Harbin

From Muslim Bookings

Harbin banner Ice festival

Harbin (哈尔滨; Hā'ěrbīn) is the capital of Heilongjiang Province in Northeast China. The city is notable for its Russian influence and the yearly Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, giving it the unofficial title Ice City.

Halal Travel Guide

Harbin is China's northernmost major city, with a population in excess of 10 million, and over 4 million in the downtown alone. The city has been influenced a lot by neighboring Russia, in particular after the Russian Revolution of 1917, when the White Russians, Russians who supported the czarist state, escaped the newly formed Soviet Union. The influence remains clearly visible in the building styles and foods.

The city was founded in 1897 as a camp for Russian engineers surveying the Trans-Siberian RailwayTrans-Siberian Railway icon. Labor demands brought in a collection of outcasts from across Russia, Poland and even from within Manchuria. The city was captured by the Japanese during World War II and later captured by the Chinese in 1946. Once nothing more than a Russian-built outpost of the railway line, Harbin has managed to become a major player in its own right and the capital of Heilongjiang Province.

Ice Snow World

Recent history

Northeastern China was built up as an industrial center using existing Soviet and Japanese factories. By the 1980s these outdated and inefficient factories could not keep up. To further complicate matters, starting in the early 1990s, large portions of China's state-owned enterprise workers were laid off. Thus, like many other cities in this region, contemporary Harbin is struggling with an aging work force and unemployment. Private enterprise is mostly centered in the service sector, retail, restaurants, etc. with most large scale enterprises still state-owned. However the province has thousands of state-owned enterprises up for sale, and many have been purchased since the late 1990s. Universities in Harbin also play a vital role in the economy in education and research and through their subsidiary companies.

Climate

Harbin is known for its very cold winters: it is at the same latitude as Montreal, and winter temperatures as low as −38 °C (−36 °F) have been recorded; in January, temperatures average -24 °C to −12 °C. Bring more clothes than you will think you will need so that you can layer. Winter can become dreary if you are a long-term resident, as the entire city uses coal for heat; air quality rapidly decreases during these months. But it's not as bad as Beijing, many local residents wear their masks not for the pollution, but for the ice-cold wind and the frosty temperatures to heat up the air they breathe.

Harbin can be a great place to visit in the summer, with daytime temperatures normally in the upper 20s °C. Compared with most places in China and the weather is cool and it seems to be perpetually breezy, and most of the city's streets are lined with trees. Because the city is so cold all winter, life almost explodes and people crowd the streets until late at night eating kabobs, playing poker, and drinking Harbin Beer (哈啤 Hapi). This is a great escape from the heat of Beijing. A trip up to the border regions this time of year would be nice as well.

Travel to Harbin

By Plane

Harbin Taiping International Airport 哈尔滨太平国际机场 Hā'ěrbīn Tàipíng Guójì Jīchǎng, HRB GPS 45.6194,126.2345. Harbin's sole airport is one of the main international airports of Northeast China. The airport is 37 kilometers from the downtown near the town of Taiping. Flights from the airport serve dozens of domestic destinations along with a small but growing list of international destinations in Russia, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Province of China, Thailand and Singapore.
The airport is small, but there are a few restaurants and snack bars selling local delicacies, Chinese and international food, and a nearby hotel if you happen to get stranded. If you are flying out of Harbin most ticket agencies can arrange transportation to be included in the cost of the ticket. Another option is to take a taxi, which costs around ¥200-130. Always negotiate this price before the ride, though. Drivers will make their meters read more for the ride otherwise or try to get you to pay for the highway ticket in addition. Please ask the taxi driver for invoices and take down the vehicle number if necessary. It is safe to take a taxi with official certification at the airport. There are also four bus services to downtown Harbin. Tickets cost ¥20 and take around 1 hour. Purchase bus tickets at the booth inside the terminal before heading outside to board the bus.

Airport Bus Line 1 - Airport 机场 - Kang'an Lu 康安路 - Tongda Jie 通达街 - Anfa Qiao 安发桥 - Harbin Railway Station 哈尔滨站 - CAAC Building 民航大厦

Airport Bus Line 2 - Airport 机场 - Haining Fur City 海宁皮草城 - Ling Gongli 零公里 - Chilun Lu 齿轮路 - Harbin West Railway Station 哈尔滨西站 - Fuzhuang Cheng 服装城 - Xuefu Binguan 学府宾馆 - Hexing Shangsha 和兴商厦 - Lesong Guangchang 乐松广场 - Guolu Chang1 锅炉厂1 - Haci Jituan1 哈慈集团1 - Tongxiang Shangdian1 通乡商店1 - Nongken Dasha 农垦大厦- Tianyang Binguan 天洋宾馆 - Huizhan Zhongxin 会展中心

1 Bus only stops during morning and evening peak hours.

Airport Bus Line 3 - Airport 机场 - Chengxiang Lu 城乡路 - Guxiang 顾乡 - Anhong Jie 安红街 - Zhongyang Dajie 中央大街 - Ba Qu 八区 - Daowai Long Distance Bus Station 道外客运站 - Jungong 军工 - Taiping Qiao 太平桥 - Harbing East Railway Station 哈尔滨东站

