大兴安岭地区

Why this place

Daxing'anling is the Greater Khingan forest region in the far north of Heilongjiang, and it contains Mohe — the northernmost town in China, where in midsummer the sky never goes fully dark and in winter the temperature can fall below −40°C. It is also where the aurora is most likely to be visible in China.

What to see

• Beiji (Arctic) Village at Mohe — China's northernmost settlement, with the midnight sun in June
• The Greater Khingan forest, larch and birch for hundreds of kilometres
• The Heilongjiang (Amur) River as the border, and the Oroqen reindeer herders' country

What to eat

• Forest food: mushrooms, berries, pine nuts
• Amur river fish, and Oroqen reindeer-country dishes

How to plan

Mohe is a long way — fly in or take the overnight train from Harbin. Two or three days on the ground.

Best time

June for the midnight sun; December–January for extreme cold and possible aurora; late September for autumn colour

Practical tips

• Winter temperatures here are dangerous without proper gear — −40°C is normal in January