Jixi is a coal-mining city on the Muling River in southeastern Heilongjiang, close to the Russian border and within reach of Lake Xingkai. Winters are bitter and dry, summers warm and comparatively cool, and the city sees plenty of sunshine year-round.
For a visitor, the practical geography is simple: the urban core is made up of several districts, with Jiguan, Hengshan and Chengzihe forming the built-up area, and Didao and Mashan also among the city's districts. Jixi Railway Station and Jixi Xingkaihu Airport, about 30 minutes from downtown, are the main arrival points, and the Jixi–Hulin–Jiansanjiang Expressway links the major districts. This guide covers which districts make sense as a base, and what to expect at each budget level.
Best areas to stay in Jixi
1. Jiguan District
Jiguan is the central urban district and the most practical base for a first visit. It is where the city's main services concentrate, and it appears in the source material as the district with an address on National Highway 201, indicating good road connections.
It suits first-time visitors and anyone who wants to be in the middle of things rather than on the edge of the city. Expect the widest choice of accommodation types here, from budget through to the upper end. As one of the three districts making up the built-up metro area, it is well placed for reaching the rest of the city.
2. Chengzihe District
Chengzihe is one of the three districts that form Jixi's built-up metro area, alongside Jiguan and Hengshan. It grew around coal industry, with the Chengzihe No.9 subvertical and the Chengzihe Coal Washery among the industrial projects built here.
This makes it a reasonable base for travellers with an interest in the city's industrial character, and for those who want to be within the urban core without being in the most central district. Connections to the rest of the city are straightforward given its place in the built-up area.
3. Hengshan District
Hengshan is the third of the districts making up the built-up metro area. It has a coal-mining history, with coalpits in Hengshan among those ordered destroyed in 1945 as the Soviet Red Army approached.
It suits visitors who prefer a quieter base within the urban core, or who have reason to be in this part of the city. Like Jiguan and Chengzihe, it sits within the built-up area, so you are not isolated from the city's services.
4. Didao District
Didao is one of Jixi's districts and is closely associated with the mining history of the area, including the mass graves left in the mining area during the Japanese occupation. The Didao Colliery was also among those ordered destroyed in 1945.
It suits travellers specifically interested in that history. It is a district of the city rather than the central core, so treat it as a base only if the mining heritage is your main reason for visiting.
5. Mashan District
Mashan is one of the districts administered by Jixi, established alongside Jiguan, Didao, Hengshan and Lishu when the city was set up at prefectural level.
It is an option for travellers who need to be in that part of the city for a specific reason. It is not part of the built-up metro area described in the source material, so it is less convenient as a general sightseeing base.
Where to stay on a budget, mid-range or splurge
- Budget: Look for simple guesthouse-style and basic hotel accommodation, most readily found in the central districts where services concentrate.
- Mid-range: Standard city hotels with doubles at moderate rates; the central districts offer the widest choice.
- Splurge: Upper-end city hotels exist in Jixi, with listed rates for doubles reaching into the high hundreds of yuan and discounted rates substantially lower.
Best area for a first visit
Jiguan District is the best base for a first visit. It is the central urban district, part of the built-up metro area, and has the road connections and concentration of services that make it easiest to get around. Stay here if you want a straightforward base for exploring the rest of the city.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Jixi?
Jixi is linked by rail to the Jiamusi–Mudanjiang line, with branch lines to the Russian border areas, and Jixi Railway Station has multiple daily departures to cities including Beijing, Harbin, Qiqihar and Mudanjiang. Jixi Xingkaihu Airport, about 30 minutes from downtown, has domestic flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Harbin and Qingdao.
Which districts make up the built-up area of Jixi?
The built-up metro area is made up of three of the city's six urban districts: Jiguan, Hengshan and Chengzihe.
When is the best time to visit Jixi?
Summers are warm and humid but comparatively cool and refreshing thanks to the proximity of the Sea of Japan. Winters are bitter and dry, with January averages around −16 °C, so summer is the more comfortable season for most visitors.
Is Jixi close to the Russian border?
Yes. Jixi sits on the Muling River about 30 km from Russia's Primorsky Krai, and the prefecture borders Primorsky Krai to the southeast.
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