A journey along the Chinese border

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China has the longest land border in the world totaling more than 22,000 kilometers. Many of the border towns are diverse and share both Chinese and foreign characteristics. CGTN has collected China's top 10 most beautiful border cities and towns for tourists.

Following three border journeys in northeast China, we visited Manzhouli, a city in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region with charm that mixes three worlds: China, Russia and Mongolia.

Manzhouli is a port city with a history of 100 years and is known as the "window of East Asia."

Night view of Manzhouli City in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. /VCG Photo

Hulun Lake

Covering an area of 2,339 square kilometers, Hulun Lake is the largest lake in Inner Mongolia and the fifth largest freshwater lake in China. It is about 45 kilometers to the south of Manzhouli and is home to a large number of bird and plant species, making it an ecological paradise.

During peak travel season in the summer, activities like Mongolian wrestling, horse racing, and bonfire parties are held near the lake. Tourists can take a stroll along the lakeside on a horse or a camel, or they can row a boat and go fishing in the lake.

Sunrise at Hulun Lake. /VCG Photo

Hulun Lake. /VCG Photo

Tips:

Entrance Fee: 40 yuan (5.96 U.S. dollars)

Opening Hours: 8:00 a.m.- 6:30 p.m.

Best visiting time: July-August

Russian Matryoshka Dolls Square

The Russian Matryoshka Dolls Square is a landmark tourist attraction of Manzhouli City that features the combination of different cultures. The square featuring giant matryoshka dolls is the only of its kind in China.

The tallest matryoshka doll in the square is 30 meters high, the tallest in the world, with a Russian restaurant and performance hall inside. The scenic spot consists of three parts: theme park, entertainment area and theme hotel.

The Russian Matryoshka Dolls Square. /VCG Photo

A matryoshka doll at the Russian Matryoshka Dolls Square. /VCG Photo

Giant Matryoshka dolls. /VCG Photo

Night view of the Russian Matryoshka Dolls Square. /VCG Photo

Tips:

Entrance fee: 48 yuan (7.15 U.S. dollars)

Opening Hours: All day

Guo Men (Sino-Russian Border Crossing)

Guo Men, which literally means “National Gate,” is the Sino-Russian Border Crossing located on the Chinese side of the China-Russia railway junction point. Completed in 2008, the gate is 105 meters long and 43.7 meters high.

Guo Men is a national 5A level tourist scenic spot, receiving two million tourists annually. The scenic area covers a total area of about 13 square kilometers, including the No. 41 border pillar, the international secret communication line site, the red tourism exhibition hall and the locomotive square.

Guo Men scenic area in Manzhouli. /VCG Photo

Tourists line up outside the Guo Men scenic area. /VCG Photo

A train passes through the Guo Men scenic area. /VCG Photo

Tips:

Entrance fee: 80 yuan (11.9 U.S. dollars)

Opening Hours: 8:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. (January 6-January 25; April 1-October 31)

Other tourist spots worth visiting include Mammoth Park, Erzi Lake, and Golden Dragon Lake, among others. If you want to spend a few days touring around Manzhouli City, you're highly recommended to pay a visit to Hulunbuir Grassland, one of the three famous grasslands in the world with an elevation of 650-700 meters.