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| | St. Miller Church [edit this] | | The largest catholic church-St. Miller Church was located at Xianshan Hutong Catholic Church of the Capital City Qiqihar, which was built in July of the 17th year of the Republic of China (1928) by the Swiss Godfather Enholf to grow followers. The godfather spent 29,800 silver dollars in purchasing 45 rooms of Leng Baizhi to build a new church. Enholf demolished the purchased house in the 19th year of the Republic of China (1930) to build St. Miller Church on the site of the house (the present Haishan Hutong). The construction was completed at the end of the 20th year of the Republic of China (1931), and the catholic religious activities were started from then on. St. Miller Church is the largest one in Qiqihar, which covers 6,625㎡, with the building area of 4,524㎡. The main building big church is of the Gothic type, which is reinforced framed construction with the building area of 1,250㎡. The height of the main tower is 43m, with a big north-south Latin Cross on the top of tower. The big church is bright and spacious, which could hold 4,000 followers. The entire building is grand and splendid. Besides served as the religious activity place, this church is also the Prelate Bishop Mansion and General Church of Qiqihar Prelate Parish, which has 25 branch churches and 70 public offices. Foreign missionaries from Switzerland, Germany, France, Poland, Britain, and Canada and so on once successively undertook missionary activities in this church. Loud, clear and rhythmical tolls with five tones come out from the Bell Room on the church. There are approximately 1,000 people gather at the church to attend religious activities on Lord's Day, with the maximum of more than 4,000 people. Public Security Organ of Qiqihar Municipal Government uncovered Hu Ganpu Spy Case in the church in July of the 36th year of the Republic of China (1947). Therefore the church was handed over by the government, and the religious activities were stopped. Dozens of foreign clergies were sent back to their countries. Hereafter, the church was successively impropriated by Down-to-South Cadre Training Team, Nenjiang Provincial Committee CCP Party School and Beiman Construction Engineering Company, etc. The church was seriously destroyed during the Cultural Revolution period. Over 100 Red Guards broke all the 50 cross strip windows assembled by five color thick flower pattern glasses imported from Germany with wood sticks under the excuse of Sweep Away the Four Olds on June 28th, 1966. The Red Guards changed the Latin Cross on top of Bell Room into a big red pentacle made of steel plate in the summer of 1967, and they blocked the interspaces on four sides of the over 20-m-high cement Latin Cross whose function was to magnify the tolls with bricks, and they plastered the bricks with cement and wrote four slogans like Bear Class Struggle in Mind Constantly etc in the next year. The religious policy was carried out after The Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of The Communist Party, the ownership of the church was returned back to Harbin Catholic Parish in 1982, Qiqihar City Catholic Church was entrusted to return the ownership of the church to Harbin Catholic Parish, and Qiqihar City Patriotic Catholic Association was entrusted to charge rent toward the using unit of the church. The church was ranked to be a Municipal-Level Cultural Relics Protection Unit in February of 1987. The Bureau of Religious Affairs of State Council appropriated special funds to repair the Bell Room of the church in 1991, to dismantle the red pentacle on top of Bell Room, to build a cement Latin Cross by imitating the original one, to remove all the bricks blocked in the four large long crosses surrounding the main tower and to recover its former appearance.
Catholic Swiss Bethlehem Foreign Church Seal Boer Holy Cross Nun Association sent more than 20 foreign nuns to Qiqihar Parish in the 19th year of the Republic of China (1930), to assist the missionary activities and establishment of Jesus Baby Theresa International Vestal Virgin Abbey, with the address at Xianliang Hutong. The purpose of the abbey was to train Chinese nuns. This abbey was under Qiqihar Catholic Parish (the later Prelate Parish). The abbey started to enroll Chinese nuns shortly after the establishment. The training of nuns was divided into the Pre-Novitiate Period and the Cultivated Period, and the courses were divided into religious and cultural courses. The cultural courses to the nuns were offered at North China Girl's Primary School, and the course was same to the courses opened by the National School. The abbey was transferred to Laha Town in the 28th year of the Republic of China (1939) for fund difficulty. The abbey was stopped in September of the 34 th year (1945).