Airport Bus "Hazhan" Line - Airport 机场 - Harbin Railway Station 哈尔滨站

By train

Being a major Chinese city, Harbin is well connected by train and is a convenient way to travel. The city is served by several train stations, so the station you arrive or depart from will depend on the train you take. Be sure to confirm which station your train calls at beforehand. The major train stations in Harbin include:

  • Harbin Railway Station - 哈尔滨站 | 1 Tielu Jie 45.75962, 126.62733 - This station is served by the 'slower' and overnight trains. The type of train you board will determine the duration of your trip: Beijing (10-13 hours), Tianjin (12-13 hours), Dalian (9-12 hours) and Shenyang (4-7 hours). If you have time to spare at Harbin Station there are a few 24-hour eateries across the road and a couple of affordable hotels within the area. Also there are many non-official taxis waiting outside, which should be avoided by tourists. Free Wi-Fi is provided, but one needs a Chinese SIM card to receive a text message and activate the Wi-Fi.
  • Harbin West Railway Station - 哈尔滨西站 | 45.70431, 126.57362 - A new train station built in 2012 to the West of the downtown and is served by high speed bullet D-trains that operate during the day and evening. D-trains that call here come from major cities including Beijing (8 hours), Tianjin (8 hours), Dalian (5.5 hours) and Shenyang (3 hours). From the station you can reach the downtown by taking bus 96 to Harbin Railway Station, costing ¥2. Taxis are also available.
  • Harbin East Railway Station - 哈尔滨东站 | Nanke Jie - GPS: 45.78632, 126.70446 A fairly minor station within Harbin, although updated, with trains from Khabarovsk and Vladivostok, Russia calling here. Beyond this the station serves local and regional trains. Can be reached by its own metro station at the north east side of line 1.

There are also several minor train stations within the city. These stations serve regional and local trains and in most cases the typical traveller will not need to use them.

Harbin Railway Station 01

By car

Harbin is connected to the rest of China via the China Highway 102 via Changchun. Harbin is also connected via road to Inner Mongolia, Russia, and Jilin.

Travel on a Bus

The main long-distance bus station (长途客运站 Changtu Keyun Zhan) is across the square from main train station.

The majority of cities in Heilongjiang can be visited via bus.

  • Beijing - and it takes about 18 hours
  • Mudanjiang - and it takes about 4 hours. Frequent departures.
  • Qiqihar - and it takes about 5 hours
  • Changchun - and it takes about 4 hours
  • Jilin - and it takes about 6 hours
  • Dalian - and it takes about 10 hrs
  • Shenyang - and it takes about 8 hours
  • Wudailanchi - and it takes about 6 hours
  • Yanji - and it takes about 9 hours

Traveling to Russia

  • Vladivostok - and it takes about 12 hr

One daily departure which leaves early in the morning. Buy tickets in the Russian travel agency on the second floor of the bus station. The price is basically the same as going through Mudanjiang/Suifenhe on your own.

If you have all your papers sorted and the border crossing is straightforward. Guards on the Chinese side speak fluent English and might be curious of non-Russian/Chinese passports. You are required to take all your items with you when crossing the border, do not leave bags on the bus.

Get Around

By taxi

Taxis are affordable and convenient. However, always ask them to run the meter (请打表 qĭng dă biăo) instead of attempting to negotiate a price in order avoid feasible conflicts. Flag fall is ¥14 and covers the first 3 kilometers of travel. After that the rate is ¥2 per 500 meters. There is also a charge levied based on the time the vehicle is stationary (i.e. stuck in traffic), but this is usually only of significance in truly awful, gridlocked traffic conditions. At the end of the journey, a ¥2 fuel extra charge will be added to the amount displayed on the meter. If you wish to have a receipt, say to the driver (请发票 qĭng piào).

Taxi drivers in Harbin are known to be reckless—running red lights, driving into oncoming traffic, etc.—so buckle up! Most taxi drivers do not speak any English or read Pinyin, so unless you speak fluent Mandarin Chinese showing them the Chinese characters for your destination is often the only option that will work. Do not be surprised if the taxi stops to pick up other passengers during rush hour, and if you are picked up by a taxi with passengers, even if the meter reads ¥23 when you get in and the taxi driver will still expect you to pay the full amount on the meter when you depart the taxi!

Take a bus to Harbin

Still the backbone of Harbin's public transport system, at least until the Metro expands and the bus system covers pretty much every part of the city. For all its practicality for local residents, for tourists it shares many of the same problems of other Chinese urban bus systems, foremost being that the system signage is completely in Chinese, although some buses do announce the next stop information in both Chinese and English. The buses vary in quality, although there does appear to be a program in place for updating buses route by route. Modern buses have heating systems (a godsend in winter!) and are both relatively nimble and accelerate rather quickly. Older buses on the other hand might remind some of agricultural vehicles, are usually unheated and may not even have proper seals on the windows. That said, it can still be a useful method of transport, especially when all the taxis seem to be taken. People who plan on staying in Harbin for a long period should at least be familiar with routes that take them to their residence, workplace, or college.

