20 best sights in Harbin

Harbin is a Chinese city that was founded shortly before the Revolution by settlers from the Russian Far East. Although a lot of time has passed since their departure, a number of different interesting objects have been preserved here. On the territory of Harbin you can find a number of attractions that are associated with the Russian Federation. And the famous park is named after Joseph Stalin. Our editorial experts made a rating of Harbin sights and classified them into categories.

Ranking of the best sights in Harbin

Harbin’s best architectural landmarks

Pedestrian Street

Rating: 5.0

The most important street in Harbin is Zhuoyang Street which is practically in the center of the city. It is long enough, as much as 1.5 kilometers, making it the most extensive pedestrian path in all of Asia. It is nearly 21 meters wide over the entire area. It is located between the alley of natural victors to Jingwei Street.

The landmark dates back to the 19th century. Originally it was a dirt road, but in 1923 it was upgraded. It later developed not only as a traditional road, but also as a marketplace. There are numerous architectural sights, excellent infrastructure, and plenty of shops.

Monument to the Flood Fighters

Rating: 4.9

The second position in the ranking of Harbin sights among the engineering and architectural sections is occupied by the monument to the fighters against the elements, which is located in Stalin Park. It appeared in 1958 and is considered a tribute to a series of events that took place in the city. The Sungari River overflowed and began flooding entire districts of Harbin. The disaster was actively fought by locals and residents of surrounding towns.

They were the ones who erected this monument. And later on, to prevent a disaster that claimed a significant number of lives from repeating itself, a series of dams were built on the river with the ability to discharge water. The memorial itself is a column with a height of 13 meters and a small gallery. Below are bas-reliefs of the wrestlers.

Dragon Tower

Rating: 4.8

The Dragon TV Tower is one of the tallest buildings not just in Harbin, but in the whole of China. This landmark is the architectural dominant feature of the Nanggang District and at the same time the most important of the city’s engineering structures. It is the second highest in the world at the time of writing.

Enterprising architects created several viewing platforms, which are located at completely different levels. And, as in the Kyoto Tower, there is a restaurant at the top, where you can perfectly see all the sights. At night this construction continues to be illuminated with the help of powerful projectors. And on the lower floors there is an exposition of clay figures.

Wanda City

Rating: 4.7

Among architectural and engineering attractions of the region, it is impossible not to mention a real wonder. The world’s largest ski resort working 12 months a year thanks to artificial snow. This is a real trap for the tourist coming to Harbin. The temperature inside is constantly kept around -5 degrees Celsius. There are a number of slopes, varying in difficulty.

The elevation differences at this Harbin attraction can be as much as 80m. And the total area exceeds 15 thousand square meters, including a number of parks around the slopes. For each visitor is offered a performance of a number of different show programs that can satisfy even the most inquisitive mind. There is a small information booth dedicated to skiing.

Sungari Embankment

Rating: 4.6

The total length of the important waterway of the Sungari is practically 1,927 km, and the size of the basin exceeds 550,000 km. square. km. The river was essential in the history of Harbin, during the time of the Chinese ruler Kangxi the navy was stationed in its lagoons to protect the country from Russian invaders from the north. And only at the end of the XIX century it was possible to get a full-fledged map for laying the railroad in the province. And later on, the river became an important transportation highway.

The length of the waterfront is almost 4 kilometers. It has several free parks and attractions, including Stalin Park, as well as the Harbin Ararat and the funicular. This area always has a pleasant climate, and regardless of the time of year, you can take a walk along the sluggish river. And in winter, it freezes and locals and tourists skate on it.

Harbin’s best natural attractions

Green area on sunny island

Rating: 5.0

This attraction is located on islands, between several lakes formed by the Sungari River. Harbin park area exceeds 3.8 thousand hectares, and the green area itself is divided into forest and resort areas so that tourists can stroll here and lie on the beach. Local horticulturists have tried to diversify the taxonomic species as much as possible, so the flora and fauna here amaze visitors.

The park is very attractive. In summer, tourists can visit the spacious beach covered with white sand. And in winter, a whole range of competitions can be launched here, in both traditional Chinese and international sports. The southern part of the park will be of special interest to visitors from the Russian Federation, as the Slavic area is located there.

