01Bayan County is under …
Bayan County is under the jurisdiction of Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province. It is located in the hinterland of the Songnen Plain, on the north bank of the middle reaches of the Songhua River, with geographical coordinates of 126°45′—127°30′E and 45°54′—46°40′N. The total area of the county is about 3,147 square kilometers, with a permanent population of about 386,000 (2023 data). Bayan has a long history, having been an important garrison and reclamation area as early as the Liao and Jin dynasties. Bayan Prefecture was established during the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty, and it was changed to a county in 1913. Bayan is known as the "Hometown of Chinese Soybeans" and a "Famous Historical and Cultural County in Northeast China," with rich Jin Dynasty sites, anti-Japanese coalition red relics, and unique Songhua River wetland scenery. The county has vast arable land and developed agriculture, especially known for the high quality of soybeans, corn, and rice. Bayan's dialect culture is unique, and it is an important inheritance site for folk arts such as Northeast Errenzhuan and Northeast Yangge. The county seat, Bayan Town, is about 70 kilometers from downtown Harbin, serving as an important satellite city in the northern part of the Harbin metropolitan area, combining rural scenery and cultural heritage.
I. Core Attractions
1. Bayan Ancient City Site (Jin Dynasty Ancient City): Located 3 km southwest of the county seat, it is one of the better-preserved Jin Dynasty ancient cities in Heilongjiang Province. The city walls are made of rammed earth, with a circumference of about 2,000 meters, and remnants of the east, west, and north gates remain. Free admission, recommended visit time 1 hour. Best viewed in spring when wildflowers bloom.
2. Yima Mountain National Forest Park: Located in the northwest of the county, 20 km from the county seat. The park covers an area of about 1,500 hectares, with the main peak at an altitude of about 330 meters. There are relics of a Jin Dynasty post road and an anti-Japanese coalition secret camp. Ticket price 30 yuan, open 8:00-17:00. It takes about 2 hours to climb to the top, offering a panoramic view of the Songhua River Plain.
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3. Songhua River Wetland Landscape Belt: Distributed along the southern section of the Songhua River in Bayan County, with a total length of about 50 km. The best viewing spot is near Bayan Port Town, where you can take a boat tour (50 yuan/person) for bird watching and reed marshes. The wet season is from May to October, with lotus flowers blooming in July and August.
4. Anti-Japanese Coalition Memorial Hall: Located in the eastern suburbs of the county seat, free admission (Tuesday to Sunday 9:00-16:00). It houses over 200 anti-Japanese coalition artifacts, showcasing the activities of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army in Bayan.
II. Specialty Food and Shopping
Bayan soybean products are a must-try: Bayan dry tofu (thin as paper, tough as tendon) can be purchased at "Old Liu's Dry Tofu Shop" (Address: No. 82 Renmin Street, Bayan Town), about 8 yuan per jin. Bayan sticky bean buns (yellow rice flour with red bean filling) are a traditional winter snack, recommended at "Jixiang Sticky Bean Bun Shop" (on Dongzhi Road). Additionally, fresh Songhua River fish (such as carp and mandarin fish) can be tasted at riverside restaurants in Bayan Port Town, with an average cost of about 60 yuan per person.
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III. Transportation Guide
1. External Transportation: From downtown Harbin, you can take a bus directly to Bayan County (Harbin Highway Bridge Bus Station, every half hour from 6:30 to 17:00, ticket price 28 yuan, about 1.5 hours). Or self-drive via the Hatong Expressway (G1011) to the Bayan exit, a total distance of about 70 km.
2. Internal Transportation: Taxis in the county seat start at 5 yuan (within 3 km), with 6 bus routes (fare 1 yuan). To reach Yima Mountain, take the Bayan-Longquan Town shuttle bus (4 trips daily, fare 10 yuan).