Qiqihar Catholic Church established the private Affiliated Primary School of North China Middle School in the 19th year of the Republic of China (1930), which was called North China Primary School in brief. The school was divided into two sections of boy's and girl's, which are respectively located at North China Boy's Middle School and North China Girl's Middle School. At the beginning of establishment of the school, the boy's school and the girl's school respectively enrolled 6 classes of 320 students including some children of non-religious followers. The courses opened were same with equivalent level and equivalent class national schools. The religious course of the religious students was offered at Catechetical school. There was only a Director in the school to be responsible for teaching management and the administration tasks were done by the Principal of North China Middle School. The boy's school and girl's school of North China Primary School were combined in the 27th year of the Republic of China (1938), which was called Private Qiqihar City Longjiang National School. The Catholic Church established Corpus Christi Guide at the school in order to make the religious students be devoted and diligent at study and be respectful to teachers under the leadership of the Godfather, and each religious student could get a Corpus Christi on Lord's Day. The school was handed over by the Municipal Government after the liberation of Qiqihar City.
Qiqihar City Catholic Church established Private North China Middle School in the 19th year of the Republic of China (1930), which was divided into boy's school and girl's school, so that it's respectively called North China Boy's Middle School and North China Girl's Middle School. North China Boy's Middle School was located at the east Hutong of St. Miller Church and the North China Girl's Middle School was located at the west Hutong of St. Miller Church (the present address of Yucai Primary School). There were 4 classes of 200 students in the Boy's School and there were 3 classes of 120 students in the Girl's School. Some of the students and teachers were non-religious followers. There was the post of Dean in North China Middle School to be responsible for the administrative tasks of North China Middle School and Primary School. There were full-time Principals and Directors respectively for North China Boy's Middle School and North China Girl's Middle School to be responsible for specific teaching management. The Catholic Church established Y.M.C.A. and Sisters Association in the 23rd year of the Republic of China (1934) respectively in North China Boy's Middle School and North China Girl's Middle School, in order to make the religious students to be devoted to their study and to be respectful to teachers. North China Middle School was incorporated with other several schools to be Combined Middle School in 1947, and North China Middle School was suspended from then on. | Edit by: Joanna | |
| Qiqihar Nenjiang Highway Bridge [edit this] | | Qiqihar Nenjiang River Highway Bridge is located at the northwestern part of Qiqihar City, which is a vital communication line between Harbin City and the various northwestern cities, counties and districts.
It's not only an important bridge of connecting the economy of northwestern part of Heilongjiang Province and Hulunbeir City of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, but also a hub of communications of connecting the four northwestern border ports of China respectively of Heihe, Suifenhe, Hunchun and Manzhouli. It's also one of the extra large bridges of traversing the Eurasia Continent and crossing the Nenjiang River, which starts from Suifenhe City of Heilongjiang Province in the east and ends at the No.301 National Highway of Manzhouli City in the west. The project application was approved by the state in 1991 and the bridge was open to traffic on September 20, 1995. The total length of the bridge is 1633.7m, including the 1056.88-m-long east bridge and the 576.82-m-long west bridge. The width of the bridge is 17m, and the approach project of the bridge is 6.416km.
The grand Nenjiang River Highway Bridge is like a rainbow to bestride the Nenjiang River. All the streetlights on the bridge are lightening at night, and the bridge is like a huge golden dragon lying across the river. The sculpture Crane Screams on the bridge head symbolizes the economic revitalization and prosperity of Qiqihar. | Edit by: Joanna | |
| Mahayana Temple [edit this] | | Mahayana Temple is also called Temple of Big Buddha, which is located at the southeast part of the central city area of Qiqihar City and adjacent to Cemetery of Ximan Revolutionary Martyrs in south.
