to climb up there, and I took a few breaks along the way, but it was beautiful.

The first bay of Heilongjiang River, facing Russia, has different scenery in all seasons. It is a must-see

The First Bay of Heilongjiang River is a unique landscape formed by the rapid backflow of the Heilongjiang River in the Hongqiling section of the Tuqiang Forestry Bureau's operating area in the Greater Khingan Range.

What I didn't expect was that this place required climbing stairs.

Only by climbing up the mountain can you see the entire First Bay.

Beauty and coldness are combined so perfectly.

It's quite beautiful. The hot clothes got wet when we walked up. Remember to bring a mask on the way up. It was frozen when we reached the top of the mountain. The view at the top of the mountain was super beautiful.

The first bend was so steep and the wind was so strong that I felt like I was going to be blown away. I stopped several times along the way, but the scenery I saw in the end was worth it.

It was so painful going down the mountain. Not only was the plank slippery, but my legs were shaking too. I would never go up again.

Spring, summer, autumn and winter, every season is beautiful! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

The total cost of the Ussuri Shoal ticket is 50, which is a good deal. The scenery is spectacular.

To get to the mountain and see the view, you have to climb 999 steps. It is colder on the mountain, so you need to wear more clothes. It also takes a lot of perseverance to climb up, but it is really beautiful.

There are over 800 steps to the observation deck, and climbing them is quite tiring. Here's a tip (I'm not sure it will work for you, so it's for reference only): If you're driving, about 8 kilometers from the parking lot at the foot of the mountain, there's a fork in the road on the right that says "Fire Prevention Road, No Vehicles Allowed" and a red horizontal bar prohibiting entry. Just head that way, and after 8 kilometers, you'll reach the observation deck at the top—no stairs required! There's no one manning the path, and at the top, there's a roadblock. Give the driver 20 yuan and they'll move it for you. Then, keep going, turn left at the first intersection, and drive a little further. You'll find the iron tower from which you can see all three islands simultaneously. (Those afraid of heights shouldn't climb this tower, but the views are incredible!) The climbing fee is 10 yuan per person, and you're good to go.

Ordinary people can only see one island when they climb to the top of the mountain, which is the legendary "First Bay of Heilongjiang". But in fact there are three islands there. To see the whole picture, you can only take the black car of the master (forest ranger) on the top of the mountain, which costs 20 yuan per person. It drives to an iron tower and you have to climb up to see it. Climbing the tower requires an additional 10 yuan per person, but the scenery is still worth it!

Longjiang First Bay, ticket price 50

The tour lasts about 2 hours.

From the observation deck, you can overlook the big bay of Golden Ring Island. Even a 16mm wide-angle lens cannot fully capture it, so it is recommended to take multiple photos together.

A local recommended taking an off-road vehicle to a viewing platform deep in the forest. The round trip cost 120 RMB, and each vehicle seats four people. It's actually a telecommunications tower, but even at the top, you can't see all three bays clearly, and the nearby trees are too tall to see them. Consider flying a drone from the top, which allows for higher altitudes.

At 9:00 we arrived at the scenic area. There is a hiking trail in the scenic area, but the slope is steep, so it is very difficult to reach the observation deck in one breath.

Halfway through the journey, I was already out of breath. The scenery of Longjiang Bay began to appear, with lush trees in the distance and near.

Climbing up to the observation deck, the view opens up suddenly and the scenery looks like something out of a painting.

Go back the same way, and take it easy when going downhill, it's quite steep.

Climbing to the top of the mountain along the wooden plank road, feeling the level 8 gale, and looking around, the only thing I wanted to do was sing: "I love you, China..." It was so beautiful that the hard work of climbing disappeared in an instant.

It's really a great view. The Heilongjiang River is in full view. I might not dare to go to Heilongjiang now.

The road to Longjiang First Bay is excellent. If you're not visiting the North Pole and the Ussuri Shoal, there's a paved road that takes you directly to the top of the mountain where the scenic viewpoint is located. This road, which likely wasn't built long ago, is a dirt road, but it's easy to walk on without potholes. It's just dusty. If you continue along the paved road, you'll end up at the foot of Longjiang First Bay, where you'll have to climb over 1,400 steps, which is incredibly tiring. My AutoNavi navigation system originally gave us the correct directions, but my wife and friends thought the road was so bad that it shouldn't be paved. We ended up climbing over 1,000 more steps. The scenic area's safety manager then told us that the road directly leads to the top. I regret this deeply, so trust AutoNavi.

