Russian Expression
Harbin was little more than a small fishing village until the turn of the last century, when the Russians reached
agreement with the Qing dynasty government to allow the Chinese Eastern Railway to pass through Chinese
territory. Harbin became a major transit point, and its future was transformed. After the 1917 Russian Revolution,
thousands of Russians settled in Harbin and set up businesses there, giving the city a Russian character that
it has never lost. The immigrants made their mark across the whole city, affecting the culture, the food and most
noticeably the architecture: the majestic St. Sofia Church could have been lifted straight out of St Petersburg. As
transport connections flourished, immigrants from numerous countries added to the mix, bringing English
architecture, French fashion and Japanese food to name but three of their imports. The city assimilated the various
cultures, to become a modern cosmopolitan ''Oriental Paris''.
St. Sophia Church 圣索菲亚教堂
St. Sophia Church is one of the most easily recognizable landmarks in China. It is the largest Eastern Orthodox
Church in Asia, standing 53.3 meters (175 feet) high, and is said to be so beautiful it is "as if it had been made
by God's hands".
The first St. Sophia Church was constructed from timber in 1907, but rebuilt in 1911 using both stone and timber.
A third incarnation on the same spot was finished in 1932 built entirely from stone and was applauded as a great
work of art. Over time, St. Sophia Church lost its place at the heart of Harbin and fell out of use completely: by the
1990s the magnificent murals had been allowed to crumble and the church was derelict. The government of
Harbin began an extensive restoration campaign in 1997, which to date has returned the murals, lamps, onion
dome & bell tower to their former glory.
Address: 95 Toulong Street, Daoli District, Harbin
Contact: 0451-84679456 (Tel)
Hours: 8:00-18:00Price: RMB 20
Getting there: 1, 2, 13, 15, 64, 66, 113
"Ice City"
In the winter, Harbin is captivating. In temperatures reaching as low as -38°C ''Ice City'' holds numerous ice and snow
festivals to celebrate rather than curse the long cold months. These festivals are staged on a massive scale. Blocks
of ice are sliced from the Songhua River which winds through Harbin to the north, and hewn into a gleaming paradise
of palaces, pagodas, mythological creatures and anything else that captures the artist' s imagination. Harbin Ice & Snow
World has been set up to display these phenomenal creations, lighting them up at night with a delicate display of multi-
colored lights shining out through the translucent ice.
Harbin also has one of the most advanced ski resorts in China. The Yabuli Ski Resort held the 1996 Asian Winter Games
and is still attracting thousands of visitors to take part in a huge variety of winter sports. One of the most charming
spectacles you may see at the ski resort is an ice wedding, held on the frozen river where couples declare their love to be
''as pure as crystal ice and as deep as the snow''.
Harbin Ice and Snow World 哈尔滨冰雪大世界
Harbin Ice and Snow World is the world's largest and most spectacular ice and snow exhibition. The ice carvings on
display are some of the most intricate to be found anywhere in the world, featuring entire buildings including bridges,
a maze, castles and even a fully-functioning ice hotel. Each year the festival has a theme, which in recent years has
seen topics ranging from China's rapid economic development, to ongoing Chinese-Korean relations take centre stage.
At night, multicolored light is shot through the translucent ice-sculptures up into the dark sky to become the highlight of
any journey to Harbin.
Visitors trying to warm up in the cold might want to try some winter sports at Harbin Ice and Snow World: skating and
skiing are to be expected, but ice rock-climbing, ice golf, and ice archery are three of the more unusual pursuits on offer.
Less energetic means of entertainment include several special shows based around the theme of the festival.
The Harbin Ice Festival takes place annually in December/January (exact dates vary) and can't be missed by anyone
who has ever been entranced by the delicate beauty of ice and snow.
Address: Western district of Sun Island, Harbin
Contact: 0451-84884013, 84884188 (Tel)
Hours: According to the time of Harbin Ice Festival
Price: RMB 150
Website: http://www.hrbicesnow.com/
