About Our City
Daqing
The City
As one of China’s newest cities, Daqing benefits from wide, clean streets and pollution-free blue skies all year round. Its skyline is pierced by modern high-rise apartment blocks and the streets populated by restaurants offering food from the diverse cultures that make up the peoples of this region. Adding variety to the urban landscape are the many spectacular lakes which provide residents with beautiful open spaces to exercise, play sports and practice Tai Chi.
Daqing has two main seasons – summer and winter. In summer, the city is a baking hot sea of green, with trees
and flowers blooming all over the city. During the day parks are packed with people enjoying the warmth and in the evenings young and old alike cool off in the lakes. In winter Daqing is covered by carpet of snow. The frozen lakes are open for ice-skating and the streets lined with ice sculptures that light up the night with coloured lights from within.
Surrounded by the stunning wetlands and natural hot springs, and a slice of Mongolian life available in Duerbote, there’s no shortage of things to do. And getting around the city couldn’t be cheaper, with taxis starting at 5RMB – less than $1!
What Makes Daqing Unique
•Sitting between Russia, Mongolia and North Korea the city is truly multi-cultural, with all the food that goes with it!
•Natural hot springs – relaxation whatever the weather
•1 hour from Harbin and its summer Beer Festival and world famous winter Ice Festival
•Daqing’s own summer beer gardens, street barbecue and brand new Ice Festival
•The Daqing Wetlands. A vast nature reserve filled with outdoor activities for the more adventurous
•Blue skies!
City Statistics
Population: 3 million
Public Transportation: 2 major train stations, 1 airport, hundreds of bus routes & taxis
Language: Mandarin, local dialects
Climate: Temperate continental monsoon, with cold, snowy winters and hot summers
Daqing Life
Daqing Living
The Food
The food in Daqing has a great variety on offer, many are specialities of Dongbei (North-East China).
You can try the delicious dumplings, served with many different fillings.
Di San Qian, is a local dish comprising of potato, eggplant and pepper.
Why not try BBQ, aromas that will definitely get your tastebuds tingling.
This region is famous for its healthy dishes, all served with many different vegetables and breads.
If you want to transition slowly, then many types of Western foods are also available: KFC, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Starbucks and Burger King.
The Cost Of Living
The average Chinese national income in Daqing is about 4,000 RMB. The average foreign English teacher is 9,000RMB.
For food and basic shopping, a foreign teacher can live comfortably on 3,000RMB per month.
Therefore, if you want to save money for travel or to send back home, you should be able to save a good portion of your salary, depending on how native you want to live.
A sample of costs, in RMB:
Average restaurant meal 30-50/person.
A bottle of beer, 5-10RMB in restaurants, 20RMB in bars.
Bus fare 1-2RMB
Taxi 5RMB first 3 km (15 or less to most places)
Overnight sleeper train to Beijing 500RMB.
Clothes are much cheaper than in the west and there are great tailors too.
Electronic equipment tends to be about the same price as the West.
What To Do
Skiing: In Daqing are a few nursery slopes during the winter. For the more adventurous there is Yabuli, located about 4 hours from Daqing which is one of China's top ski resorts.
Hot Springs: The north is famous for the many hot springs around the city. Relax in a rose-scented warm pool while sipping your ice-cold beer.
Harbin Ice Festival. Located a hour away by train, you can visit the world famous Ice Festival.
Mongolia: A short train journey will find you in the heart of the Mongolian grasslands. Stay in a traditional 'yurt' for the night and sample an outdoor barbeque.
Silversands Beach Resort: A chance to unwind on a 'beach' next to a beautiful lake. Try horse-riding, camel-riding, archery, or simply sit in the shade and relax.
Wetlands: A beautiful scenic tour of the wetlands, and a chance to see the famous red-headed cranes in their natural environment.
Iron Man Museum: A museum to reflect on the achievements of 'Iron Man Wang Jinxi' during Daqing's oil exploration.
Other museums: Science/Life and History museums.
Lakes: Take strolls around Daqing's many lakes
Fishing: There are many lakes where you can relax and fish.
Daqing TV Tower: Relax at the top in a 360 degree restaurant.
Shopping: Visit the many shopping malls around the city.
