Harbin

The Ice City: Harbin Ice and Snow World, Central Street and St. Sophia Cathedral, a Russian-flavored city of ice and snow in winter and cool escapes in summer.

Harbin is the capital of Heilongjiang Province, on the banks of the Songhua River. It rose in the early 20th century with the Chinese Eastern Railway and left behind a great deal of Russian and European architecture, earning it the nicknames "Moscow of the East" and the "Ice City." In winter (December to February), daytime temperatures are mostly between –15°C and –25°C, and it is peak season for ice-and-snow tourism: Harbin Ice and Snow World, the Sun Island Snow Expo, ice activities on the Songhua River and snowy views of St. Sophia Cathedral are all concentrated at this time. Summer (June–August) averages around 22°C, a good season for cool escapes, Russian architecture and riverside beer. The sights fall into four rough areas. First, in Daoli District: Central Street, St. Sophia Cathedral, the Flood Control Monument, Stalin Park and the Chinese Eastern Railway Bridge, all linked on foot, the core of the old town. In the morning you can have breakfast at the Hongzhuan Street morning market. Second, across the river in Songbei District: Sun Island, Harbin Ice and Snow World, the Polar Park, the Harbin Grand Theatre and the Wanda/Sunac Cultural Tourism City. Third, Nangang District's Harbin Station, the Heilongjiang Provincial Museum and Dragon Tower, and Daowai District's Chinese Baroque old Daowai, Jile Temple and the Confucius Temple. Fourth, the suburbs: the Siberian Tiger Park, the Exhibition of Evidence of Crimes Committed by Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army in Pingfang District, the Volga Manor in Xiangfang District, Xiao Hong's former residence in Hulan, and the Jin Shangjing site in Acheng. Yabuli skiing and China Snow Town are covered under the "Snow Town & Yabuli" destination. Getting there: Taiping International Airport is about 35 km from the city, around 1 hour by airport shuttle or metro. Harbin West is the main high-speed rail station, and Harbin Station is near the old town. Metro Lines 1, 2 and 3 cover the railway stations, Central Street, Ice and Snow World and Sun Island. We suggest 3 days in winter and 2 days in summer. Tips: in winter, be sure to wear a down jacket, snow boots, a hat and gloves, and note that phones drain quickly outdoors. Ice and Snow World has heavy queues on holidays, so buy tickets in advance through official channels. Do not walk on unmanaged river ice. Guobaorou (sweet-and-sour pork), red sausage, Modern popsicles and Russian-style Western food are classic eats.

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