Harbin(Icy World in Northern China)

 

Harbin is the provincial capital of Heilongjiang province and the center of politics, economy, culture and transportation in Heilongjiang province. Among province-level administrated cities in China, Harbin is the super mega-city with the largest city area and the second largest population. Harbin is the largest center city in northeast China as well. The total area of Harbin is 53068 square kilometers. Harbin is a beautiful city strongly featured by exoticism due to the special historical reason and geographical location. It not only collects the culture and history of minorities in northern china but also introjects exotic culture. Harbin is Chinese famous city for its history, culture and tourism. Traditionally it is called “

Icy City

of Northern China(北国冰城)”, “Pearl on the Neck of Swam”, “Oriental Moscow” and “Oriental Small Paris”. Harbin located in the center of Northeast Asian Economic Circle is the largest central city on the opening zone of Chinese border area. Since 1990, “China Harbin International Fair of Trade and Economic Cooperation” has been successfully held for 17 times. And it has been the bridge for Harbin to connect with Russia and other East European Countries.

Harbin is a cross-culture city with different features. Harbin Summer Concert is held annually. Also the ice-lantern garden party, ice-snow world and so on are all held every year. Dragon Tower,

Flood-Control Monument

, Confucian Temple, Jile Temple,

Saint-Sophia Church

,

Central Avenue

featured Russian culture, Xiao Hong Former Residence, Yuquan Hunting Ground, Siberian Tiger Park as well as Yabuli Skiing Center and so on all the attractions of Harbin. Linked with Jingpo Lake, Five-linked-great-pool Lake, Zhalong Natural Reserve, Harbin has become the important tourism destination and one important section of Northeast China Tour. In 1988, it was selected to be the Excellent City of China. But the most famous attractions in Harbin is Sun Island Resort is national-class famous summer resort and important floodplain marsh and it is located on the north side of Sungari River with total area of 38 square kilometers. Sun Island Resort is Five-A tourist attraction in China. Yabuli Skiing Center is also nationwide famous, and its skiing run is the longest on in Asia. Pedestrian Street of Central Avenue is most welcome part. It starts from Flood-Control Monument in north to Jinwei Street in south. On the street, there are 71 euro-architectures showing the different culture of Renaissance, Baroque, Eclecticism and other modern styles. It is the rare architectural art corridor. Currently it is one of the longest and largest pedestrian streets in Asia.

Harbin residents mostly are Han people, and majority of them were from Shandong and Hebei provinces (More details you can see Chinese TV play series Chuangguandong ). In the old days, the foreigners in Harbin mostly were from Russia. Hence Russian lifestyle and custom influenced a little to Harbin people’s life, including their eating styles. Perhaps drinking preference of Harbin people is learnt partially from Russian people, and another reason perhaps is the weather. Harbin people like outdoors traveling and picnic, which were also learned from foreigners. Winter swimming is the popular sport loved deeply by Harbin people. In winter, Harbin was a city full of ice and snow, in the time near to spring festival, many large ice-carving sculptures are created and decorated with colorful lights, currently it is the great attraction in Harbin, and annually many southern people fly there. Wedding on ice is also a favorite form loved by Harbin people.

Northeast Yangko (a popular rural folk dance) and Northeast

Song-and-Dance Duet

(二人转) are also most famous in folk area. And currently they both are largely liked by many people in different area. Northeast shadow play traditionally has a large number of watchers. Historically there are three strange customs: window paper was pasted outside; body has been born used to be hung; young girls smoked with long tobacco pipe. But currently these three phenomena vanish.

 

 

Harbin Climate

 

 

Climate of Harbin belongs to the Continental Monsoon Climate of Temperate Zone. It has four distinctive seasons. The most obvious feature is in its winter. The average temperature in winter is minus 22 Celsius Degree in January, and average temperature in summer is 21 Celsius degree in July.

Harbin Transportation

 

 

Harbin located in the center of northeast Asia, boasts the Pearl of Eurasian Continental Bridge, and the important traffic hub of the first Eurasian bridge and airway. Harbin is also one of the important railway station hubs, and it is the largest station hub in northeast China. The expressway system is comprised of the NO.301 National highway, Beijing-Harbin highway, Harbin-Tongjiang highway, Harbin-Heihe highway. Waterways include Sungari River, Heilongjiang River, Ussuri River and Nenjiang River. And these waterways are connected with far-east ports in Russia. Taiping International Airport has a throughput over 5 million passengers. Currently cooperated airlines have gotten up to 18. 64 airlines have been opened for international and domestic flights. Flight destinations has been more than 53.

 

 

Harbin Education

 

 

Harbin is also an important northern education center, and a large number of universities, colleges, institutes and research centers are over there.  Traditionally Harbin is the center of China's heavy industry and national defence industry. Many lifeline bases of national development are here, so Harbin once became the strategic center. So many universities established are closely connected with these industries. The most famous university in Harbin is Harbin Insitute of Technology.