Qiqihar is a prefecture-level city located in the west central part of the Heilongjiang province in northeastern China. It serves as the second-largest city within the province. The urban area consists of three primary districts: Longsha, Tiefeng, and Jianhua.
The population of the city has seen significant demographic shifts; while the built-up area recorded 959,787 inhabitants in previous data, the total registered population for 2024 is projected to be 5.06 million. The majority of the residents are Han Chinese, though the region also hosts thirty-four different minorities, including Manchus, Daur, and Mongols.
The city is situated near several significant wetlands, most notably the Zhalong Nature Reserve. This area is well-known throughout China as a primary habitat for numerous red-crowned cranes.