Qiqihar is a civilized ancient city with more than 300 years of history, which was first built in the 38 th year of Kangxi's Reign of Qing Dynasty (1699). Qiqihar is a Dawur word, which means border or natural pasture. Qiqihar has the honorary names of Longsha and Pukui, etc. Heilongjiang Martial domiciled in Qiqihar City in the 38 th year of Kangxi's Reign (1699), hence, Qiqihar had been the capital of Heilongjiang Province for as long as 285 years.
Qiqihar is located in the middle and lower reaches of Nenjiang River and the hinterland of Songnen Plain, which is adjacent to the Greater Xing'an Mountains and Hulunbeir Prairie, with a flat topography, abundant water and grass, and the predominant natural conditions have provided a wonderful life cradle for the multiplying and living of the human being. Qiqihar is the partial tone of the Dawur word Qichahali, which means border town or natural pasture; Qiqihar was first built at Pukui Village, thus called as Pukui as well.
Pukui is the partial tone of the Dawur word or Mongolian word Bugu, which means giant, wrestling ground and auspicious. Dawur language and Mongolian are belonged to the same language family and have many similarities. In a word, Qiqihar and Pukui have the meanings of natural pasture and auspicious.
Qiqihar City is the second largest city of Heilongjiang Province, which is the economic and cultural center of the western part of Heilongjiang. Qiqihar was designated to be one of the 13 largest cities of China by State Council in 1984. Qiqihar administers 7 districts, 8 counties and one city, with a total area of 42,400 k㎡. There are totally 156 towns and townships and 1361 villages in Qiqihar City with the total population of 5.61 million, including the urban population of 1.438 million, covering 35 nationalities of Han, Mongolian, Man, Huis, Korean, Elunchun, Ewenke and Dawur, etc.
Qiqihar City is rising as a tourist city with its fast developing tourism. |