The preparation for construction was started in the 24th year of the Republic of China (1935), the construction was started in the 28 th year of the Republic of China (1939), and the construction was completed in the 32nd year of the Republic of China (1943). The temple covers 31,000 ㎡. It's named Mahayana because it was established by family dependants and disciples of the 44th Master Yanxu of Tiantai Sect of Chinese Buddhism. Mahayana is a Sanskrit word, which is a comparison to ferry all the flesh from the temporality of reality to the Faramita nirvana ambit. This temple is currently the largest Buddhist glass tile building complex of Heilongjiang Province, which is called the three large jungles of modern Buddhism in Heilongjiang Province together with the Bliss Temple of Harbin and the Fahua Temple of Suihua.
Mahayana Temple faces south, which consists of 2 halls of glory, 8 wing halls, 1 Scripture Tower, fences of the Eight Diagrams shape and 8 gates. The gates are porch type, with rows of colored drawing and sculpture rare birds and strange beasts, and the kylin carries 1meter exquisite pagoda on its back. After entering the gate, one could see a copper bell with 1.5m diameter and over 3m height hanging on the left; and a big drum with diameter of over 2m on the right. The roofs of halls are arch type covered with yellow and green glazed tiles. The front hall is the exquisitely decorated and magnificent Heaven King Jeweled Hall and 3 characters of Mahayana Temple pieced together with glazed tiles beneath the eaves of the hall. There are three halls in the center of the temple, the Laughing Buddha is enshrined in the middle hall, the Amitabha Buddha is enshrined in the left hall and the Dipamkara Buddha is enshrined in the right hall. The entire height of the small lotus seat and golden Buddha is around 4m high. The Four Heavenly Kings are respectively standing on both sides in front of the Laughing Buddha with dharma instruments in their hands. Goddess of Mercy and Dizang Wang Buddha (Rescuer of the Dead) are enshrined respectively in the single rooms at the east and west end of the hall. The main hall, that is the magnificent and grand Jeweled Hall of the Great Heroes, is behind the Heaven King Jeweled Hall. Buddha Sakyamuni, Wisdom Buddha and Samantbhadra Buddha are respectively enshrined in the three central rooms of the hall. The Eight Guardian Warriors are being arrayed on both sides in front Buddha Sakyamuni with dharma instruments in their hands, and there are statues of disciples and serving arhats behind them. Fathers of Confucianism and Taoism are respectively enshrined in the singe rooms at the east and west end of the hall. The back hall is Scripture Tower, which has upper and lower two storeys. The middle room downstairs is for recite-sutra or meeting. There are Three Collections of Sutra, Law Essays and History in rooms on both sides. There are 5 rooms respectively for the 8 wing halls for purposes of dinning, kitchen, dwelling, temple fair and temple, etc. This famous northern temple was once closed for a long time.
The temple was ranked to be the Municipal-Level Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit in 1980. In the same year, there were 39 large white marble Buddhas of Sakyamuni, Wisdom, Samantbhadra and Goddess of Mercy, etc that were buried more than 30 years underground unearthed from the surroundings of the temple under the instruction of Rabbi Yuan Zhi who once assumed as Temple Supervisor. The temple was ranked to be Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit by Heilongjiang Provincial Government in 1987. The temple is listed in Dictionary of Chinese Historic Interests. The construction of renovation and expansion in accordance with the former appearance of the temple was completed in June 1995. All the 15 halls respectively of East Hall of Three Saints, Jeweled Hall of Great Heroes, Heaven King Hall, Drum-Towner, Dizang Hall, Temple Gate Hall, Yunshui Hall and Jialan Hall, etc have become brand-new. The newly-built Arhat Hall covers more than 5,000㎡, which is a Qing Dynasty temple style with 500 arhats inside and looks magnificent and grand. Mahayana Temple has become a tourist scenic spot integrated with Buddhist culture and sight-seeing. | Edit by: Joanna | |
| Nenjiang River [edit this] | | Nenjiang River is a perennial river, which is also one of the major rivers of Qiqihar. It's originated from the southeast slop of Mountain Yilehuli in the northwestern part of Heilongjiang between the Greater Xing'an Mountains and the Lesser Xing'an Mountains.
