Stand on the platform at Jixi Railway Station and you may catch the last working steam locomotive in China, still fired up in a city built on coal. Jixi sits on the Muling River in southeastern Heilongjiang, close to the Russian border and within reach of Lake Xingkai, and its draw for a traveller is the mix of industrial railway heritage and wide, quiet border-country water.
This guide suits anyone passing through Heilongjiang by rail or road who wants a day or two of rivers, lakes and railway history rather than a packed sightseeing schedule. It covers the places worth your time in and around Jixi, and how to string them together if you have only one day.
Top things to do in Jixi
1. Jixi Railway Station
Jixi is known as the home of the last remaining working steam locomotive in China, and the railway station is where that reputation lives. The station itself was completed on 15 December 1935 by the South Manchuria Railway, and it remains the hub for the city's rail links.
Time your visit around a departure if you want to see the station in use, and note that there are multiple daily departures to cities such as Beijing, Harbin, Qiqihar and Mudanjiang if you are planning onward travel.
2. Khanka Lake
Khanka Lake, known in Chinese as Lake Xingkai, is the largest lake within Jixi's borders and the single most rewarding natural sight in the area. The city lies about 120 km from the lake, so it is a half-day or full-day outing rather than a quick stop.
Because the lake sits in the conjunction region between the Changbai Mountains and the Wanda Mountains, the surrounding country is worth the drive itself. Combine the lake with the Ussuri River if you are heading toward the border.
3. Ussuri River
The Ussuri is one of the largest rivers in the Jixi prefecture and forms part of the frontier with Russia's Primorsky Krai. It is the river to see if you want a sense of the border landscape that shaped this corner of Heilongjiang.
Pair it with Zhenbao Island, which lies in the same border area, and allow time for the drive rather than treating the river as a quick roadside stop.
4. Zhenbao Island
Zhenbao Island is the location of a border incident between China and the Soviet Union, and it remains the most historically charged spot within reach of Jixi. It sits in the Ussuri River border zone, southeast of the city.
Visit it as part of a border-country loop with the Ussuri River rather than on its own, and keep in mind that this is a frontier area, so plan your transport before you set out.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Jixi Railway Station, where the city's railway heritage and its role as the home of China's last working steam locomotive are the main draw. Check the day's departures if you plan to travel onward to Harbin, Mudanjiang or beyond.
Afternoon: Head out toward the border country and the Ussuri River, continuing to Zhenbao Island, the site of the border incident between China and the Soviet Union.
Evening: If you have the time and transport, push on to Khanka Lake, about 120 km from the city, for the largest lake within Jixi's borders. Otherwise return to the city and keep the lake for a second day.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Jixi?
Jixi Xingkaihu Airport opened in 2009 and serves as the main civilian airport, with domestic flights to cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Harbin and Qingdao; it takes about 30 minutes to reach downtown from the airport. By rail, Jixi is linked to the line from Jiamusi to Mudanjiang, with branch lines running to the Russian border areas.
When is the best time of year to visit?
Jixi has a monsoon-influenced, humid continental climate with bitter but dry winters and warm, humid summers. Because of the relative proximity to the Sea of Japan, summer is comparatively cool and refreshing, with July averaging 21.7 °C, while January averages −16.0 °C.
What is Jixi known for?
Jixi is one of the important coal mining bases in China, and it is also famous as the home of the last remaining working steam locomotive in China. Its prefecture takes in Lake Xingkai, the Muling River, the Songacha River and the Ussuri River.
Can I combine Jixi with the Russian border area?
Yes. Jixi is on the Muling River about 30 km from the border with Russia's Primorsky Krai, and the prefecture borders Primorsky Krai to the southeast. The Ussuri River and Zhenbao Island sit in that border zone, and rail branch lines run to the Russian border areas.
Check the rail timetable and the flights into Jixi Xingkaihu Airport, then build your days around the lake, the border rivers and the station.