Manzhouli

Manzhouli (Манжуур хот; ) is a sub-prefectural city located in Hulunbuir prefecture-level city, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. Located on the border with Russia, it is a major land port of entry. It has an area of 696.3 km2 and a population of almost 250,000 (in 2010).

History
In ancient times the area was inhabited by the Donghu, Xiongnu, Xianbei, Khitan, Jurchen, Mongols and Manchu. During the decline of China's last dynasty, the Russian Empire forced the Qing (1644–1912) to cede Outer Manchuria in the 1858 Treaty of Aigun. That treaty made the Argun River, which originates in this area, the border between China and Russia.

In 1901, the China Far East Railway was completed in accordance with the Sino-Russian Secret Treaty of 1896, linking Siberia, Manchuria/northeast China, and the Russian Far East. A settlement then formed around Manchzhuriya Station, the first stop within Manchuria for Russians. It was the beginning of the modern city of Manzhouli and the name of Manzhouli came from Russian Манжули (Manzhuli).

In 1905, Manzhouli was designated a trading center, greatly boosting Manzhouli's growth. In 1908 the Manzhouli customs was set up. Under the Republic of China, Manzhouli (under the name Lubin []) came under the jurisdiction of the province of Hsingan. In 1927, Manzhouli was designated as a city. Although with Hsingan and surrounding areas, Manzhouli came under Japanese control in 1931, and was part of the Empire of Manchuria from 1932 to 1945. It became part of Inner Mongolia under China from 1946.

In 1992, Manzhouli became one of the first land border cities opened up by the People's Republic of China. It has since experienced somewhat of a boom as a center of border trade between China and Russia. In 2017, the Manzhouli Stadium opened. The football stadium has a capacity of 20,153.

Geography and climate
Manzhouli is located in the western part of the Hulunbuir prefecture-level city. To the east, south and west it borders New Barag Left Banner and New Barag Right Banner, also in Hulunbuir, and Russia to the north, with which it shares a border 54 km long. The Russian townlet of Zabaykalsk is situated immediately north of Abagaitu Islet and Manzhouli.

Manzhouli is located on the Hulunbuir grasslands. Lake Hulun to its immediate south is the PRC's fifth largest freshwater lake with an area of 2,600 km2 and an average depth of just 5 m.

Manzhouli has a semi-arid climate (Köppen (BSk), with temperatures in winter capable of plummeting below −40 C. However, in each month there is more than 55% of possible sunshine, and over three-fourths of annual precipitation occurs from June to August.

Administration
Manzhouli is divided into five subdistricts and one town.


 * Others:
 * Manzhouli Mutual Trade Zone (满洲里市互市贸易区)
 * Manzhouli Economic Cooperation Zone (满洲里市经济合作区)
 * Manzhouli Comprehensive Bonded Zone (满洲里综合保税区)

Tourism
The border crossing with Russia is a tourist attraction. The Manzhouli China-Russia Border Tourist Area is a destination that brings together the border gate, a giant Matryoshka doll shaped hotel, and park filled with Matryoshka dolls. Other attractions within the scenic area are the No 41 Border Monument and the Locomotive Square. It has been rated as a AAAAA (5A) tourist attraction.

Manzhouli Ice & Snow Festival takes place every winter from some time in February to early March. This is a smaller version of the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival.

There is a replica of the Soviet World War II monument, The Motherland Calls.

Economy
Manzhouli is China's busiest land port of entry, and is responsible for 60% of all imports from and exports to Eastern Europe.

Demographics
Ninety-five percent of Manzhouli's population is Han Chinese. The remainder are Buryat, Russian, Mongol, Manchu, or of other ethnicities.

Media
Much of the plot of the 2018 film An Elephant Sitting Still revolves around a number of characters traveling to a circus in Manzhouli.

Railway


Trains from Beijing to Moscow on the Trans-Manchurian branch of the Trans-Siberian Railway pass through Manzhouli Railway Station. There are also tourist lines to Chita, Krasnokamensk, Irkutsk, and Ulan Ude.

A break of gauge multi-modal transshipment facility was completed in 2008 across the Russian border in Zabaikalsk.

Air
Manzhouli Xijiao Airport is located in the western part of the city. Passengers can fly to Beijing and Inner Mongolia's capital city Hohhot from the airport as well as the Russian city of Chita and the Mongolian capital city Ulaanbaatar via Choibalsan.

Highway

 * By China National Highway 301 linked to Inner Mongolia and Heilongjiang cities.

Education
Secondary schools include:
 * Manzhouli No. 7 (满洲里市第七中学)
 * Manzhouli No. 8 School (满洲里市第八学校)
 * Manzhouli No. 11 (满洲里市第十一中学)

Sister cities
Manzhouli is twinned with the following sister cities.


 * 🇷🇺 Chita, Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia
 * 🇷🇺 Krasnokamensk, Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia
 * 🇷🇺 Ulan-Ude, Buryatia, Russia