Harbin

Harbin is often referred to as the "Oriental Moscow" or "Oriental Paris for its mix of Western and Chinese cultures. Located on the banks of the Songhua River, Harbin is the capital of Heilongjiang Province as well as the biggest city in Northeast China. The city is famous for its moderate weather in summer and its wonderland of ice and snow in winter.

Since the founding of the new China, the city has undergone great changes and recorded impressive achievements. Having grown up alongside the far-east railway, built here in 1898, Harbin has become a famous historical city as well as being the cradle of Chinese Jin Dynasty (1115-1234) Culture. In the early 20’s century, it became an important international business port and distribution centre for Northeast Asia.

Encompassing 53,775 square kilometers with a population of 9.27 million, Harbin is one of the most important industrial cities in China and is the country's largest capital city in terms of area. It is a front-runner in industries such as automobile manufacturing, food production, medicine, mechanics and electrical equipment manufacturing.

The city contains buildings in European-styles and attracts tourists every year for its ice and snow, forest, Jin-dynasty attractions and traditional customs. In 1998, the city was honored as one of the best tourist cities in China.

Harbin's old quarter which covers a wide area of the city near the Songhua River is still today mostly made up of buildings that were constructed by the Russians at the turn of the 19th century. Most of them are built in baroque or Byzantine style with spires and cupolas and interesting shades of yellow, white, green, or red. While St. Sophia is known as the main architectural attraction to the city, areas of the city such as Harbin's old quarter are made up of buildings that have been left untouched since the Russians left. While most of these streets are fairly decrepit and in need of repair, at least the area has been free from the wrecking ball like many other historical districts in China.

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.

Zhongyang Dajie

Literally means "Central Avenue". This cobblestone lined street is a pedestrian only street that could serve as a perfect remnant of the bustling international business activities at the turn of the 20th century. The 1.4-km long street is a veritable museum of European architectural style, including Baroque and Byzantine facades, Jewish architectural wonders, little Russian bakeries, French fashion houses, American snack food outlets, and Japanese restaurants. It runs from Jingwei Jie to Stalin Park at the river. In winter, one can walk out onto the ice or take a dog sledge or horse sledge ride.

Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin