This is a clip for television broadcasts that was produced to promote the City of Hegang (鹤岗), in Heilongjiang Province (黑龙江), Northeast China (东北). Hegang is a centre for the mining of coal but it and its surroundings also benefit from a most fertile soil in the region around the rivers Heilongjiang (also known as Amur in Russia and in the West) and Songhuajiang (松花江). The biggest and most northern rice fields are found in Hegang's vicinity, but one also finds soy, cabbage, potatoes, maize, wheat, as well as other traditionally grown vegetables and crops. Despite of the rough winters that last around five to six months – with temperatures that can decline to -30 or -40 degrees Celsius – also other food plants are cultivated which originally would only have grown in China's warmer southern provinces. Heilongjiang, I would say, knows two fascinating states: During the long and harsh winter it is white and frozen all over and looks like from a fairytale. Then many people from China and all over the world travel to Harbin (哈尔滨), capital of Heilongjiang Province, to see the famous Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival. After the beginning of a short spring, during the longer, moderate but sometimes also hot summer, and until the again very short but colourful autumn the landscape is green everywhere, with soft, wooded mountains and hills or scenic volcanoes, in between endless farms, and then all the rivers, creeks, and lakes that provide the lands with an abundance of clean water and air. Then one can go hiking in the ancient woods and enjoy a sensational smell of Korean pine trees in the air. One can visit permafrost caves, the marvellous lakes of Wudalianchi (五大连池), magic waterfalls, or look for the Northeast's amazing wild life, search for the signs of Manchurian times, and so much more. China's Northeast is still not a magnet for – especially international – tourism, also it is often structurally not as developed as other parts of China. But nevertheless the region is belonging to the natural and also cultural treasures of China. People are very friendly, open, warm and welcoming. The Northeast's food does not belong to the ubiquitous Great Cuisines but get more and more popular, even abroad, as it is very delicious, diverse, and down-to-earth. Despite the province's struggle on several fields, I am convinced that the world will hear and see more and more of Heilongjiang, and maybe also from the City of Hegang. Regenerative energies, ecological farming, international trade, science, tourism should belong to the biggest potentials for Heilongjiang's future development.

• published: 31 Oct 2015
• views: 76