Stalin park

Rating: 4.9

The second position in the section of Harbin’s natural attractions is Stalin Park. The green area was laid out in 1953 and earlier there was a number of warehouses. The park is practically 10 square kilometers in size and is located on the local riverfront. There are a number of sculptures on the grounds of the landmark in Harbin, including the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

The square in the central part of the park is the main location where events are held during public holidays. It’s one of the most important places in the city. In addition, inside there is a small restaurant of Russian national cuisine, which is a monument of Slavic architecture.

Zhaolin Park

Rating: 4.8

The next attraction that falls under the nature section is the massive Zhaolin Park. It is located almost in the center of Harbin, near the main pedestrian artery, and was founded in 1906. The main part of the park is occupied by a large artificial lake and a picturesque mountain. It is worth visiting at any time of the year, regardless of the weather, and it will be of interest to every tourist.

For example, during the tourist season, in spring and summer, there are a number of attractions on site. And in winter, this square is the site of an ice sculpture festival. There are also a number of skating rinks and play areas for couples with children. So it’s worth visiting this attraction to relax and have fun.

Cableway

Rating: 4.7

This attraction is a funicular between Harbin and Sunny Island Park. It’s only 156 meters long, but it’s just above the river and runs 70 meters high. The entire ride is less than 3 minutes. Glass windows allow you to appreciate the surrounding panorama. And the travel speed is only 5 kilometers per hour.

Chinese craftsmen in Harbin have created several different types of cabins, ranging from small to traditional multi-person cabins. Every hour the Harbin funicular transports up to 1,500 guests between terminals. If you manage to get to the window, you can take a number of great photos.

Tiger Safari Park

Rating: 4.6

Few animals in China are as proud as the tiger. That’s why Harbin has founded its own attraction, a safari park and preserve dedicated to the family of huge felines. Every year it is visited by a considerable number of tourists who want to observe the survival of the species in conditions close to real life.

The reserve was founded in 1986, but didn’t open to tourists until a decade later. The park area is located on the northern shore of the waterway, very close to Sun Island. The park itself is home to, among other things, a hatchery where young striped raptors are kept. And only when they reach maturity are they released into the location, where tourists can watch them.

Polar Oceanarium

Rating: 4.5

The last attraction in this section is the Harbin Polar Oceanarium, located in the Sunbei District. Its total area exceeds 16,000 square meters and it is a very popular tourist trap and national heritage site of China. It is home to a number of animals that are interactive entertainment animals that normally live in Antarctica and the Arctic.

There are a number of sites within the oceanarium, including a fishing pier, an artificial mountain, and an imitation of an island located at the South Pole. There are over 10,000 marine animals permanently inhabited here, which belong to 600 different species. We have tried to make the living conditions for all of them as similar to the real ones as possible.

Harbin’s Top Religious Attractions

St. Sophia Cathedral

Rating: 5.0

The first position of the top religious sites is occupied by the St. Sophia Cathedral, which was built in 1907. Later it has been rebuilt several times to increase capacity and other parameters. The site is currently one of the most important architectural and cultural monuments.

In terms of architecture, St. Sophia Cathedral is a striking example of pseudo-Russian style. The dome is 48 meters high, and inside is an elaborate painting by Nikolai Arkadievich Anastasiev, a famous Russian artist. The cathedral was neglected for a long time after the retreat, but was restored in 1996 and has been an important landmark in the city ever since. There is a museum of architecture.

Jile

Rating: 4.9

The second position in the rating of religious attractions in Harbin is occupied by a Buddhist temple that was founded in 1923 in the city. Its name from the local language translates as “The highest bliss. And in terms of area, it is the largest temple in Northeast China. The exterior decor is very attractive, which makes it stand out among the surrounding buildings.

The temple is only 30 meters tall and has several halls inside. Each has a statue of Buddha, and the area around the cathedral is occupied by a park with many monuments. A traditional color palette and a number of ethnographic finds await visitors who choose to visit this temple.