Fares for most buses are only ¥2 or ¥2 for a single ride. No tickets are issued. Passengers can pay by touching on with an "IC" card or by putting ¥2 or ¥2 into the fare box as they board the bus. Be sure to be standing by the back door when you want to get off at the next stop or the driver may assume that no one is getting off and potentially skip the stop. If ice is covering your windows, blocking your view of the outside, a plastic bank card can be useful to scrape it off. Buses usually operate from 05:00-06:00 and the last service tends to set off at about 8PM, depending on route. Hawkers on the street will sell a map of greater Harbin including bus routes for about ¥13.

By subway

The Harbin Metro 哈尔滨地铁 has two lines in operation: Line 1 and a short section of Line 3. Line 2 the rest of Line 3 are under construction. They are scheduled to be operational in the early 2020s. When completed and they will form a "cross-hair" network. In practical terms and the Harbin Metro has a similar feel to most Chinese subway systems, with bilingual signage throughout. English-speaking visitors should be able to navigate the system easily enough. The system is fully underground and uses specially made trains that can operate in temperatures approaching -38°C. The stations are also decorated in a European style, to reflect Harbin's Russian history.

First departures are at 06:00 with the last train leaving its origin at 21:00. Fares cost ¥2-4 depending on distance. The Harbin Jiaotong IC card can be used, however no discount is offered and because cards are scanned when exiting the subway, each passenger must use their own IC card. Ticket machines are at all stations and can be used in both Chinese and English.

Operational lines are:

  • Line 1 This line connects Harbin East train station with Harbin South train station via Dongdazhi Jie 东大直街 and Xidazhi Jie 西大直街, both major roads in Harbin.
  • Line 3 (Stage 1) The first part of a circle line, this line connects to Line 1's Yidaeryuan 医大二院 Station. Only three stations are in use. Most useful for getting to Harbin West train station 哈尔滨西站

Construction works which cause lane or road closures may affect traffic conditions in various parts of Harbin.

By ferry

In summer, several ferries operate along the Songhua River, mainly travelling between the north and south banks of the river. A nicer, more scenic way of getting to some destinations such as Sunday Island than the standard bus or taxi. Tickets are sold at the dock. All information is in Chinese.

What to See

Architecture and buildings

  • Russian Buildings | 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 neighborhoods in China. Only because Harbin has yet to attract the world's investment.
  • Zhongyang Dajie - 中央大街; Zhōngyāngdàjiē; lit. Central Avenue | Runs from Jingwei Jie to Stalin Park at the river Opening Hours: Pretty much closes by 22:00 (weekend nights included) 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 styles, including Baroque and Byzantine façades, Yahudi architectural wonders, a Russian restaurant, French fashion houses (Fake Chinese Brands), American snack food outlets (Mcdonalds and KFC and a Chinese owned "American Bar"), and a Japanese restaurant. In winter, one can walk out onto the ice or take a dog sledge or horse sledge ride. It is the prettiest site in Harbin as far as the city itself is concerned, however, if you go mid-day during the weekend be prepared to push through the crowds.
  • Old Quarter | A section of the city just west of Zhongyang Dajie is still dominated by Russian buildings built around the turn of the century. Not well maintained but an interesting walk and you can maybe find Russian antiques in some of the thrift stores.

Religious sites

Saint Sofia Church

  • St. Sophia Gothic Church - 圣索非亚教堂; Shèngsuǒfēiyàjiàotáng | 45.768094, 126.621522 Corner of Zhaolin Street and Toulong Street ¥20 One of the few still standing Orthodox churches in the city. It is now converted into a Harbin Museum of Architecture. Inside there are exhibitions of many photographs from old times. Definitely worth going into, however, if you are used to European Churches do not expect the quality.
  • Harbin Yahudi New Synagogue - 哈尔滨犹太新会堂; Hāěrbīnyóutàixīnhuìtáng | 162 Jing Wei Jie 45.7684, 126.6171 ¥25 Has been restored and contains an impressive collection detailing the history of Yahudi in Harbin. There were 20,000 at one point and the synagogue is well worth a visit. Further up Tong Jiang Jie is the old synagogue that is now a youth hostel and cafe, with the old Yahudi school next door -both worth a detour to look at from the outside.

Harbin Confucius Temple - Harbin's Confucius Temple

  • Temple of Heavenly Bliss - 极乐寺; Jílèsì | Dongdazhi Street (东大直街; Dōngdàzhíjiē) 45.7764, 126.665 In the eastern part of the city ¥20 Jile Temple =ハルビン極楽寺玄関 74187 Large and active Buddhist temple.
  • Harbin Confucius Temple - 哈尔滨文庙 | 25 Wenmiao Street (文庙街25号) 45.7738508919, 126.6688379645 right beside the campus of the Harbin Engineering University, about 1km east of the Harbin Engineering University metro station on Line 1 ☎ +86 451 82538438 Opening Hours: 08ː30-16ː30, closed on Wednesdays Free This Confucius temple is one of the largest of its kind in Northeast China.

