Manzhouli, Inner Mongolia

The farthest point of our journey took us to the northwestern frontier of Inner Mongolia—Manzhouli, a city that lies right on the border with Russia.

Our itinerary included an unusual excursion to a remote outpost along the Inner Mongolia–Russia border, marked by a high chain-linked fence that serves as the official dividing line between the two nations. The excursion began with a short ride in a pickup truck to a small river. After crossing a narrow wooden bridge, we continued on foot along a timber-decked boardwalk laid across an open field. The short walk ended at another small river, where we boarded a tiny boat. After a brief 10-minute ride, we disembarked onto a deserted patch of land, overgrown with reeds and small trees.

There, right next to the imposing border fence, stood a lone banner that read: “You have reached the border. Do not attempt to cross.” That was it. No border post, no town, no shops - just a quiet, uninhabited no man's land. I found the whole experience somewhat bizarre. It felt more like a symbolic gesture than a meaningful stop - an excursion to nowhere.

It made me wonder: Couldn’t China and Russia take a page from Thailand and Myanmar? At the Golden Triangle, they’ve developed vibrant cross-border towns with shopping and food outlets that give tourists a reason to visit the border area. A bit of thoughtful development could turn this lonely frontier into something far more engaging for travelers (Read here).

This outpost at the China side is an equivalence of the 

fire tower of the Great Wall.

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Manzhouli can best be described as a City of Light. The dazzling nightscape is no accident - it’s the result of a well-executed strategy by the local authorities. In a bold and imaginative move, the city funded the installation of lighting systems on the exteriors of buildings throughout the town. Even more impressively, the local government continues to cover the electricity bills for these decorative lights. It’s a brilliant initiative that has transformed the city into a glowing spectacle each evening, drawing visitors from near and far.

But Manzhouli’s appeal doesn’t stop at its luminous skyline. One of its other major attractions is the Russian Doll Theme Park, also known as the Matryoshka Doll Square. Featuring towering, colorful replicas of traditional Russian nesting dolls, the park offers a quirky and visually striking experience. During the peak season, it reportedly welcomes up to 20,000 visitors a day - a testament to its popularity and the city's creative approach to tourism.

Well lighted up city.

Lighted up Russian Doll Playground Theme Park.

Lighted up Russian Doll Playground Theme Park.

It was quite clear that our tour company chose the more budget-friendly option by skipping actual entry into the Russian Doll Theme Park - ostensibly due to the high entrance fee. Instead, they took the shortcut of stopping the tour bus just outside the park, allowing us only a brief photo opportunity from a distance. It felt like a missed opportunity, especially given the park's visual appeal and popularity. One couldn't help but feel a little shortchanged.

Russian influence is evident just by looking at the 

many buildings in Manzhouli.