Eat

If there is one thing special about Harbin, it has to be the food. Taking influences from Russia, Mongolia, Korea and of course China, the food in Harbin is much "heartier" than you can find anywhere in China, and stews and other duncai are popular dishes. Because the winters are long here you'll find less exotic ingredients and heavy use of vegetables like cabbage, potatoes, cucumber and corn. Chinese BBQ or shaokao and Hot Pot is also equally popular in Harbin and is a must eat once you get into town.

 

One thing you will notice is that Dongbei people love to eat, and it’s not just for the food, but for getting all their friends together at one table and drinking/eating the night away. Thus this city is dominated by restaurants with large tables that seat groups of people. Besides small food stalls, only near the Universities and busy shopping areas will you find cozy little restaurants. In Harbin, liveliness (renao) attracts customers and much as the food; some restaurants are so loud you may need earplugs!

 

Drink

Just because Harbin is below freezing a good amount of the year, doesn't mean it's devoid of nightlife. In fact, Harbin is one of the more "rowdier" cities in China. Just don't expect Shanghai or even Beijing "quality" establishments. Most places in Harbin have puke stains on the toilets that are months old. With a good amount of foreigners living in the city studying and working, the weekends are always bustling around 2-3 locations such as Blues, The Box, Pacers, or the small bars around the Universities. Dongbei people are reqing or very lively and seem to drink with almost every meal! Often times at restaurants you'll see drunk men singing away and then lighting up their cigarettes to signal the night is coming to an end. And of course what would be better than to spend the wee hours of the night singing away to the tune of Titanic and Michael Jackon at one of the KTV's that can be found at almost every street corner!

In Harbin, people often start off the night at a cheap shaokao or Hotpot restaurant washed down with 1.5rmb bottles of Hapi. After a long dinner it’s usually to one of Harbin's clubs or bars to spend the rest of the night. If you are not a fan of the drinking scene, Harbin may not be for you as there isn't much else to do. That being said, there are dozens of small bars and a few cafes, so if you are not one for dancing and loud discos there are plenty of options.

 

Some non-drinking activities include bowling, pool, or a tea house.

 

Some famous restaurants:

Little Swan Restaurant
As the only super A-grade hot pot restaurant in Chongqing, it mainly deals in Hot Pot Buffet and is known as the "Chongqing famous hot pot" for its rich items, delicious flavor and elegant environment.

 

Zhongtian Restaurant
It is famous for unique dishes and superb service. The restaurant has created famous dishes like Zhongtian A Grade Fortune Bird nest and Taiji Abalone Treasure.

 

Jiuchongtian Revolving Restaurant
Located at the top story in the 108-meter-high 29-story Yudu Plaza in the commercial center of Jiefangbei, it is an ideal place to taste delicious food while enjoying a bird's eye view of the whole city.

 

Special Touring Regions:

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