Area

  • LaoDaoWai - 老道外 | LaoDaoWai used to be the poorest part in Harbin. A century ago there were only two neighborhoods in Harbin, east (DaoLi, "Dao" means Avenue, and "Li" means inside.) and west (DaoWai, "Wai" means outside). The rich expats lived in the east part, and the poor local residents lived in the west part. In the early 1920s, some Chinese businessmen started their business in the area. The constructions they built around that period were combined with Chinese elements, such as crane and peony designs, and baroque styles, and form a unique "Chinese Baroque" architectural style. In 2014 the government renewed the area and now it is a tourist site.
    Nowadays, LaoDaoWai ("Lao" means old.) is an area for one to experience "local's" lives (that means the unique architectural style, and food, food, food, food, and food). The area is vaguely defined within Shengping Street 升平街 (north), Jingyang Street 景阳街 (west), Nanxun Street 南勋街 (south), and Nanershi Street 南二十街道 (east).

If you are confused for where to start with, at Jingyang St, in between Nanxun Street and Jingyu Street 靖宇街 there is a later-made entrance for the LaoDaoWai area. Start from there and walk to the east, and you will see all the small streets cross one another. There are many doors (local residents call them "MenDong" 门洞), which from the first sight might look like private property, in between small stores. Walk through the doors and you will reach the garden inside the next street.
There are countless snack restaurants in the area, and they are a main attraction. Keep in mind the snack bars are by Chinese definition, and many are small with few tables.

Parks and Nature

Harbin Siberian Tigers

  • Siberian Tiger Park - 东北虎林园; Dōngběi Hǔ Línyuán - 45.81950, 126.5932 Taxi: ¥110 from the downtown. (don't have them wait for you; you will always be able to find a ride home) - For just ¥200 ( ¥110 to get in and another ¥20 for the bus) you can ride in an open bus with metal caging around it. The ride is about an hour long and while on the bus you can purchase strips of Meat ( ¥20) to hand feed the tigers. Live chickens ( ¥130), pheasants ( ¥200), ducks ( ¥200), goats ( ¥1100) and even cows (somewhere around US$200) This is without a doubt Harbin's "must see". Not for the faint hearted or obsessive animal lovers. There are literally hundreds of tigers in several huge pens. If you want to go by bus instead of taking a taxi, take the 88 line (facing the train station, walk into the small street on your left for 300 m before seeing the bus stop) to Shangye Daxue 商业大学. It should take about 30 minutes, and it is the third stop after the long stretch of highway crossing the river. Then, take the 54 bus towards the same direction, and you will see the entrance to the Tiger Park on your right after 5 minutes or so.
  • Riverbank Park - 江畔公园; Jiāngpàngōngyuán | 45.77721, 126.60545 Runs parallel to the Songhua River - Long tree covered walkway that stretches the city-side banks of the Songhua river, a really nice and pleasant walk.
  • Sunday Island - 太阳岛; Tàiyángdǎo - 45.79108, 126.5956 On the banks of the Songhua River and can be visited by ferry boat ( ¥13) - Park offering a pleasant to stroll during the warmer months and on the weekends newly married couples can be seen taking pictures. In the winter it becomes part of the snow sculpture festivities. However, as with everything in Harbin and the park is still very Chinese with a cage full of squirrels, a petting deer area (just have to buy them some food), go carts, a pond that is just full of turtles, and newly weds sporting bright colored dresses.
  • Zhaolin Park - 兆麟公园; Zhàolíngōngyuán | Youyi Lu and Shangzhi Jie 45.77520, 126.61706 - During the winter this park houses ice sculptures for the festivals, but during the off season, it is a pleasant stroll as well.
  • Grape Kingdom - 葡萄王国; Pútaowángguó | 45.86399400, 126.40525100 Outside the city, north-west of the Tiger Park - A live operating "organic farm" that has expansive grape and corn fields. In the fall you can enter the fields and pick as many fresh grapes as you want and watch how the Chinese process corn.

Museums and monuments

  • Flood Control Monument - 防洪胜利纪念塔; Fánghóngshènglìjìniàntǎ | 45.778714, 126.611321 It is at the riverside end of the Zhongyang Dajie - Built to commemorate the several floods of the Songhua River.
  • Unit 731 Museum - 侵华日军第七三一部队罪证陈列馆; Qīnhuá Rìjūn Dì Qī Sān Yāo Bùduì Zuìzhèng Chénlièguǎn - Pingfang District (平房区) 45.60699, 126.63333 It is about an hourlong bus ride from the downtown (Bus 338 or the slower 343 from near the train station on Tielu Jie, get off at 双拥路 and walk around the junction to the right) ☎ +86 451 87108731 Opening Hours: Closes at 16:30 (last entry is at 15:30),the museum is completely closed on Mondays Free A grim reminder of what happened during the Japanese occupation to over 2,000 prisoners of war. The museum, which is out in the suburbs, tells the story of these individuals although its displays are limited.
  • Heilongjiang Provincial Museum - 黑龙江省博物馆; Hēilóngjiāngshěngbówùguǎn - 64 Hong June Street, Nangang District (南岗区红军街64号) 45.75569, 126.63494 Metro Line 1, Museum Station Exit 1 ☎ +86 451-53644151 Opening Hours: October 8th to March 31st: 9AM Monday - 4PM; April 1st to October 7th: 9AM Monday - 4:30PM Free (but remember to bring your ID) Built in 1922 and claims to have over 14,000 pieces of relics, but it's not well kept.
  • The Liao & Jin History Museum of Heilongjiang - 黑龙江辽金历史博物馆 - Level 7, Qiulin International Shopping Centre, 320 Dongdazhijie, Nangang District (南岗区东大直街320号 秋林国际购物中心7层) 45.75822, 126.64097 Metro Line 1, Museum Station Exit 3A ☎ +86 451 87157177 Opening Hours: 9:30-17:00 ¥110 As the name indicates, this museum focuses on the history of the Liao and Jin dynasties. It is said to contain over 10,000 artefacts.
  • Heilongjiang - Art Museum - 黑龙江省美术馆 - 97 Diduan Street, Daoli District (道里区地段街97号) 45.7692113949, 126.6225493116 The nearest bus stop is Zhaolin Street (兆麟街), which is served by bus routes 1, 5, 20, 53, 61, 85, 101, 113, 114, 130, 131, 132, 136 and 206 ☎ +86 451 83152297 Opening Hours: 09ː00-16ː00 Free
  • Heilongjiang Science and Technology Museum - 黑龙江省科学技术馆 - 1458 Taiyang Avenue, Songbei District (松北区太阳大道1458号) 45.7745085099, 126.5700215973 In the southern part of Sunday Island. The nearest bus stop is the Taiyang Avenue Intersection (太阳大道口), which is served by multiple bus routes, including routes 29, 47, 80, 119, 125, 126, 127, 211, 212, 213, 215, 216, 219, 223, 225, 226, 346, 551, 552 and several others ☎ +86 451 88190966 Opening Hours: 09ː00-16ː00, closed on Mondays Free

