Manzhouli borders Mongolia to the west and Russia to the north. It is China's largest land port city. Manzhouli's special geographic location creates the exotic flavor of Manzhouli.
How to play?
Because it is a port city, the exchange with Russia is more in-depth, and almost all the attractions worth hitting in Manzhouli are centered around these two points. Of course, located in the Hulunbeier Grassland, Manzhouli also has very beautiful natural landscapes.
Port State Gate Scenic Area
Ticket price: 60 yuan
Opening time: 9:00-17:30 (17:00 stop admission)
Since it is a port city, the first stop must be the port to see the country. Manzhouli port set up a national scenic spot, you can buy tickets to visit. Once inside, you can see the Russian gate across the street and the railroad to Russia.
The gate we are looking at now is the fifth generation gate built in 2008, the largest gate at a land port in China, and is very grand. Below the gate there are two wide tracks and a quasi-track that connects to Russia. A large portion of China's exports to Europe are transported on this railroad.
On the second floor there is a sightseeing lounge with a view of Zabaikalsk, Russia, which borders Manchuria, and the Russian State Gate in the distance.
But to be honest, the price of admission to this scenic spot is a bit high, and there's not much to see once you're inside. If you just want to get a card to take a picture with the country, you don't need to buy a ticket to go in, just take a picture at the entrance of the scenic spot.
There is a cross-border shopping center in the scenic area. It is not recommended that you go there to buy things. The price is very scenic and sells Russian goods that can be bought in the city of Manzhouli.
Tauwa Scenic Area
Ticket price: 48 yuan (OTA platform booking)
Opening time: 9:00-17:30 (admission stops at 17:00)
Walking back from the State Gate Crossing Scenic Area is the most representative doll scenic area in Manzhouli. Definitely go to Manzhouli must card attractions. Said scenic spot, in fact, is a doll-themed paradise.
Towers scenic area integrates Russian history and culture, architectural features and folk customs. Standing here is like entering a Russian scenic spot.
From the inside to the outside is a strong Russian style, the architectural style is very Russian. Taking a picture and sending it to your friends will make you think you are in Russia.
There is a large doll square, which has oversized dolls with zodiac signs, various celebrities, various themes, each doll's painted body is unique.
The little trash cans in the scenic area, the bathrooms are all dolls, and the rides are all dolls.
Most of the entertainment is included in the cost of admission. One ticket to play, bumper cars, roller coasters, sledgehammers are all available.
The supporting hotel for the Tao Wa scenic area is the famous Tao Wa Hotel, which is right in front of the scenic area.
The lobby of Tauwa Hotel is conceptualized as the famous golden reception room of the Russian Winter Palace. The background replicates the walls of the war room of the French Palace of Versailles, and the ceiling is in the style of handmade oil paintings of Russian churches. It really does look like Versailles.
This hotel basically has dolls wherever they can appear. Table lamps, mirrors, mugs .....................
It's supposed to be off-season in Manzhouli these days. I think a calendar room can be booked for $300. You know, this hotel sells for 2,000 dollars at the most expensive time. You can experience it if you are interested.
Yingshan Cathedral
Fare: free
Opening time: all day
Yingshan Cathedral is not in the center of Manzhouli. It is located on a hillside on the outskirts of Manzhouli, where you can see a panoramic view of Manzhouli. Eagle Mountain Church, also known as the Wedding Palace, belongs to the spire of the twin towers of the Orthodox Church bell tower.
Some information I read on the Internet said it was the largest single-story Christian church in Asia, which could not be verified because there was no official information on site, but it is indeed a magnificent church. During the day, the wedding palace may look ordinary, but at night, when the lights come on, you can feel its charm.
This church is usually not open to the public, so you can only take pictures outside. It is recommended that you come in the evening to see Manchuria at sunset and the wedding palace after the lights come on.
If you bring a drone with you, seeing the Wedding Palace from a different angle is a different experience and is sure to be stunning.
Wedding Palace
Manzhouli night view
Manzhouli's night view is definitely the best I've ever seen. At night, Manzhouli will turn into a golden glittering city.