Confucius Temple

Rating: 4.8

This religious landmark in Harbin was built from 1926 to 1929. In fact, it is one of the largest temples in Northeast China, and it is home to the province’s national museum. The total area is 25 thousand square kilometers. And just outside the gates is a souvenir store.

In addition, there is a beam on a special pedestal that was used to close the gate. According to local legends, it is touched to achieve peace of mind. And since 1998, there has been a pedestal dedicated to Confucius in the central part of the courtyard. There are also a number of specialized facilities.

Ukrainian Pokrovsky Church

Rating: 4.7

The fourth position in the rating of religious attractions in Harbin is occupied by the Church of the Shroud of the Holy Virgin. It is located in the central part of the city in a specially designated area for monuments. It is the only Orthodox church in Harbin that is open for worship by parishioners from China. A little further west is the plaza where St. Nicholas Church used to be located.

It is a traditional cruciform church, which is a combination of Russian-Byzantine architectural style. It can accommodate up to 200 people and is covered in green domes and massive walls. The area reaches 660 meters. The history began in 1902, when a small chapel was built in the cemetery. And later built a wooden church, which has been rebuilt several times.

Harbin’s best cultural attractions

Unit 731 Museum

Rating: 5.0

The museum dedicated to Unit 731 is considered the main cultural attraction. The purpose of its founding was to inform the younger generations of China’s history and the country’s most tragic events. This exhibit tells the story of the activities of a secret Japanese invasion unit under the code number 731.

This military formation was run by biologist Shiro Ishii, considered here to be the Japanese equivalent of Josef Mengele. It was they who conducted a number of cruel experiments on the inhabitants of Harbin in order to test this or that theory. And in 1945, at the end of World War II, all the test subjects were destroyed. This museum is located in the old headquarters of the Inhuman Squad. The attraction is completely free.

Science and Technology Museum

Rating: 4.9

The next attraction was founded in 2003. Harbin is very advanced in science and technology, and there are educational institutions. The total area of the museum complex devoted to the subject reaches 50,000 square meters, and the rooms for exhibitions occupy about ¼ of the total area. The largest of the halls houses 200 enormous objects.

The structure itself has three floors, and its exhibitions are divided into 12 zones, depending on their affiliation with one or another scientific subject. There are a variety of interactive programs in different languages. And one of the halls is occupied by the most modern movie theater in China. There are also a number of facilities for scientific conferences.

Provincial Museum

Rating: 4.8

The building of the Heilongjiang Provincial Museum is located virtually in the center and is an important architectural landmark in Harbin. It was built in 1904, and inside was the Moskva shop. Later part of the premises was given over to a bank and post office, and since 1923. began holding exhibitions. The total area is nearly 12,000 square meters.

This attraction only became permanently operational after China was liberated from the Japanese invaders during World War II. More than 107,000 artifacts are housed here, and a significant portion of them are kept in the collection vault. And only the most important heritage sites are displayed in the exhibition halls. Some of them talk about ancient Chinese artifacts, and others about the region’s fauna.

Opera House

Rating: 4.7

This is one of the most important cultural and architectural landmarks of Harbin, which was erected quite recently. In 2010, the company MAD won the competition to design the cultural island, as well as the master plan of the theater, which resulted in a new structure. It can be safely compared to the Sydney Opera House.

The building is located on Harbin’s water fields and was designed to harmonize with the surrounding wilderness. It was deliberately made to look as natural as possible, devoid of straight lines, making it a highly attractive structure for visitors. Various performances are regularly held inside. And the complex shape creates truly unique acoustics.

Russian Village

Rating: 4.6

On the Sun Island in Harbin is another attraction that is a long-term project. It is a real ethnographic museum, dedicated to Russian settlers and is located in the open air. Tourist complex with the help of local scientists stylized under the Russian Empire before the events of the February Revolution. It is primarily of interest to tourists who come to Harbin from other parts of China.

They can learn more about the traditional culture of the country, taste Russian cuisine and buy a number of souvenirs. Mostly natives of the Far East live here, at the same time acquainting visitors with the traditional things of life of a person from the North. Moreover, this is one of the largest projects for Russian citizens in China.