With a view

China Harbin Old Railroad Bridge

  • Dragon TV Tower - 龙塔; Lóngtǎ | 45.74612, 126.67426 - Tallest steel structure in northeastern Asia. Only built for the Chinese need of having something as the biggest and the best. Somewhere along the way they forgot to add any pleasant looking qualities to it. There is a revolving restaurant on top and views of the city. You can walk outside at the top and even strap on a harness for a thrill.
  • Gondola ride over Songhua River | access point is the Sunday Island Park 45.77599, 126.60472 ¥135-50 A nice way to work your way back from Sunday Island in a gondola vehicle that takes you over the banks of the Songhua.
  • Songhua River Bridge 45.7838, 126.6193 From the flood control monument, walk about 6 minutes east along the river bank free China_Harbin_Old_Railroad_Bridge . Built in 1900, this bridge was the first bridge across the Songhua river in Harbin and has served the railway system for more than 100 years. In 2016, with the opening of a new bridge nearby, it was converted into a pedestrian bridge for visitors.

Top Travel Tips

Festivals

International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival

By far Harbin's biggest claim to fame and the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival (哈尔滨国际冰雪节; Hā'ěrbīn Guójì Bīngxuě Jié) is held every year, running from early January until warm weather erodes the constructions (exact dates vary). Throughout the city you will find small ice and snow sculptures during the festival, however there are three major sites with large ice and snow sculptures on display.

The major sites for the Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival include:

  • Ice and Snow World - 冰雪大世界; bīngxuě dàshìjiè | North side of the river, west from Sunday Island 45.7782, 126.5580 Take bus 47 from Daoli 12 Daojie station (道里十二道街站) Opening Hours: 09:00-21:30 ¥1330 (students ¥260, admission is ¥200 before 13:30) Large buildings and sculptures made of ice. Best viewed after sunset. This festival is one of the main reasons people come to Harbin in winter.
  • Ice Festival, Zhaolin Park - 冰雪游园会, 兆麟公园; Bīngxuě yóuyuánhuì, Zhàolíngōngyuán | in the downtown at Zhaolin Park, south side of the river Opening Hours: 13:30-21:30 ¥200 (Students: ¥140, admission is cheaper before 13:30) Rather small exhibits compared to the other two main festivals. Best viewed after dusk.
  • Sunday Island International Snow Sculpture Art Fair - 太阳岛国际雪雕艺术博览会; Tàiyángdǎo guójì xuědiāoyìshù bólǎnhuì | on Sunday Island, north side of the river 45.7886, 126.5907Just a few steps from the Sunday Island gondola station or just cross the frozen river by feet Opening Hours: 08:00-17:00 ¥240 (students ¥220) - Beautifully carved snow sculptures, massive dimensions. However, if you plan to visit the Ice and Snow World then this is not a must see. Pretty expensive for what you get to see and all other activities in the park are extra.

Other

  • Harbin Summer Music Festival - 哈尔滨之夏音乐节; Hāěrbīnzhīxiàyīnyuèjié - Held every two years in July (next will be in 2023), this festival is organized by the city and brings in famous Chinese bands for free concerts held in the city square.

