Chinese Name: 松原市 (sōng yuán shì)

Population: 2,810,000  

Area: 22,000 square kilometers (8,494 square miles) 

Nationalities: Han, Manchu, Mongol 

Administrative Division: 1 district (Ningjiang); 3 counties (Fuyu, Changling, Qian'an); 1 autonomous county (Qian Gorlos Mongol Autonomous County) 

Seat of the City Government: 339, Yanjiang Dong Lu, Ningjiang District, Songyuan City 

Useful Telephone Numbers: Tourist Complaints: 0438-2282269
                                        Weather Forecast: 121
                                        Zip Code Inquiry: 184

Bank of China: 1, Yuanjiang Xi Lu, Ningjiang District, Songyuan City

China Post: 3, Yuanjiang Lu, Ningjiang District, Songyuan City

Location:  Songyuan City is situated in the west-central area of Jilin Province neighboring Changchun to the southeast. It borders Inner Mongolia to the west and is separated in the north from Heilongjiang by the Songhua, Nenjiang and Lalin rivers.

History:  As early as seven thousand years ago, humans first settled in this area. Songyuan was governed by the ancient Fuyu Kingdom in the Han Dynasty (206BC – 220 AD) and by the Bohai Kingdom in the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907). Later, the Jurchen established the Jin Dynasty (1115 – 1234) here. Songyuan represents a mix of both the Manchu and Mongolian cultures.

Physical Features: Songyuan's topography is mainly alluvial plains and mesas. Its terrain is flat and broad and the land slopes gently. The altitude of the city varies between 130 to 226 meters.

Climate: The city has four clearly defined seasons—a dry spring; a torrid summer; a cool autumn and a long a chilly winter. It usually rains during July and August. Its average annual temperature is around 4.5 (40.1).

When to Go: The period October through April is the best time to visit.

Special Local Products: Songyuan is an important commercial food and oil production center. Nearby Chagan Lake is abundant with a wide variety of fish including the bighead variegated carp.

 Attraction:
Chagan Lake is the largest inland lake in Jilin Province and the seventh largest freshwater lake in China. The only Tibetan Buddhist temple, Miaoyin Temple is located on the banks of this jewel-like body of water some 22 kilometers southwest of Songyuan city proper. Another favored scenic spot is Long Keng (Dragon Pit). It was previously called Beilibu Spring and was formed by water accumulating in the natural ravine. The scenery here is particularly delightful in the spring and summer.

Travel Tips: Songyuan is 185 kilometers north of Changchun Longjia International Airport and 207 kilometers from Harbin Airport. Songyuan Port has eight docks accommodating freighters running along the river from Jilin to Harbin as well as the Port of Khabarovsk in Russia. Songyuan is gradually becoming a traffic hub and logistics center connecting northeast China and Inner Mongolia.

The Passenger Traffic Central Station of Songyuan is located at 1, Wulan Jie. It is near the Songyuan Railway Station to the west and is the largest bus station in the city. There are buses available to many nearby cities and scenic spots. From downtown Songyuan, travelers can get to Changchun or Harbin within two hours.