With the completion of the Sino-Russian railway bringing an influx of Russians into Harbin, Orthodox churches were in high demand. Construction began on the St. Sophia Cathedral (Shèng Suǒfēiyà Jiàotáng, 圣索非亚教堂), or the Church of St. Sophia, in 1903 to meet the needs of the Russian Orthodox and to reinstate and unify their presence in the area during the Russo-Japanese War. Completed in 1907, the church was later expanded and renovated in 1923 and still stands proudly in Harbin's downtown today. The church reflects Byzantine architecture and is a unique site in China. The building with its round, green-topped roof, appears as though it should be standing in Moscow, yet many Harbinites attend the daily religious activities, making this site not only an interesting piece of architecture, but also a holy place of worship in an unlikely location. Heilongji... more >>

Constructed in 1898, Central Avenue (Zhōngyāng Dàjiē, 中央大街) is Asia's longest pedestrian street, running 1,450 m (1,586 yd) north-south through downtown Harbin. The cobblestone street is lined with more than 70 buildings, housing both European and Chinese-style offices, shops and restaurants. Dubbed by locals as "the gallery of European architectural art," this street is a testament to Harbin's culturally diverse past and present. Home to many of the city's best shops and restaurants, Central Avenue is one of Harbin's greatest attractions. Book Harbin tours Heilongjiang guide | Harbin guide | Harbin attractions Harbin flights |  Harbin hotels Harbin on the China Travel Blog more >>

The former site of the Qing Dynasty Royal Hunting Grounds, Yabuli Ski Resort (Yàbùlì Yángguāng Dùjiàcūn, 亚布力阳光度假村) is China's largest ski resort, boasting 23 sq km (14 sq mi) of mountainous terrain. With temperatures averaging around -10°C (-23°F), a visit can be quite uncomfortable if you don't bring the appropriate clothing. The mountain offers skiers the most challenging runs in the country, alongside easier routes for the less experienced. In 1996, the resort was chosen to host the 3rd Asian Winter Games and gained international recognition, allowing Yabuli to upgrade its facilities. Along with great skiing, Yabuli is also home to the world's longest toboggan run. The well preserved natural beauty of Yabuli gained the area National Park status in 1993. Book Harbin tours Heilongjiang guide | Harbin guide | Harbin at... more >>

Kaleidoscopic colors and fantastical, otherworldly shapes jutting into the night sky, pulsing and flashing with electricity; crystalline turrets and luminous spires towering over mythological creatures and gleaming, sweeping stairways shot through with bursts of neon fire.... Adjectives quickly fail you and you grope for comparisons: "It's Las Vegas meets Disneyland in the Forbidden City in the CGI FX yet-to-be-made fantasy sci-fi blockbuster of the future!" Or something to that effect. But all you really need to say is: "It's the Harbin Ice Festival!" And don't forget your camera. Harbin is best known for this, the annual Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival (Hā'ěrbīn Guójì Bīngxuě Jié, 哈尔滨国际冰雪节), a spectacular display of ingenuity and imagination that takes over the city every January, turning China's northernmost metropo... more >>

One of Harbin's most popular recreational spots, Sun Island Park (Tàiyángdǎo Gōngyuán, 太阳岛公园) is a collection of natural islands in the Songhua River, just north of the city. During the warmer seasons, Sun Island Park is ideal for barbecues, picnics and swimming, while in the frigid winter months, the park is perfect for sledding, skiing and other cold-weather activities and is a focal point for the famous Harbin Ice Festival. Additionally, when the river ices over, local residents flock to Sun Island to play hockey and ice skate. Heilongjiang guide | Harbin guide | Harbin attractions | Harbin flights Harbin hotels | Harbin tours & activities Harbin on the China Travel Blog more >>

Yuquan Hunting Ground (Yùquán Shòuliè Chǎng, 玉泉狩猎场) is the largest private hunting ground in China, stretching for more than 3,000 hectares at the foot of the Changbai Mountain Range. Limpid streams, unusual flora and fauna, wild goats, deer and rabbits and the rare Siberian Tiger can all be spotted here. Aside from the obvious blasting away at the wildlife, these grounds also offer elementary-level skiing, horseback riding, delicious barbecues and a beautifully constructed hunter's lodge. While admission is quite affordable at RMB 10, there is a hefty fee attached to each animal you successfully take down, so be careful: don't write checks with your gun that your wallet can't cash. Book Harbin tours Heilongjiang guide | Harbin guide | Harbin attractions Harbin flights |  Harbin hotels Harbin on the China Travel Blog more >>

Jile Temple (Jílè Sì, 极乐寺) is one of northeastern China's most beautiful Buddhist temples. Built in 1920 by Master Yanxu, a famous disciple of the Tiantai Buddhist clan, the structure has several halls and rooms dedicated to Buddhist leaders and bodhisattvas. On the 8th, 18th and 28th of April (according to the lunar calendar), Buddhist festivals are held at the temple, attracting tourists and locals, with many taking part in the religious ceremonies and participating in the local folk activities. Book Harbin tours Heilongjiang guide | Harbin guide | Harbin attractions Harbin flights |  Harbin hotels Harbin on the China Travel Blog more >>

Situated on the northern bank of the Songhua River, the Siberian Tiger Park (Dōngběi Yǔlín Yuán, 东北虎林园) is the largest natural refuge for Siberian Tigers in the world. The park is home to about 70 tigers that are monitored and taken care of by the park tenants. For a fee, guests may purchase live animals and feed the Siberian tigers. One of the park's highlights is watching them feed, but beware: it can be a gruesome affair. Visitors to the park can get frighteningly close to the animals, perhaps even closer than they'd like. But the park is well worth the visit, as there are few places in the world that offer such intimate interactions with the beasts. Book Harbin tours Heilongjiang guide | Harbin guide | Harbin attractions Harbin flights |  Harbin hotels Harbin on the China Travel Blog more >>

Built in 1953, Stalin Park (Sīdàlín Gōngyuán, 斯大林公园) stands as evidence of the friendship between the world's two most powerful communist countries at the time of construction. The park features a spread of flowerbeds, trees and themed statues. At the centre of Stalin Park stands the Flood Control Monument, built to commemorate the tremendous feat of the Harbin people in controlling the massive flood of 1957. The 13 m (43 ft) monument consists of one Roman-style column topped with statues and a & meter curving corridor surrounding the column. Eleven small, semi-circular pools near the column mark the water level reached by the flood. More than four decades later, another flood broke the monument's record, so the site was updated to remember the victims of 1998's disastrous flood. Book Harbin tours Heilongjian... more >>

The Japanese Germ Warfare Experimental Base (Qīnhuá Rìjūn Dì Qī Sān Yāo Bùduì Yízhǐ, 侵华日军第731部队遗址) now shows little evidence of the atrocities of its recent past. Established in 1939 by Japanese troops to "research the capabilities of the soul and the endurance of the human body," the site is said to have witnessed the execution of over 3,000 POWs and the experimentation on 10,000 POWs and civilians from China, Korea, Mongolia, Britain and the former Soviet Union. Before the Soviets reclaimed the city in 1945, the Japanese army burned the site and destroyed all evidence of what had taken place. This ongoing denial has left deep scabs that resist healing. In the 1980s, the truth came out, when a Japanese journalist published his findings about the role of the army in Harbin. The museum commemorating the site is close to the locat... more >>