Mohe and Beiji Village

Mohe sits at the top of China on the Amur river, and Beiji, the arctic village, about eighty kilometres further north, is the northernmost settlement in the country at around 53 degrees north. Around the summer solstice the sky here barely darkens, producing what is marketed as the white nights, and the town holds a solstice festival. Aurora is occasionally visible during strong geomagnetic activity, though sightings are rare and heavily hyped. In winter Mohe records some of the coldest temperatures in China, below minus fifty at its extreme, and cold-weather tourism has grown around that: ice, frost, and a marker for the northernmost point. Forest and river fill the country between.

What you actually see

• The northernmost markers - the point and monuments at Beiji village.
• The white nights - barely darkening skies around the summer solstice.
• The extreme cold - winter temperatures among the lowest recorded in China.
• The Amur river - the border river and the forest along it.

When to go

June to July for the solstice and long light, or December to January for extreme cold and snow. Aurora sightings are rare and cannot be planned for. Spring and autumn are short and unremarkable.

Honest expectations

Aurora is heavily marketed and very rarely seen; expecting it is a mistake. The area is remote, with long journeys and limited services. Winter cold at minus forty is dangerous without proper equipment, and the border is patrolled.

Nearby

The Amur river marks the Russian border; Heihe lies far southeast.