Qiqihar

Qiqihar is a historic city on the Nen River in western Heilongjiang, famed as the 'city of cranes' for the nearby Zhalong wetland reserve, a key habitat for endangered red-crowned cranes. It has a cold monsoon climate with long, harsh winters. Its grilled-meat barbecue is a regional specialty. An airport and rail connect it to Harbin. For an international student, Qiqihar offers wetland wildlife, a distinctive barbecue culture, and very low living costs.