Manzhouli

Manzhouli (Chinese: 满洲里; pinyin: Mǎnzhōulǐ; Mongolian: Manǰuur ᠮᠠᠨᠵᠤᠤᠷ ᠬᠣᠲᠠ (Манжуур хот); Russian: Маньчжурия) is a sub-prefecture-level city located in Hulunbuir prefecture-level city, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of the China (PRC). Located on the border with Russia, it is major land port of entry. It has an area of 696.3 square kilometres (268.8 sq mi) and a population of more than 300,000 (in 2010).

History

In ancient times the area was inhabited by many tribes that lived in Manchuria including the Donghu, the Xiongnu, the Xianbei, the Khitan, the Jurchen, and the Mongols. During the decline of China's last dynasty, the Russian Empire forced the house of Qing (1644–1912) to cede the Outer Manchurian territory in the 1858 Treaty of Aigun. That treaty effectively made the Argun River, which originates in this area, the border between the China and Russia.

In 1901, the China Far East Railway was completed in accordance with the Sino-Russian Secret Treaty of 1896, linking Siberia, northeast China ("(Inner) Manchuria"), and the Russian Far East. A settlement then formed around Manchzhuriya Station, the first stop within Manchuria for Russians. It was the beginning of the modern city of Manzhouli and the name of Manzhouli came from Russian Manchzhuriya (Маньчжурия i.e. Manchuria).