Harbin Attractions
Harbin lies on a fertile plain on the banks of the Songhuajiang river, in the south of China's northernmost province.
It is linked by rail and air with the capital Beijing. There are also flights to Harbin from other Chinese cities such as Shanghai, Canton, Xiamen and others.
Manchurians first settled here 900 years ago and founded a small village called Arjin. Several centuries later the name was changed to Harbin. From the late 19th C onwards the village gradually grew into a town, aided by the building by the Russians of the first rail link, part of the Trans-Siberian Railway. As well as other foreigners, many Russians settled here in the early years of this century, especially in the wake of the October Revolution of 1917, and this is witnessed by the large number of Russian churches and houses to be seen in the town.
After 1946, following the amnesty granted by Stalin, many of these refugees returned to their homeland. Today Harbin is one of the major industrial centers of northern China. In 1998, the town suffered from the devastating flooding of the river Soghuajiang.
It is linked by rail and air with the capital Beijing. There are also flights to Harbin from other Chinese cities such as Shanghai, Canton, Xiamen and others.
Manchurians first settled here 900 years ago and founded a small village called Arjin. Several centuries later the name was changed to Harbin. From the late 19th C onwards the village gradually grew into a town, aided by the building by the Russians of the first rail link, part of the Trans-Siberian Railway. As well as other foreigners, many Russians settled here in the early years of this century, especially in the wake of the October Revolution of 1917, and this is witnessed by the large number of Russian churches and houses to be seen in the town.
After 1946, following the amnesty granted by Stalin, many of these refugees returned to their homeland. Today Harbin is one of the major industrial centers of northern China. In 1998, the town suffered from the devastating flooding of the river Soghuajiang.
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Temple of Paradise
The huge Temple of Paradise is made up four rooms: the Hall of the Four Heavenly Kings, the Sumptuous Hall of the Great Hero, the Hall of the Three Holy Ones and the Pavilion of the Holy Scriptures.
Children's Park
The Children's Park (Ertong Gongyuan) is a special attraction. Children can ride on a 2km/1.25mi long miniature railroad.
Church of St Nicholas
The orthodox Church of St Nicholas near the Temple of Paradise was built in 1899 in the Neo-Gothic style. The framework is entirely of wood and richly decorated with sculptures. This church is one of the largest of Harbin's seventeen Christian churches.
Heilongjiang Provincial Museum
The most interesting section of the museum is its Natural History department with exhibits describing the history of mankind.
Ice-Lantern Festival
The Ice-Lantern Festival is held every year between January 5th and February 5th in the Zhaolin Gongyuan Park. All the roads and houses in the town are decorated with lanterns and carvings sculpted from ice. The park itself is covered in a sea of lanterns, statues, miniature houses, temples, animals, plants, boats and other vehicles, all made in ice by local artists. At this time of year the temperatures range between -20 and -30°C (-4 and -22°F).
Stalin Park
Stalin Park (Sidalin Gongyuan), close by on the south bank of the Songhuajiang, offers many kinds of water-sports and other leisure activities. The monument in the park commemorates the flood of 1957 and the many volunteers who helped at the time.
Sunny Island
Sunny Island (Taiyang Dao Gongyuan) is a sandbank of 38sq.km/24.5sq.mi on the opposite bank of the Songhuajian river. It is a popular excursion spot and health resort with sanatoriums. In summer whole families often come here to picnic.
Temple of Confucius
Situated in Dongda Zhijie is the Temple of Confucius (Wenmiao), built in traditional style in 1926. It comprises a main hall and two side-halls. The main hall contains statues of Confucius and other men of learning.
Zhaolin Gongyuan Park
In the northwest of the town, not far from the Songhua river, lies Zhaolin Gongyuan Park, named after General Li Zhaolin (1908-46). His grave can be found in the northern section of the park.
Zoo
The Zoo in the south of the town boasts 150 species and over 2,800 animals; the tiger from northern China is particularly rare.
Harbin Surroundings
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Huining
The ancient city of Huining dates from the early 12th C and today only elements of the town wall and the Wuchong Palace remains.
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Longquan
Longquan was once the capital city of Bohai. It was sacked several times and all that is left today are ruins of the walls, some miscellaneous sculptures, and a few stone buildings.
Daqing Oil-fields
The Daqing oil-fields (Daqing Youtian), among the largest in the whole of China, were opened up in March 1960. They lie 159km/99mi west of Harbin to which they are linked by rail. 600,000 people are employed here to produce just under half of all Chinese crude oil.
Five Linked Lakes
The Five Linked Lakes (Wuda Lianchi), situated in the middle of volcanic mountains 300km/186mi north of Harbin, are also of volcanic origin. The whole surrounding terrain is covered in volcanic rock and hot springs.
Lake of Mirrors
Covering an area of 95sq.km/37sq.mi and situated 10km/6mi south of Bohai at a height of 350m/1150ft, the Lake of Mirrors is of volcanic origin. Deposits from an erupting volcano blocked the upper reaches of the Mudan river and resulted in the formation of the lake. At its northern end a 40m/130ft wide waterfall plunges down 20m/65ft into the lake, which is surrounded by a string of ten craters. At the bottom of four of them grow all sorts of different trees, forming what is known as the Underground Forest (Dixia Senlin).
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