 The city was part of the ancient Buyeo Kingdom 2000 years ago, as well as Balhae 1000 years ago.During much of the Qing era, an important military and administrative center, known as Boduna () was located in the Songyuan area, on the right bank of the Sungari (Songhua) River, in what is today the Ninjiang District of the city.The name was transcribed by the Europeans as Bodune, Po-tu-no, or Petuna.