▲ Arctic Village is located in Mohe Township, Mohe City, Daxing'anling Prefecture, Heilongjiang Province, China. Nestled at the foot of Qixing Mountain on the northern slopes of the Greater Khingan Range and along the southern bank of the upper Heilongjiang River, it sits at a high latitude of 53°33'30", facing the Russian village of Ignatyevo across the river. Due to its extreme northern latitude, daylight hours here are remarkably short - sunrise occurs around 8 AM and sunset as early as 3 PM. Yet each sunrise and sunset offers breathtaking beauty, with the cold-weather-exclusive pink twilight that seems to heal all worldly worries. The long winter nights are far from lonely, as stunning light pillars occasionally pierce the frozen darkness, resembling the ignition of planetary engines. With exceptional luck during a geomagnetic storm, visitors might even witness the spectacular Northern Lights dancing across China's northernmost skies.
▲ Additionally, as the "northernmost" village (though Beihong Village is actually the true northernmost), everything here is related to the north. If you often have a poor sense of direction and "can't find north," then congratulations—here, you'll definitely "find your north."
▲ In winter, Mohe experiences long polar nights, but it's precisely these endless dark hours that create the mesmerizing aurora. Arctic Village is the recommended spot for aurora viewing in China, especially during the long winter nights when the chances of seeing the northern lights are higher. Don't forget to pack thick warm clothing. (Best aurora viewing period: November to January each year, with peak hours between 9:00 PM and 3:00 AM.)
▲ I sent postcards filled with blessings from the northernmost post office to friends who hold special meaning in my life.
▲ The sunset at Polaris Square is absolutely stunning! The warm orange and pink twilight bathes the city in breathtaking beauty. It looks amazing when shot with a telephoto lens or zoomed-in phone camera, and makes for gorgeous portrait photography too!
▲ Visit Mohe Ballroom in the evening, the northernmost ballroom in China. Once a leisure spot for middle-aged and elderly people, it has now become a must-visit destination for young travelers thanks to a hit song.