Relax

  • Sauna/bath houses - 洗浴中心; Xǐyùzhōngxīn | Literally all over the city. Many local people do not shower in their own apartments but use these public shower houses instead. There are upscale, midrange, and low end places. Check with a 5-star hotel to get the most up to date facility for the type you prefer. Upscale spas will cost about ¥220 plus additional ¥200 and up for a private massage. Low end ones cost ¥130 plus an additional ¥200 for massages. Shanghai Tan (上海摊; Shànghǎitān) and Jiannianhua (嘉年华; Jiāniánhuá) are two of Harbin's longest established sauna/bath houses, but nowadays their facilities are entirely neglected as new entrants divert clients.
  • WB International Movie Theatre - 万达国际电影城; Wàndáguójìdiànyǐngchéng | Zhongyang Dajie Wal-mart ¥130 plus for tickets

Exercise and fitness

  • Yangge Traditional Chinese Dance | You will notice that during the warmer months (and even sometimes in the winter) there will be legions of senior citizens out on the street doing a group dance complete with drumming and costumes. This is called niu yang ge and if you are adventurous just jump in and dance along!
  • Bowling | Very popular among the Chinese in Harbin. Most of the larger hotels have a bowling alley. There is also a bowling club behind the Sino Way hotel with 2 floors and swimmingpool tables.
  • Swimming | Believe it or not, people swim in the Songhua during the winter, but after all the pollution spills, it's probably not even safe to swim during the summer. If you are looking for a clean swimmingpool to swim in, try the swimmingpool at the Shangri-La Hotel or Heilongjiang University.
  • Haerbin Grecism International Health Club - 哈尔滨恒详国际健身俱乐部; Hāěrbīnhéngxiángguójìjiànshēnjùlèbù | 95 Hayao Road (道里区哈药路95号; Dàolǐqūhāyàolù) - Membership is expensive One of Harbin's nicest health clubs that includes a full pool, American workout equipment, private secluded sauna and hot tub, indoor track and cafe.
  • Fitness Ark Health Club - 美丽方舟健身俱乐部; Měilìfāngzhōujiànshēnjùlèbù | 3rd floor of Hate Mall, 118 Xidazhi Jie (南岗区西大直街118号哈特) Near HIT - This is a great and affordable health club. Foreign students and teachers hang out here.

Study in Harbin

Harbin Institute of Technology - Main Bldg

Harbin is the center for higher education in Northeast China, and has several leading universities, with the most famous being Harbin Institute of Technology. The universities make up a large portion of the cities economy and employ a large part of the population. Many of these schools were founded by the Russians and still retain the architectural charm of their predecessors. There are also several medical universities in the city that support the local hospitals.

Studying Chinese

Harbin is famous for its standard Mandarin pronunciation. It's a very good place to study Mandarin. As the saying goes, 'If you want to study Chinese language, come to China. If you want to study Mandarin, come to Beijing. If you want to study standard Mandarin, come to Harbin.' It can be a affordable alternative to Beijing for studying Mandarin, with tuition costing about half and housing one third of what it would be in Beijing or Shanghai. Most universities have lots of Korean and Russian students. There are a couple of affordable Western cafes and a small but lively foreign student social scene at the local expat hangouts on the weekends, such as Blues. Many schools in Harbin offer Chinese language programs:

  • Harbin Institute of Technology (哈尔滨工业大学)About 300 foreign Mandarin Chinese students a semester. Good facilities, although the teaching methods employed in the non-CET courses are considered outdated by many of the foreign students and most of the professors are not actual full-time professors. Large Russian and Korean population. Home to the American CET Harbin program with 5-30 students a semester, which is probably the best program in Harbin but expensive — US$10,000 a semester — and the students can only speak Chinese while they are in Harbin.
  • Harbin University of Science and Technology (哈尔滨理工大学) Nice campus.
  • Harbin Normal University (哈尔滨师范大学)
  • Haerbin Engineering University (哈尔滨工程大学)
  • Heilongjiang University (黑龙江大学) Claims to be the biggest Chinese learning center in the province.
  • Northeast Agricultural University (东北农业大学) dairy and food research center
  • Northeast Forest University (东北林业大学)
  • Harbin University of Commerce (哈尔滨商业大学)

Also the city offers the opportunity to study Mandarin Chinese one to one:

  • The Harbin Mandarin School encourages a complete immersion in the study of Mandarin and thereby imparting a unique understanding of the need for fluency and nature of a subject while building skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing.

Studying other subjects

If your Chinese is good enough you can enroll in most of the schools in Harbin. Many (Pakistani) students study Medicine at the Heilongjiang Medical University. Tuition is affordable.

Shopping in Harbin

Harbin nightly view by TroyParfitt

Imported Russian goods of all types and qualities are available from tourist shops around town. Look out for vodka, Russian dolls, and Chocolates. The local Chinese appeared to have picked up some aspects of Russian cuisine, with western style bread and Sausages available around town. Beyond this the shopping is much like any other city in China.

  • Churin Shopping Center 秋林公司 No.319 Dongdazhi St. Bowuguan Metro Station 2 or 3A Exits. Founded in 1900, Churin is an icon of Harbin. The underground floor of the shopping center sells the most famous red Sausages and хлеб ("Lieba 列吧“the big Russian bread). Also do remember to try the non-alcoholic drink brewed from Lieba, Da Lieba Gewasi 大列巴格瓦斯.
  • Zhongyang Dajie The main shopping neighborhood is along Zhongyang Dajie where there is a Wal-Mart near the flood control monument and another shopping neighborhood along Guogeli Jie where you can find clothing, food and more. Along this street are huge new shopping malls such as the Euro Plaza, Parksons, and Lane Crawford that carry international brands and are expensive. There are Nike stores, KFC and interesting Russian thrift stores. The street is lined with organic juice gardens during the summer.