Since we arrived early and there were not many people around, we climbed more than 900 steps to the top of the mountain in one breath, overlooking the magnificent scenery of the 360-degree bend of the Heilongjiang River and the Golden Ring Island in Russia across the way. If we had enough time, we could take a car from the top of the mountain to the Arctic Island to view the Golden Ring and Silver Ring Island from another angle.

The scenery is OK, although it is cloudy, it is also quite breathtaking.

This is a place you must visit when you come to Mohe, but it is particularly related to the weather and light. If there is haze, you can't see anything clearly. I recommend checking in here, it's very good. Feel the beautiful mountains and rivers of my wife.

The best travel season is from June to October. The winding Emur River meanders forward like a dragon passing through its waters, dotted with lush green willows and tall, handsome poplar trees. In the early morning after the rain, clouds and mist linger, and the air is filled with fog.

Unfortunately, we were in the middle of winter and had missed the most beautiful season. Standing on the observation deck and looking out into the distance, all we saw was the river covered in snow and withered trees...

The scene here is very beautiful, the wind is very strong, the communication network is not good, the mobile phone signal is weak, it seems that a communication base station is being built.

Climbing thousands of steps to see the first bend of the Longjiang River was a bit overwhelming for me, but the sheer immensity of the bend at the top was truly captivating. This attraction is definitely worth a visit.

Longjiang First Bay was my favorite spot of the entire trip. It offered a perfect view. The guy selling water at the top of the mountain was especially skilled at using a time-lapse effect to capture panoramic views. His photos were absolutely stunning, showing the Golden Ring Island in its entirety. Tourists lined up to take photos with him, and while he didn't force anyone to buy water, I still bought a bottle.

Located on the banks of the Heilongjiang River, Russia lies on the other side. Public transportation is unavailable, so you'll need to drive or charter a car. From the observation deck, you can overlook the Heilongjiang Bay. For photos, you'll need a full-frame wide-angle lens to capture the entire scene. You can also use your phone's panorama mode.

Climb up 999 steps, the mountain is quite steep. Here is the first Omega Bay of Heilongjiang River, which is very beautiful. The circular peninsula belongs to Russia.

Longjiang's First Bay is truly worth a visit. If you're in good physical condition, drive along the asphalt road to the end, where you'll find the wooden plank path leading to the summit. It takes about 30-40 minutes to reach the summit. If you're less physically fit, turn right 20 meters after a small bridge and follow a gravel road uphill for about 15 kilometers (with a forestry-approved barrier) to the summit viewing platform. From here, you can only see the lower half of Ω Bay, not the entirety. You'll need to pass the forestry barrier to see it. However, since the road ahead is prohibited, you'll have to give up. (For a fee of 20 yuan, a forestry ranger will allow you to drive up.)

The scenery at the halfway point and the top of the mountain is very nice. It takes about an hour and a half to go up and down. You can bring some snacks to replenish your energy.

You need to climb a flight of stairs to the viewing platform to see the panoramic view of Longjiang First Bay.

Climbing more than 800 steps to the first bay of Longjiang River, it is so beautiful! The bay is Russian territory, and I heard a lot of reluctance from the locals.

In order to see the first bay, you need to climb to the top to look down. Fortunately, it is not very high.

This scenic area is part of the same scenic area as the Ussuri Shoal, and is also the core scenic area. It is the first U-shaped bend in the upper reaches of the Heilongjiang River. The river flows slowly, surrounded by mountains on the Chinese side. From the platform of the plank road, you can see the vast plains on the opposite side of Russia. The scenery is magnificent.

Mobile phones with panoramic functions can capture the entire big bend. The mountain side is China, and the plain side is Russia.

The scenery of the four seasons posted in the scenic area introduction is truly magical. At that time, I secretly thought to myself that I must visit this place again in autumn.

After wading through the water and climbing the mountain, we enjoyed the view of the first bend of Heilongjiang River. The scenery was picturesque and beautiful.

Climb a long staircase to the top. You can take panoramic photos. The stairs are very steep, and I was almost exhausted by the middle. Russia is across the way.

