We often recall the textbook line: “China has a vast territory, spanning five time zones from east to west, and more than fifty degrees of latitude from north to south.”
But do you know which cities are the northernmost, southernmost, easternmost, and westernmost in China?
These cities are not just boundary markers on a map—they are coordinates of national will and living symbols of China’s territorial spirit.
The First Ray of Dawn in the East: Fuyuan City
China’s easternmost city is Fuyuan, Heilongjiang Province.
Located at the confluence of the Heilong and Ussuri Rivers, it greets the first ray of sunlight to touch Chinese soil, earning it the title “The First Place Where the Sun Rises in China.”
Highlights include:
- Wusu Town, known as “the first town in the East.”
- Hezhe ethnic culture, including fish-skin clothing, bark boats, and traditional songs like The Ussuri Boat Song.
- Black Bear Island (Heixiazi Dao), once disputed but now fully under Chinese sovereignty.
Fuyuan is not only about sunrise—it’s also one of China’s most important freshwater fisheries, famous for sturgeon and salmon. The spectacular autumn fish migration is a cultural and natural feast.
The Southern Coral City: Sansha
China’s southernmost city is Sansha, established in 2012, administering the Xisha, Zhongsha, and Nansha Islands.
Though its land area is less than 14 square kilometers, it manages more than 2 million square kilometers of sea area—almost five times the size of France.
Features include:
- Yongxing Island, with government offices, schools, a hospital, and even a cinema.
- Infrastructure like power grids, water supply, and internet that allow modern life on remote reefs.
- Strategic significance as a hub for safeguarding China’s maritime sovereignty and resources.
Sansha embodies both resilience and sovereignty—it is not just the “southernmost city,” but a sentinel of China’s blue national territory.
The Western Frontier: Kashgar
China’s westernmost major city is Kashgar, Xinjiang.
Situated on the edge of the Tarim Basin and at the gateway to Central Asia, Kashgar has been a vital Silk Road hub for millennia.
Highlights include:
- Old City of Kashgar, with Uyghur architecture, bazaars, and cultural vibrancy.
- Red Flag Lap (Khunjerab) Pass, part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
- Islamic culture, handcraft traditions, and rich multicultural exchanges.
Today, Kashgar is a logistics and trade hub connecting China with eight countries. Far from being the “end of the map,” Kashgar is becoming China’s new starting point for westward openness under the Belt and Road Initiative.
The Arctic Fairy Tale: Mohe
The northernmost city in China is Mohe, Heilongjiang Province, known as the “City of the Arctic.”
Famous for its extreme climate and unique natural phenomena, Mohe offers:
- Aurora Borealis and polar day/night experiences.
- Beiji Village, China’s northernmost settlement with the northernmost school and post office.
- Ethnic diversity, home to the Oroqen people and other mixed cultures.
- Tourism and literature, with works like Chi Zijian’s The Last Quarter of the Moon bringing Mohe’s charm to readers.
Despite harsh winters with temperatures below -40°C, Mohe thrives with warmth, resilience, and cultural richness.
Conclusion
China’s four extreme cities mark more than geography:
- Fuyuan in the East — the sunrise of hope.
- Sansha in the South — the anchor of sovereignty.
- Kashgar in the West — the gateway to the world.
- Mohe in the North — the frontier of endurance and wonder.
They are the four “pillars” of China’s territorial spirit, standing silently yet firmly at the nation’s edges.
Wherever we are, when we think of China, we remember these names: Fuyuan, Sansha, Kashgar, and Mohe—not just places on a map, but living symbols of identity, sovereignty, and connection.