However in winter and the shops closed quite early due to bitter cold.

  • Guogeli Dajie (果戈里大街). Harbin's second biggest shopping neighborhood after Zhongyang Dajie (bigger in size). The area around here is dotted with Russian buildings and HUGE shopping complexes. At night there are numerous night markets, a small scale Russian church where people dance, and a small and lively "bar lake."
  • Indian Street (印度一条街). A commercial side street right off Guogeli Dajie. If you're facing the East, it's past the giant castle and on your right. Used to be complete with Indian thrift stores, clothing, and food, but now offers only Russian items, including dolls, pocketknives and toys. But don't expect any Indian restaurants as there aren't any yet.

Money Matters & ATM's

Most ATM's around the city work with international cards, such as the Bank of China and the China Merchants Bank.

  • Western Union | in almost every at China Post 中国邮政 zhongguo youzheng and Agricultural Bank 农业银行 nongye yinhang, look for the yellow western union sign 西联汇款 xilian huikuan in Chinese
  • Bank of China Heilongjiang Branch No.19, Hongjun Jie ☎ +86 451 3633518-8111 +86 451-3646455 - This is the only bank in the city where you can exchange Travelers Checks.

Unique items

Matryoshka dolls in Harbin

  • The Hongbo Shichang, at the intersection of Dong Dazhi Jie and Hongjun Jie, is an enormous underground shopping center—if they don't have it, you don't need it.
  • Pirate DVDs A large DVD store occupies a corner in the basement of the Jiaohua Electronics Market (教化电子市场). All DVD's are around ¥11 and arranged alphabetically. Opposite from the Harbin Institute of Technology's main gate (哈工大正门对面) and across the street from Buy Now Hui. Be sure and buy the DVDs sold in the main store, and not at the numerous small kiosks that take up the rest of the basement.

Clothing

  • Sofia Jintaiyang Fashion City (金太阳索菲亚精品城) around the junction from St. Sophia Church (道里区地段街) is Haerbin's answer to Beijing's Xidan. Multi story fashion market lined with small stalls selling the hottest fashions from China at affordable prices.
  • Hongbo Century Plaza (红博世纪广场) not to be confused with the underground market, this is a huge mall in the basement of the Harbin exhibition center. There is also a fried Chicken chain from Texas. There are daily fashion model shows.
  • Chinese Military Surplus Clothing Looking for a comfy cold weather jacket like the Chinese wear? There are a number of stores around the city. One is towards the end of Xidazhi Jie near the Harbin Institute of Technology.
  • Western Brands The shopping malls at Hongbo and Zhongyang Dajie have everything from Gucci, Brooks Brothers, and Zegna to Timberland and Adidas. Items are internationally priced.

Everyday needs

  • Carrefour. There are several other Carrefours in the city.
  • Watsons right on Zhongyang Dajie this small convenient store has every health care product you can think of including western deodorants (not true, I was just there today) and shampoo. If you're in the city just for a few days and you need something quick it's fine, but if you plan to stay in Harbin longer, find yourself a Chinese convenient store. Watsons has a lot of European and American Brands but also the multiple of the prices the same things have in the west. And you still may want to avoid Chinese bleaching creme for your face (especially if you have sensitive skin) and that you can do in a Chinese convenient store, too.
  • Metro German Supermarket (麦德龙) near Maidelong Chaoshi (道里区埃德蒙顿路职工街1号). German owned walmart type supermarket with the city's biggest selection of international food, a huge selection of imported fruit cocktail, and Cheese, Pastas and ice cream. It's all there, including the steep prices!
  • Scholars Bookstore (学府书店) Harbin's largest bookstore is near Heilongjiang University on Xuefu Lu (学府路).
  • Flower, Bird and Fish Market (花鸟鱼工艺品交易场) Miaopu Road (道里区苗圃街), huge assortment of fresh plants, birds and tropical fish.

Halal Food & Restaurants

If there is one thing special about Harbin, it has to be the food. Taking influences from Russia, Mongolia, Korea and of course China and 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.

Teahouses and cafes

There are a number of very nice teahouses in the New Development Zone (开发区). Most will rent you a room and will charge by the hour, plus whatever tea you decide to drink. Some of the teahouses are on Hengshan Lu (衡山路) such as 君如意茶楼, 雅泰茶楼.