The wind was extremely strong and extremely cold at the time. The weather conditions were not good at all. I stayed there for a few minutes and then came out.

It is quite dangerous to climb the 888 steps in winter. I saw many people slipping along the way, so you have to be very careful. When you reach the top of the mountain, you can overlook the panoramic view, which is magnificent and spectacular.

Reference time: 2 hours Transportation: Charter a car or drive yourself, as the area is remote and there is no regular bus service;

Tickets: 50 yuan per person for Heilongjiang First Bay and Ussuri Shoal, half price for students.

Day 1: Hailar - World Anti-Fascist Memorial Hall - Morigele River - Golden Horde - Asia's First Wetland - Black Mountain (Accommodation)

Day 2: Heishantou 17, 18, 19 - Shiwei - Linjiang (accommodation)

Day 3: Linjiang - Laoyingzui - Taiping - Mordaoga Forest Park - Mangui - Mohe (Accommodation)

Day 4: Mohe - Nine Bends and Eighteen Bends - Birch Forest - Erba Station - Longjiang First Bend - Northernmost Point - Karen Town - Beihong Village (Accommodation)

Day 5: Beihong Village - Nvjiaowan - Ewenki Reindeer Tribe - Arctic Village (Northernmost Post Office - Northernmost Sandbar - Northernmost Outpost) (Accommodation)

Day 6: Arctic Village - Guanyin Mountain - Yanzhigou - May 6th Fire Memorial Hall - Polaris Square - Pine Garden - (End of the trip)

This is still worth a visit. There is a place to eat at the foot of the mountain. They serve a big pot of stew. It is expensive and there is not even 2 pieces of meat.

I climbed more than 900 steps alone. It was very tiring, but when I reached the top and looked down, I felt that it was all worth it!

From the observation deck, you can enjoy a panoramic view with a wide field of vision, which is even more shocking when you see it with your own eyes.

We headed straight to the top of the mountain and looked down at the First Bay. It was incredibly cold that day, and the wind was strong at the top. If we'd climbed from the base, we'd have been frozen like a snowman. The temperature felt like -52°C, and despite the heater in the car, we were shivering the moment we got out.

[The First Bay of Heilongjiang] This is a bay shaped like an Omega symbol. You can overlook the entire bay from the top of the mountain, with Russia across the way.

It is estimated to take 40 minutes to 1 hour to climb the mountain here. Because it is really cold in winter and the steps are very slippery, it is somewhat dangerous, so be sure to hold the railing.

The red flag represents the border between China and Russia, and the broken ice formed by the impact when the river freezes is a naturally formed boundary marker, declaring that our country's territory is sacred and inviolable.

North Road

Meet from all directions

Traveling around the world

Regardless of region, we gather together with laughter

On the road regardless of identity

Fate can meet each other even though we are thousands of miles apart

Even though we have no destiny, we still have feelings for each other.

The First Bay of Longjiang River is well worth a visit. In winter, it has a quiet and desolate feeling of loneliness, while in summer, it is another vibrant scene.

Heilongjiang is a great place, with vast land and abundant resources. There are also many bays, and they all charge money. Haha

You need to climb to the top of the slope to overlook the entire first night. The process is quite tiring, but after persisting and reaching the top, you will find that all your efforts are worth it.

This spot is best visited by chartering or sharing a car. Similar locations to the First Bay exist elsewhere, and the scenery is similar, with the only difference being the Heilongjiang River, so it's always a good idea to check it out while you're there. The scenery is quite nice. We visited in winter, and the snow covered much of the debris, leaving the overall feeling very peaceful and sacred, with a gentle curve. Photo suggestion: Use a wide-angle lens or a phone camera to capture the full view.

The scenery is great, although climbing the stairs is not fun 😂

The first stop in Mohe is the First Bay of Heilongjiang River.

Photo taken with the birch forest during the ice and snow experience in Mohe, China

When you reach the top and take in the view, all the hard work is worth it.

Although you need to climb thousands of steps, the scenery above is so beautiful.

The First Bay of Heilongjiang River is a unique landscape formed by the rapid backflow of the Heilongjiang River. It has different scenes in each season. You can overlook the panoramic view from the top of the mountain, which is magnificent and spectacular.

It is quite spectacular and has the characteristics of Northeast forests.

I don't think I have the right to say whether it looks good or not, after all, I haven't even climbed halfway. It's really too cold, but even the style of the mountain road is not bad.

