Harbin Attractions

Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang Province, is as if a glamorous pearl sparkles in the northeastern China. With the reputation of “Oriental Moscow”, Harbin is a famous city which combines the Chinese traditional culture and western culture. Strolling along the broad streets, you will find yourself immerse in a museum of architectures for various styles of building stand aside the century-old street, including Gothic, Baroque, Byzantine, Eclectic, French avant-garde style and post-modern architectures which are telling the history of Harbin and even form lines of solidified notes to chant the European romance and the Chinese elegance.

Whenever you come to Harbin during summer or winter, Harbin will not disappoint you and always offers you fantastic views. Although it becomes the most attractive in winter with a crystal world of ice and snow, Harbin in summer is enchanting enough to reflesh your eyes, due to the variety of European buildings matched with the green trees.

If you are a skiing lover, you are highly recommended to go skiing in winter at the Yabuli Skiing Resort, the largest and best skiing site in China; if you are an Orthodox pilgrim, you can pray in the Santa Sophia Church, a famous church fuses both Chinese and Russian culture with Neo-Byzantine architecture in China; if you are interested in exploring the local culture, you can head for the Central Street, the landmark of Harbin to have a feast for your eye of the various styles of buildings and bustling vista. In addition, you are lucky to see the world carved with ice and snow in Zhaolin Park during the International Ice and Snow Festival. Follow us in case of missing the highlights of Harbin.

Top Attractions to See in Harbin – the Landmarks

No.1 Central Street

Noted as the symbol of Harbin, Central Street is a peculiar architectural art gallery where assembles 71 European architectures, among them, the magnificent Santa Sophia Church is a perfect example of Neo-Byzantine architecture. With the total length of 1,450 meters, it has been one of the largest and longest pedestrian streets in Asia. Strolling on this most prosperous area, you can marvel at the exquisite buildings or go shopping in the modern department stores, or intimately experience the colorful life of local people. Outstanding buildings include the Modern Hotel, Education Bookstore, Dori Tyurin Store, and China Macy’s Restaurant and so on.

No.2 Santa Sophia Church

Santa Sophia Church is a remarkable landmark of Harbin. It is the largest Orthodox Church in the Far East which fuses both Chinese and Russian culture, being a perfect example of Neo-Byzantine architecture in China. In additional to appreciate its imposing exterior view, you can also enter the church to enjoy the mural paintings and Western statues as well as feed the peace doves around the church.

No.3 Yabuli Ski Resort

Known as the biggest and the best ski resort in China, it attracts a growing number of skiing lovers each year in winter. Surrounded with mountains, the resort owns magnificent landscape with thick snow and dense forest. Currently, Yabuli Ski Resort is the biggest training centre for alpine skiers and the mountain hosts of many professional skiing competitions. Fortunately, you have no need to worry about your skiing skill for there are eleven pistes from primary level to advanced level. You can also enjoy the entertainment events such as Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, sledding, dogsledder, skating on the lake, making snowmen and bonfire party.

Historical Sites

A growing number of modern buildings overspread some historical sites in Harbin which misunderstand you Harbin doesn’t owe a long history. Jile Temple, one of the four famous temples in northeast of China, is the holy land in northern China for Buddhists to pray and worship since its construction in 1920s. Similar to many other temples in China, it is composed of three parts: main courtyard, west courtyard and east courtyard, with Buddha statues dedicated in each halls. The seven-storey octagonal brick pagoda in the temple indicates the Buddhism saying that “Saving one life is more than building a seven-storey stupa.”

Natural Scenery

For those who like natural scenery, Harbin offers many choices of peaceful parks and the most famous one should be the Sun Island Park, a popular summer resort where boasts breathtaking natural landscape and seasonal beauty. During spring, summer and autumn, you can enjoy the elegant lakes, lush mountains, clear springs, flying waterfalls and exquisite pavilions and bridges, which make it a perfect paradise for vacation. When winter comes, the water of the river freezes and the whole island is another land for white snow where you can have an interesting ice-skating. Around the late December, the Ice and Snow Festival will be held here and you can see all kinds of statues and lanterns which are made of ice and snow.

Entertainment and Activities

Influenced by the Russian culture, Harbin has many entertainment and activity venues. If you plan a family tour with your kids, Zhaolin Park and Chirldren’s Park are two good choices for you. Both of them serve many recreational facilities for children. More interestingly, you may have a chance to appreciate the marvelous ice lanterns which is a part of activity during the annual International Ice and Snow Festival. If you want to see the king of the jungle and enter to the wild nature, you can proceed to the Siberia Tiger Park, the largest wild natural reserve in the world where lives more than 800 Siberia tigers.

Famous Nearby Attractions

Puppet Emperor's Palace, the palace for the puppet emperor of so-called Manchuria in Qing Dynasty, witnessed the invasion of the Japanese imperialist and the fascist colonial rule in China. It is about 260 km and 3 hours from Harbin.

Nong’an Liao Tower, one of the most typical ancient pagodas, is an octagonal 14-storey wood-brick structure with the height of nearly 40 meters. Most tourists are attracted by its magnificent appearance. It is about 304km from Harbin and you need to take 3 hours and 20 minutes drive from Harbin.

Recommended Harbin Tours 
3 Days Winter Break to Yabuli Ski Resort
3 Days Harbin Ice Worldland Tour
6 Days Harbin Classic Tour & Yabuli Ski Adventure
4 Days Harbin Sights & Yabuli Ski Adventure