The altitude of the headstream is 1,030m, which flows south across the Greater Xing'an Mountains Area, Nenjiang County, Molidawa Banner, Nehe City, Gannan County, Fuyu County, Qiqihar City, Tailai County, Longjiang County, Zhalaite County and Zhaoyuan County and merges into Songhuajiang River at Sanchahe River in Zhaoyuan County of Jilin Province. The total length of the river is 1,370km, with drainage area of 282,748k㎡. The height difference between the headstream and the river is 902m. The river has more than 20 branches altogether. According to the record of Heilongjiang Pictorial Illustration, Nenjiang River is Nuoni River in Mongolian, which was translated by the pronunciation of Naowenjiang, means favorable green river, which obtains its name for its upper reaches flowing through valleys with clear and green water. Nenjiang River flows through Qiqihar City from the northeast to the southwest at Pig Stomach Bay, Jubao Township, Gannan County, and flows out of the city at west of Duanyufangzi of Fularji District. The total length of Nenjiang River in the territory of Qiqihar City is 146 km, the average river width is 782m, which could be 6.5km during flood period; the depth of the river is 2-4m, the average velocity of flow is 1-1.2m/s and the maximal velocity of flow is 2.6-3m/s. The yearly average flow of the river is 672-cubic-meter per second during high flow period and the average flow of the river is 286-cubic-meter per second during the low flow period. The average water level of the river is 144m. The frozen period of the river is from the mid of November to mid of April of the next year, which is approximately 153 days, the ice depth at the river center is 1.1-1.5m, and vehicles could run across the river on ice. Nenjiang River is prolific in aquatic products and rich in fishes. Zhurjin, Xinjiang Village and Fularji embankments are important facilities to connect both banks of Nenjiang River. | Edit by: Joanna | |
| Jin Dynasty Great Wall [edit this] | | Jin Dynasty Great Wall (Jin Dynasty Northeast Road Border Wall Relics). There is a section of 206.15-km-long Great Wall built in Jin Dynasty in Qiqihar City, which passes through Gangnan County, Nianzishan District and Longjiang County of Qiqihar City.
Jin Dynasty Great Wall was primarily built by the Nuchen people who compelled people of various nationalities in the construction in the 12th-13th century A.D.. The Great Wall started from the Nenjiang River bank of Northeast to the Great Bend of Huanghe River, which was a military fortification of more than 4,000 km long. The project was divided into three routes. The Jin Dynasty Great Wall section in Qiqihar City belonged to the section of Northeast Route, which was the earliest section of Jin Dynasty Great Wall. Jin Dynasty Government decided to assign General Po Luhuo to build the Great Wall and control the border in the 5th year of Tianfu's Reign (1121 A.D.), in order to consolidate their newly-expanded domains, defend the capital Shangjing of Jin Dynasty and continue to enlarge their victory and to prevent harries from the north. According to history, Po Luhuo made great achievements in controlling the border and was repeatedly commended and finally died at his post along the Great Wall. The main walls of the section of Jin Dynasty Great Wall in Qiqihar are high and complete.
There is a horse face outside the city moat, with garrison watchtower over the moat. There is a pathway for vehicles and horses in the wall. There are protection trenches outside the wall to protect the chief wall. According to requirements, the intermittent second and third trench walls are usually built outside the chief wall to strengthen the defence function. There are garrison castles for stationing of soldiers inside the wall. Therefore, the section of Jin Dynasty Great Wall in Qiqihar City is properly designed and constructed. Moreover, because the long-term desolation and rare human traces in Yuan Dynasty, it's well persevered with a complete and magnificent status quo. Because all the Binzhou Railway and Yalin Railway, Nianbei Highway and Yalu River waterway pass through the section in Nianzishan District of Jin Dynasty Great Wall, it's the best place for visit and sight-seeing. | Edit by: Joanna | |
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