Bin County

Bin County is located in the east of Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province, on the south bank of the Songhua River and the western foothills of the Zhangguangcai Mountains. It covers an area of 3,844.6 square kilometers and has a permanent population of about 550,000 (2020). Bin County has a long history, belonging to the Moji Prefecture of Bohai Kingdom in the Tang Dynasty, and was established as Binzhou Ting in the Qing Dynasty, renamed Bin County in 1913. It is an important agricultural county and ecological tourism destination in Heilongjiang. Bin County is famous for the Erlongshan Scenic Area, with national forest parks and multiple reservoirs, serving as a natural oxygen bar near Harbin. The county has diverse cultures, featuring Manchu and Korean ethnic customs, and traditional foods like Binzhou Pancake and Erlong Lake Fish Feast attract many tourists. As an important eastern gateway of Harbin, Bin County combines natural landscapes, pastoral scenery, and historical sites, making it an ideal place to experience the slow rural life of Northeast China.

## Bin County Travel Guide

### I. Core Attractions

**1. Erlongshan Scenic Area** - Location: Southwest of Bin County, 56 km from downtown Harbin, about 1 hour drive. - Features: National 4A-level scenic area, centered on Erlong Lake (capacity about 120 million cubic meters) and surrounding mountains, with islands like Pearl Island and Lovers' Island. - Activities: Boating, fishing, hiking (main peak about 300 m) in summer; ice and snow activities in winter. - Tickets: Peak season (May-Oct) 50 yuan/person, off-season 30 yuan/person. - Opening Hours: 8:00-17:00.

**2. Xianglu Mountain National Forest Park** - Location: Southeast of Bin County, about 30 km from the county seat, about 40 minutes by car. - Features: National 3A-level scenic area, forest coverage 98%, main peak Xianglu Peak at 790 m, known as "Little Huangshan of Northeast China." - Attractions: Yixian Tian (A Thread of Sky), Longji Peak, Foguang Peak, etc., with red leaves in autumn. - Tickets: 40 yuan/person (including insurance), battery car one-way 10 yuan. - Suggested visit: 4-5 hours.

**3. Binzhou Ancient City Site** - Location: Binzhou Town, Bin County. - Features: Site of the Qing Dynasty Binzhou Ting government, with remaining city walls and gate bases, surrounded by a antique-style commercial street. - Free admission, suitable for learning local history.

**4. Dadingzi Mountain Navigation-Power Junction** - Location: Bin County section of Songhua River, 15 km from the county seat. - Features: An artificial lake (Dadingzi Mountain Lake) integrating power generation, navigation, and tourism, with open lake views and bird watching by boat. - Best season: Late spring to early summer (May-June) when water birds gather.

### II. Local Cuisine

- **Binzhou Pancake**: A thick pancake about 30 cm in diameter, crispy outside and soft inside, served with sauced meat and scallions, a local breakfast favorite. Recommended: "Old Binzhou Pancake Shop" on Central Street, Binzhou Town. - **Erlong Lake Fish Feast**: Featuring carp, crucian carp, and whitefish from the lake, cooked by stewing, frying, steaming, etc., representative dish "Braised Gaya Fish." Recommended: "Lake Fresh House" at the entrance of Erlongshan Scenic Area. - **Korean Cold Noodles**: Bin County has Korean villages (e.g., Xindian Town), cold noodles are sweet, sour, and chewy, perfect for summer. - **Wild Vegetables**: In spring, enjoy Acanthopanax, bracken, mugwort, etc., mostly from Xianglu Mountain area.

### III. Transportation

- **External Transportation**: - Railway: Take K-series train from Harbin East Station to "Binzhou Station" (about 1 hour), then transfer by bus or taxi to the county seat (3 km). - Highway: Take bus from Harbin Highway Bridge Bus Station to Bin County (every 30 minutes, fare about 25 yuan, 1.5 hours). - Self-driving: Take G10 Harbin-Tongjiang Expressway to Bin County exit, or G221 National Highway.

- **Internal Transportation**: - Taxi starting fare 5 yuan, buses (1 yuan) cover main streets. - Charter car to scenic spots (one-way to Erlongshan about 50 yuan, Xianglu Mountain about 80 yuan), or take scenic area shuttle bus (only during peak season).

### IV. Itinerary Suggestions

- **One-day Tour**: Morning at Erlongshan Scenic Area (boating + hiking), lunch with fish feast, afternoon at Xianglu Mountain (walk the "Yixian Tian" trail). - **Two-day Tour**: D1 Erlongshan + Binzhou Ancient City, D2 Xianglu Mountain + Dadingzi Mountain bird watching.

### V. Shopping Recommendations

- Local specialties: Erlong Lake dried fish, dried wild vegetables, Northeast black fungus, Korean kimchi. Purchase at "Huibin Supermarket" on East Street, Binzhou Town.