Jiayin

China’s dinosaur hometown on the Amur (Heilongjiang) River, where the “First Dinosaur of China” was found, with Maolangou’s canyon waterfalls and border-river scenery along the China–Russia frontier.

Jiayin County belongs to Yichun City in Heilongjiang Province. It lies at the northern foot of the Lesser Khingan Range on the right bank of the middle Amur River, facing Russia across the water, and the county seat is about 250 km from downtown Yichun. This is where China’s first scientifically documented dinosaur fossils were found: in 1902, hadrosaur fossils unearthed at Longgu (Dragon Bone) Hill on the Amur were named “Mandschurosaurus,” billed as the “First Dinosaur of China,” which is why Jiayin is known as the “Home of Dinosaurs.” The destination is centered on the county seat. About 9 km west of town, Jiayin Dinosaur National Geopark has the Shenzhou Dinosaur Museum and a fossil excavation profile, ideal for children’s science education. In town you can take a border-river boat trip from the riverfront or visit the Jiayin border port for river views. Northwest along the G331 border highway you can reach the riverside at Wuyun Town and Maolangou National Forest Park, the “Jiuzhaigou of the North,” with its canyon waterfalls. The best season is June–September, when summers are cool, and from late September the Lesser Khingan forests turn multicolored. Winters are long and bitterly cold, the river freezes over, and most sights close. Getting there: take a long-distance bus from Yichun or Harbin; Yichun Lindu Airport is quite far away, so self-driving is the most convenient. Suggested stay: 2 days. Notes: the riverside is a border-control zone, so carry your ID and do not photograph border defense facilities; in summer the forest areas have many mosquitoes and ticks, so wear long sleeves and bring insect repellent.

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