It's very beautiful, you can only see it with your eyes, photos can't highlight it!

On New Year's Day, it was really a forest of snow. Climbing the mountain was not easy, and going down the mountain was even harder. The top of the mountain was a platform suitable for taking photos.

The magnificent view can only be seen after climbing more than 800 steps. It is also a stunning place that requires a camera to take in the panoramic view!

Each scenic spot in the Celestial Empire has a different story. According to the appearance and style of the scenery, historical legends will have vivid stories.

This time is no exception~~ Xiao Zou told us the story of this first bay in the car before we arrived~

The overall overview is four characters: Sun, Moon, Rivers and Mountains

OK~ These four words come from the first bay of the summer version, so I can only steal a poster picture here.

Day: The circular island in the middle

Moon: A golden moon-shaped beach on the island

River: The turbulent Heilongjiang River

Mountains: The majestic mountains around and opposite

The winter version can only be slightly modified: sun, snow and iceberg haha

This is the highest viewing platform on the entire Mohe loop tour. The steep plank road requires you to climb slowly. Once you reach the top, you will feel that all the hard work is worth it.

Longjiang First Bend is ranked second among China's nine most beautiful river bends (the first being the Yangtze River First Bend in Shigu Town, Lijiang, Yunnan). Actually, the standard image of Longjiang First Bend looks pretty good in countless postcards and online photos, but people are like that; the more beautiful a photo is, the more they want to see it in person. The truth is, when you compare your photos with others, they're all pretty much the same. But when you visit a place in person, you create a story unique to you. The images, sounds, and smells (like the spicy, fresh, and fragrant) of that moment will linger in your memory, leaving a lasting impression.

There is a simple restaurant at the foot of the mountain where you can order food. Transportation is inconvenient, so you can only charter a car or drive yourself.

As a child from the south, I definitely yearn for snow.

But this first bay left a deep impression on me.

It is recommended to take pictures at a lower viewing platform on the mountain.

The taller one is blocked by trees.

And if you want to capture the entire circle, you need a full-frame 24MM lens.

Half-frame 18mm lens can't shoot all the pictures

Please refer to my travel notes for details.

There is an introduction

The First Bend of the Heilongjiang River is located in Tuqiang, Mohe. We first drove to the Ussuri Shoal, which is said to be the northernmost point in my country, though even Arctic Village isn't the northernmost. Then, a dozen kilometers down the road, we arrived at a place called Hongqiling, where the Heilongjiang River forms a U-shaped bend. This is the First Bend of the Heilongjiang River, and it can only be seen by climbing the mountain. The wooden plank path has about 1,000 steps, and my calves cramped at the mere mention of it. Well, now that I'm here, I have to take the plunge. It's a real struggle, but if I don't make it, I'll regret it for the rest of my life.



The First Bend of the Heilongjiang River is truly spectacular. It embraces a lush island, framed by yellow sand banks and crystal-clear waters. Against the backdrop of blue sky and white clouds, the bay offers breathtaking scenery. Unfortunately, my camera lens is too small to capture the entire scene. Frustrated, I jumped up and down, unable to find the right angle, so I had to snap one side before moving on to the other. The area in the middle is merely the shape of a small island, not an island itself; at most, it's a peninsula, still belonging to the other side of the Heilongjiang River and under Russian jurisdiction. China and Russia face each other across the river.

It was under construction when I went there, and there were no public toilets nearby. But the natural scenery is beautiful and worth visiting.

The First Bay of the Heilongjiang River is a 40-mile-long island surrounded by the Heilongjiang River. From a high vantage point, the perfectly round island is shaded by lush greenery, fringed by golden beaches and embraced by vast, clear waters. The sun, beach, trees, and island, combined with the swift and gentle flow of the river, create a naturally formed, truly magnificent sight and a paradise for photography enthusiasts.

It's a rare sight, great. Although the journey was difficult, it was worth it.

As you can see on the map, Omega Bay lies not far east of the Ussuri Shoal on the Heilongjiang River, China's northernmost point. This is the left foot of Omega Bay, managed by the Tuqiang Forestry Bureau. The top and right foot of Omega Bay are within the jurisdiction of the Amur Forest Farm. A tower has been built there, and when it opens for management, visitors can ascend and enjoy the panoramic views.