Harbin

Harbin's sole airport and one of the main international airports of Northeast China. The airport is 37 km from the city centre 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,…

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).

A new train station built in 2012 to the west of the city centre 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).

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 end of line 1.

Harbin North Railway Station is a first-class station under the jurisdiction of China Railway Harbin Group. It serves as a stop on the Harbin-Qiqihar High-Speed Railway, the Binzhou Railway, and the Harbin-Yichun High-Speed Railway.

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.

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.

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.

A magical kingdom built with 400,000 cubic meters of ice and snow. Highlights include the 500-meter super ice slide, the Snowflake Ferris Wheel, and the Asian同心 Main Tower. Lights turn on around 16:00-16:30, creating a dreamlike atmosphere.

Built in 1900, this was the first bridge across the Songhua River in Harbin and served the railway system for over 100 years. In 2016, with the opening of a new bridge nearby, it was converted into a pedestrian bridge. It offers excellent views of the river and the city skyline.

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.

Has been restored and contains an impressive collection detailing the history of Jews in Harbin. There were 20,000 at one point and the synagogue is well worth a visit.

Large and active Buddhist temple.

This Confucius temple is one of the largest of its kind in northeast China. The Heilongjiang Museum of Nationalities can be found inside the temple.

Laodaowai used to be the poorest part in Harbin. A century ago there were only two districts 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 locals lived in the west part.

A few kilometres south of Acheng centre, you'll find the ruins of, the capital of the 12th century Jin dynasty. It's been declared a national historic reserve, and apart from the ruined city walls there's a museum on the site as well.

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…

Long tree covered walkway that stretches the city-side banks of the Songhua river, a really nice and pleasant walk.

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.

During the winter this park houses ice sculptures for the festivals, but during the off season, it is a pleasant stroll as well.

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.

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.

Rather small exhibits compared to the other two main festivals. Best viewed after dusk.

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.

Held every two years in July (next will be in 2018), this festival is organized by the city and brings in famous Chinese bands for free concerts held in the city square.

The city takes a break and honors the local "Harbin Beer" for a week. A whole public square is cordoned off and there are stages that host music concerts and dance contests. Most of the beer drunk is the local Harbin brew, but there is a tent for international beers.

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.

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!

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 pool tables.

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 pool to swim in, try the pool at the Shangri-La Hotel or Heilongjiang University.

One of Harbin's nicest health clubs that includes a full pool, American workout equipment, sauna and hot tub, indoor track and cafe.

This is a great and cheap health club. Foreign students and teachers hang out here.

Founded in 1900 as part of a Russian department store chain, Churin is an icon of Harbin. The company’s main branch on Dongdazhi Street is now a cross between a traditional department store and a modern shopping center, that is to say there is a mixture of shops owned by Churin and shops owned by other companies.

西联汇款 xilian huikuan in Chinese

This is the only bank in the city where you can exchange Travelers Checks.

This shopping centre is Harbin's answer to Beijing's Xidan. Multi story fashion market lined with small stalls selling the hottest fashions from China at cheap prices.

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.

This small convenient store has every health care product you can think of including western deodorants 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.

German owned walmart type supermarket with the city's biggest selection of western food, a huge selection of imported wine, alcohol and beer, cheese, pastas and ice cream. It's all there, including the steep prices!

Harbin's largest bookstore is near Heilongjiang University on Xuefu Lu (学府路).

Huge assortment of fresh plants, birds and tropical fish.

One of the icon of the city. Visit Harbin without Modern Ice Lolly is like going to Beijing without seeing the Great Wall. While everywhere in Harbin sale Modern Ice Lolly, only the hundred-year shop in Zhongyang St is the real one.

Can be found anywhere in Harbin.

Sold on every street, try asking for grilled bread buns (考馒头; Kǎomántou), it's really good. Finish everything off with an egg and tomato Gada Tang (soup).

A treat only known to Harbin, you see stores selling it everywhere, it is REALLY good.

Lots of Bread and pastry stores around the city, including Zhongyang Dajie.

Hawthorn fruit stacked on sticks and served covered with a sweet sauce. You tend to find other fruits available also.

Lamb with spices grilled over coals served with sesame flat bread from the nice Uighur guys (from Xinjiang province) on a street between Hong Bo Shopping Center and Guogeli Dajie.

A tasty wrap of potato strips, cucumber, sausage and egg all with a spicy sauce. Sold on the street or in most markets (even Walmart). If you want a real spring roll experience go to Lao Changs on Zhongyang Dajie (mentioned below).

Unbelievable dumplings at a great price.

Delicious small Dongbei snacks like dumplings, grilled breads.

Spicy grill Sichuan style.

A little Cafe near Harbin Institute of Technology run by a Papua New Guinean and his Taiwanese wife. Western food like burgers, milkshakes and an omelet breakfast. Good strawberry and banana smoothies and carrot cake but some of the other items on the menu a bit variable. Coffee is fairly good too.

Great Hunan and Hubei style restaurant in a nice atmosphere.

Great draft beer that is all you can drink during lunchtime. The food is Chinese BBQ with assorted and spiced meat kabobs. A chain restaurant that is available in any large city in China.

Traditional Donbgei cuisine in a unique environment. The only tea in the house is made from wheat.

Great Hotpot restaurant always bustling with Dongbei atmosphere.

Dirty, crowded, and dangerous. Everything that is Harbin, Russians, Mongolians, Turks, Canadians, Brazilians, Koreans. Frequent staging ground for fights between Koreans and Mongolians or Russians fighting with Russians. The staff has also been known to get involved in fights or start them.

Coffee house, here you can meet a lot of foreigners

Coffee House, unlike Starbucks it's not quite as packed with people and you can still meet a lot of foreigners here

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, 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…

There are two foreign students dorms at HIT that may have overnight accommodation. Each room has its own bathroom/TV with good heating during the winter. Can be full during the holidays. Central location with good security. Refused accommodation to non-HIT students in October 2007. No English.

In city centre, about 40 minutes by bus from Harbin Airport. It is cozy, clean and safe. The facilities include TV, air conditioner, fridge, 24 hour hot water, microwave oven, double beds, bedsheets, blankets, closet and with good heating in the winter. Priced at ¥199 per night, including electricity and water fees.

Western style hotel that must have been great when it was new.

Fantastic location, right in the middle of the pedestrian mall of Zhongyang Dajie. Very limited English but quite helpful staff, and the history of the hotel makes it an interesting place to stay. There are old artifacts in the lobby such as old movie projectors and silverware.

Decent hotel with English-speaking staff right in Hongbo square

Good location and decent rooms.

English-speaking staff.

Founded in 1906. The building is in Art Nouveau style. Chinese and Western restaurants.

Impressive lobby.

Look for discounts, available most of the year except for the ice festival.

Formerly Singapore Hotel (新加坡大酒店) and "Wanda Hotel", this is out in the new development zone. Comparably new facilities.

This hotel is billed as Harbin's 3rd 5-star hotel, but most likely it's 3-4 stars. Comparably cheap due to the location.

All doctors in Department No. 2 can assist foreigners.

Very good English speaking services in Harbin.

Main Fedex agent in Harbin.

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.

This is a short train ride from Harbin and within short bus rides you can reach Mirror Lake, the Underground Forests, and the Yabuli ski resort.

Huge bird preserve near the city of QiQihaer, can be reached by a short 5 hour train ride from Harbin.

2 hour train ride from Harbin, this city is home to China's largest oil fields.

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.

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

Yabuli is one of the largest skiing areas in China and venue for the 1996 Asian Winter Games.