The whole city is lit up by uniform landscape lights, and all kinds of spiky domed buildings flourish even more under the golden lights. According to locals, electricity is expensive every night, paid for by the local government.
In the evening, you can go to the North Lake Park in the northwest corner of Manchuria to see the night view. The buildings are reflected in the water and it has a Shanghai flavor.
Walking around Beihu Park, you can go to the Manzhouli People's Square to sit and rest, there is a clock tower, which is also beautiful in the night light.
Hulun Lake
Fare: 40 yuan
Open: 9:00-17:00
Manzhouli is a small city, and even the locals flirt with the idea of having a smoke and being done with it, so two days in Manzhouli basically puts it into perspective for you.
You can rent a car or charter a bus from Manzhouli and reach Hulun Lake, Inner Mongolia's largest lake, in an hour.
Outside of Manzhouli is the prairie, and the scenery is great along the way. Luckily, you can see camels grazing on the roadside.
Not far from Hulun Lake is Bel Lake, and the combination of the names of the two lakes is also the origin of the name Hulunbeier. However, Bel Lake is in a military management area and is not currently open to the public.
What to eat?
Manzhouli is located in the Hulunbeier Grassland of Inner Mongolia. Because of the special geographic location, you can not only taste the authentic Russian cuisine, but also the authentic scenery of the Hulunbeier Grassland.
Authentic Russian food: Loubry Western Restaurant
Opening time: 9:00-22:00
Address: No.178, Xisandao Street, Suzhong Pedestrian Street
When you come to Manchuria, you must try the Russian food, and Loubry Western Restaurant is supposed to be recognized as the most authentic Russian food in the area. Every night there are beautiful Russian ladies and handsome Russian brothers performing song and dance programs in the restaurant.
Loubry cheese buns are a must-have symbol. You can see the baking process of Russian grandmothers. The bread is filled with thick cheese and is super addictive to eat.
The Empress Salad is also a classic dish. This salad translates directly to "salted fish in a mink coat". The beetroot in the salad is imported from Russia and looks good. The ingredients are laid out in layers in the shape of small square bricks with homemade salted fish, which has a strange flavor.
The Russian grilled sausages sold look a bit strange. You can try the carbonara flavor and the meat is good. One serving is big. It is recommended to order it for more than four people.
If you like to drink, you can also order imported Russian beer to go with your meal. It's a great way to enjoy a drink and some meat.
Manzhouli eat Russian food there is a good choice, called Katyusha Western Restaurant. But while I was organizing my information, I found out that this restaurant is currently closed. You can also try it if it's open when you go.
Nebong cuisine: Nomin Tara Milk Tea
Open: 6:00-21:00
Address: No. 14, Building 5, Modern Garden District, Liudao Street
When you're in Nei Meng, you should also try this authentic Nei Meng cuisine. This restaurant is recommended by locals as a local chain restaurant in Inner Mongolia.
Every table must order Normin Tara milk tea, which is freshly brewed and ready to drink. The milk tea is a savory taste of Inner Mongolia that accentuates the flavor of the milk. If you're not used to drinking it, you can add white sugar at the table.
Buryat buns are stuffed with beef and onion, a specialty of Inner Mongolia. The beef inside is large grains, fat and thin, and you will feel a bit greasy if you eat too much of it. If there are fewer people, you can just take half a drawer and try it.
The red bean yogurt cake is a bit like yogurt-flavored jelly, with a rich milky flavor. It feels quite refreshing when dipped in blueberry sauce.
Lamb lovers must try his hand-roasted pork. Sheep in Inner Mongolia just isn't hard to eat and the meat is tender. It's all done in the simplest way, eating the original flavor.
Russian bakery: Russian Le Bar House
Opening time: 5:00-20:00
Address: Hall 3 on the first floor of Xingjun neighborhood, Doudou Street
Le Bar Shop has been open in Manchuria for more than ten years. This store has a small, unobtrusive door and is easy to miss. Le Bar is the name of Russian bread, so the store sells mostly large Russian bread.
Push the first pineapple bun. In fact, this is not called pineapple buns, and we usually eat pineapple buns. 6 dollars extra large, also mixed with some raisins, just out of the oven when not too delicious.