  • Rumi Cafe - 入迷咖啡 - A7#13 Seasons of Berlin, Academy St., University Area, Harbin(哈尔滨学院路柏林四季A7#13) ☎ +86 451-88122316 +86 451-88122316 Opening Hours: Open 10:00-22:00
  • Be For Time - 避风塘茶楼 | Two locations: 102 Xidazhi Jie, under Pacers near HIT (南岗区西大直街102号) and 2 Linxing Lu (南岗区林兴路2号) Opening Hours: Open 24 hours ¥28 all you can eat/drink
  • UBC Coffee - 上岛咖啡西餐厅 | 186 Gongchang Jie (道里区工厂街186号)
  • Starbucks Zhonyang Dajie one in Europlaza and one in the junction in a bigger shopping-mall, quite at the beginning of Center Street. a bit more expensive than usual in China, price range is converted about the same as in Europe, and not necessarily good, especially the Snacks there are targeted at Chinese who want to feel a bit the European flair Coffee house, here you can meet a lot of foreigners
  • Costa Coffee | Zhonyang Dajie, quite close to the Flood Monument, next to a Russian Shop and Babelas Kitchen a bit cheaper than Starbucks in some things, but mainly the same applies here too, Chinese western Snacks and no real coffee Coffee House, unlike Starbucks it's packed with people and you can still meet a lot of foreigners here
  • USA Bucks | Zhonyang Dajie - Coffee house and bar
  • Luyu Cafe - 鹿鱼咖啡 | 43 Hongzhuan Jie 红专街43号(靠近中央大街) 45.7712, 126.6109Just a few meters left from Zhongyang St. ☎ +86 136-13644362 ¥130 This is a good place to relax and escape the crowds or to warm up on a cold winter day. Situated in a historic Russian building right next to Zhongyang street and the warm atmosphere and nicely decorated surroundings, combined with a creative coffee blend from the friendly owner, will let you forget that you're in a city with a population of 10 million.

Muslim Friendly Hotels

Stay Safe

While it is unlikely that you will be a victim of a crime, as in any large city be vigilant about your personal property, exercise care if you find yourself on a lightly traveled street, and always be aware of your surroundings.

Free emergency telephone numbers:

  • Police: 110.
  • Fire alarm: 119.
  • Medical care: 120.

Remember these three telephone numbers. They are valid on most of the Chinese mainland.

Foreigners in Harbin

The vast majority of the foreigners living in Harbin are either Russian or Korean, with the Russians obviously being the more visible of the two. Expats should be aware that all Caucasians are automatically "Russian" as far as the local population is concerned, and that relations between said Russians and the local Chinese population are excellent.

Hospitals and emergency contacts

  • No. 1 Hospital of Harbin Medical University | No. 5 Youzheng Street Nangang District ☎ +86 451-364 1918, +86 451-360 7924, +86 451-364 1563
  • No. 2 Hospital of Harbin Medical University | No.247, Xue Fu Road Nangang District 150086 ☎ +86 451 666-2962 - All doctors in Department No. 2 can assist foreigners.
  • Provincial Hospital | No. 82 Zhongshan Road, Xiangfang District Harbin, Heilongjiang 150036 ☎ +86 451-566 2971

Internet & Phones

  • Harbin Interpreting Company - Very good English speaking services in Harbin.

Phones

If you are looking to refill the minutes on your China Mobile/Unicom/Telecom SIM card, you might have trouble, as very few locations in the city sell the refill cards. In Harbin, you have to go to an actual store and pay the money to a teller to have your phone refilled and oftentimes you can refill out of town numbers at China Mobile or China Unicom Branches.

Shipping

DHL and UPS both deliver to Harbin but through Chinese shipping companies.

  • Heilongjiang Datian International Shipping Company - 黑龙江大田国际货运有限公司 | 232 Hesong Jie, Daoli Disrict (哈尔滨市道里区河松街232号) ☎ +86 451 8489 7599, +800 988 1888, +400 886 1888 (FedEx Client Service Line) - Main Fedex agent in Harbin.

Cope in Harbin

Harbin is known for its cruel winter weather. Be sure to have adequate clothing and protect the extremities. Gloves, thick socks, scarves, and ear protections are a must.

You can also get warm patches in some stores. Try to get some of these if you are going to spend more than a few hours outside. Most patches will last between 4 and 6 hours. Wear them under the clothes but not in direct contact with the skin.

If you are in Harbin for the long haul, try to get away to somewhere warm during the winter break such as Hainan or Thailand. Also, an excursion to Beijing is a must for anyone staying in Harbin for any considerable amount of time.

News & References


Travel Next

  • Wudalian Chi - Volcanic lake surrounded by forests and small farming communities a train and bus ride away from Harbin. Take the train to Dedu and then a 2 hour bus ride to the lake.
  • Mudanjiang and surrounding areas | This is a short train ride from Harbin and within short bus rides you can reach Mirror Lake and the Underground Forests, and the Yabuli ski resort.
  • Zhalong National Nature Reserve - Huge bird preserve near the city of QiQihaer, can be visited by a short 5 hour train ride from Harbin.
  • Daqing - 2 hour train ride from Harbin, this city is home to China's largest oil fields.
  • Hulunbeier Grasslands | Inner Mongolia - Take the train to Hailaer and under 12 hours (overnight) you can find yourself on some of the world's biggest grasslands, stunningly beautiful. Summer is the best time to go.
  • Dalian - Dongbei's most modern and cleanest city, right on the coast. A great weekend getaway if you are in Harbin for an extended period of time and looking to catch some fresh seaside air
  • Deer Flat mountain ski resort - 平山神鹿滑雪场 | Pingshan deer ski field is in A Cheng city of Heilongjiang Province town, 70 kilometers away from Harbin, is Heilongjiang province SSS tourist resort, which can accommodate up to 3000 people skiing, skiing for a period of 11 month to second years in March every year.
  • Yabuli - 亚布力; Yàbùlì | Within 2 hours of the city Yabuli is one of the largest skiing areas in China and venue for the 1996 Asian Winter Games.

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