Other Russian-style big lebas are hard and dry when eaten alone. We recommend buying them and dipping them in jam.
Fermented hops have a long shelf life and can be kept for over a month. Many people buy a lot of them as gifts when they leave. There are sugar-free ones that you can take back to your elderly family members.
Local Dairy: Jilamisuya Lebar Plaza
Open: 8:00 p.m.-21:00 p.m.
Address: No. 9, Walking Street Chain Hotel Block, Golden Street, Suzhong.
At Le Bar Plaza, which is tucked away in a residential neighborhood, people simply won't understand if you see a Russian clerk who doesn't speak English. Just speak Chinese.
Timisuleba is the store's signature cake, and it's not quite what you'd normally get at a dessert store. It has the air of a fighting race and is very large and sturdy.
Despite its name, Le Bafa's most popular items are the various dairy products. Fresh milk is delivered from the farm early in the morning. I can say it's the freshest milk I've ever had.
I recommend trying his bottled homemade yogurt. It's very thick, not too sour, and has a great creamy flavor. Perfect for a bottle to cool down after a meal.
These milk bars are also made by us. The milk skin with hawthorn is delicious and will keep for a long time, so you can buy them as gifts.
Where to go shopping?
Where can I go for a sneak peek? There are several big shopping malls in Manzhouli, including the Friendship Mall in the center of the city, the Wanda Plaza a little farther away, and a Sino-Soviet pedestrian street. These are more comprehensive commercial neighborhoods where you can buy food, clothes, and things.
If you want to buy fruits, snacks and daily necessities, you can go to Qingkelong Supermarket, which is the largest general supermarket in Manzhouli and a favorite place for locals.
If you want to buy some Russian specialties as gifts, it is not recommended to buy them in street stores. There are fake goods. It is recommended to buy from the Dashan Soviet Food Store next to the Friendship Shopping Center. This store has been in business for a long time, with a full range of goods and guaranteed quality. I compared the prices and they are cheaper than other imported supermarkets in Manzhouli.
His prices are basically the same as Taobao, and you can find a lot of goods that are not available on Taobao.
Russian candies, chocolates, cookies, snacks accounted for half of the shelves, you can also buy back as a gift.
Russian honey and caviar are also of good quality and very affordable. You can buy some to eat at home.
Russian brands of hand creams and face masks are cheap and many people buy them. There are also some Russian-imported international brands of open-shelf cosmetics, such as L'Oreal, which are also very affordable and much cheaper than domestic counters.
There are also many varieties of vodka, the national happy water, twenty or thirty dollars can buy a large bottle.
If you buy more than not convenient to take, there is an express point at the door. Free packing, you can directly send home, super convenient.
Recommended stores:
Youyi Mall (North Market on Wudaogang Street, 8:30-21:00)
Wanda Plaza (9:00-21:00, No. 6 Huabu Street)
Qingkelong (No. 9 Sujhong Street, 8:00-21:00)
Dashan Soviet Foodstuffs Store (No. 28 Sanshima Street, 7:30-23. 30)
Manzhouli may be small, but it really is an exotic town. On days when you can't go abroad, it's a special experience to go to Manzhouli to have a Russian meal and see dolls. If you have enough time, you can drive along the border to see more different landscapes such as grasslands, mountains and birch forests.
Have you been to similar exotic towns? Feel free to share with us in the comment section~
Hotel
The best hotel in Manzhouli is the Shangri-La Hotel, Manzhouli. The current calendar price is 700 and the location is great, right next to the North Lake Park.
Other high-end hotels are recommended, such as the Van Dien Manzhouli and the Diplomatic Club Manzhouli, which are conveniently located in the heart of the city center.
Of course the most unique is the Manzhouli Doll Hotel, but this hotel is not in downtown Manzhouli. If you have experienced it, it is recommended to keep f
Transportation
Airplane: at present, there are few direct flights from Manzhouli, which only support direct flights to Beijing, Harbin and Hohhot. There are many direct flights near Hailar in the city, so you can consider taking a plane to Hailar first, and then take a bus to Manzhouli.
Train: Currently, the ones going to Manzhouli are slow green cars. If you don't have enough time, it is not recommended to go by train.