Harbin travel guide

Harbin enjoys an excellent location, with convenient and fast transport. It sits in the hinterland of the Asia-Pacific economic development zone and is a transport hub linking Northeast Asia, Europe, and the Pacific. Five railway lines, including the Harbin–Dalian, Binzhou–Suifenhe, Binzhou, and Lafa–Binzhou lines, converge here and connect to the Trans-Siberian Railway in Russia.

Harbin Taiping International Airport is the second-largest international airport in Northeast China. Located on the western outskirts of Harbin, it can handle large aircraft from both domestic and international airlines day and night. Flights run to major cities across China, and air links have been established with Niigata in Japan, Seoul in South Korea, Khabarovsk and Vladivostok in Russia, and Hong Kong.

The Civil Aviation Building has shuttle buses to and from the airport. The fare is ¥20.

The Songhua River Sightseeing Cableway runs from Tongjiang Square in Daoli District in the south, crosses the Songhua River, and ends at the center of the Sun Island Scenic Area in the north. It is close to Stalin Park, the Flood Control Memorial Tower, and Central Street. Riding the cableway across the river gives you an unobstructed view of the Songhua River scenery.

Harbin also has four ferry routes connecting the city center with Sun Island (太阳岛), offering convenient and fast water transport for Chinese and international visitors.

Urban taxis start at ¥8. Daytime fares are ¥1.9 per km, nighttime fares ¥2.5 per km, plus a ¥1 fuel surcharge. Buses cost ¥1, and air-conditioned express routes cost ¥2.

Every year, Sun Island hosts a public snow sculpture competition. On the river, visitors can try ice sledding, ice sailing, ice skating and ice hockey, so anyone keen on ice sports should come and show off their skills.

Harbin is the second-largest rail hub in the Northeast after Shenyang, with four railway stations: Harbin Station, Harbin East Station, Harbin North Station and Harbin West Station. Harbin Station handles most trains passing through Harbin. Harbin East Station is the origin for most trains departing Harbin and the terminus for most trains arriving. Harbin West Station is the high-speed rail station.

The Harbin–Dalian high-speed line runs from the seaside city of Dalian in the south, through Yingkou, Anshan, Liaoyang, Shenyang, Tieling, Siping, Changchun and Songyuan, to Harbin, the Northern Ice City. The full journey takes only 4 hours.

National highways 102 (Beijing–Harbin Expressway), 202 (Heihe → Dalian), 221 (Harbin → Tongjiang) and 301 (Manzhouli → Suifenhe), among others, radiate out to destinations across the country.

Expressways run from the province to Beijing, Daqing, Qiqihar, Mudanjiang, Suifenhe, Jiamusi and Hegang. Dozens of long-distance bus routes also connect the province's main towns and neighboring cities outside the province.

Harbin Port is one of China's eight major inland river ports and the largest inland river port in the Northeast. It has two facilities: a passenger port (Beiqi Street, Daowai District) and a cargo port (Sankeshu, Taiping District).

The passenger port operates routes including Harbin to Jiamusi, Harbin to Beilaozhou, Harbin to Zhaoyuan and Harbin to Qinghe. Sailings begin in mid-April and end in early November.

Harbin has more than 100 bus routes covering the city and its suburbs, and thousands of taxis serve the streets day and night. Harbin currently operates Metro Lines 1, 2 and 3.

Harbin's cuisine is dominated by Northeastern Chinese dishes, but it has absorbed many foreign influences, with a distinctly Russian flavor.

At the entrance of nearly every restaurant, lanterns hang high, a custom that has become standard in Harbin. The more lanterns there are, the higher the prices and standard. A red lantern signals an ordinary Chinese restaurant.

Harbin has a wide variety of sausages, and shop windows are hung with long strings of them. They are very popular with locals and Russian visitors alike.

Strolling along Central Street, you'll find more restaurants and eateries than you can count, and the further south you walk, the cheaper they get. There are also plenty of bakeries serving freshly baked bread and all kinds of pies.

The cold climate has enriched the local frozen foods. Frozen fruits include frozen pears, frozen persimmons, frozen apples and frozen crabapples (haitang). Frozen snacks include frozen dumplings and frozen tofu.

Before visiting Harbin, it's worth learning a little about its architecture. In the city centers of Daoli and Nangang districts, many stunning buildings will surprise you. If you have time to study their history, you're sure to be captivated by Harbin. The buildings in the old town, mostly in European and Japanese styles, still look much as they did over a century ago, so if you want to understand Harbin's history, take a walk here. The area also has plenty of tasty snacks.

Unlike the 'refined' style of southern restaurants, portions here are generous. When dining at a Northeastern restaurant, don't order too many dishes. As a rule, three people should order three dishes, roughly one per person.

Known as the 'Little Paris of the East,' Harbin is always full of exotic charm. Today, themed streets such as India Street and Russian Street have gradually become another highlight of the city.

Across the Songhua River is a fishing village where the entire street is lined with small restaurants and business is brisk. Their main specialty is freshly caught Songhua River fish, prepared on the spot.

Harbin's hospitality sector is well developed, with dozens of hotels that welcome foreign guests and more than a hundred star-rated hotels. Budget guesthouses are numerous and widespread across the city.

For hotels, Gogol Street is a good choice: it is centrally located, well connected and reasonably priced. For budget inns, try the area near Maduan Street and Huangchao Fuhao, which is more affordable as it lies on the outskirts. However, during the Ice and Snow World, the Ice and Snow Garden Fair and the Snow Expo in winter, prices rise by at least 20%.

Harbin has very few local specialty products, but they are of exceptionally high quality and quite distinctive.

Hericium mushrooms are a true 'mountain delicacy' and are not expensive to buy locally. Three-flower fish (bian, ao and ji varieties) are a delicacy of the rivers, the pick of the water. Air-dried sausage is a folk favorite to accompany a drink. Northern red beans and wild vegetables are not precious, but red beans symbolize longing, and wild vegetables are the genuine taste of the northern wilds.

As the provincial capital, Harbin brings together the finest products from across Heilongjiang. The most famous is ginseng, specifically wild Changbai Mountain ginseng, which ranks first among the 'Three Treasures of the Northeast'. Agate handicrafts are also worth a look, with vivid designs and a crystal-clear finish.

The Golden Sun Mall beside St. Sophia Cathedral in Daoli District mostly sells Korean goods, with a wide range of trendy and fashionable items at moderate prices. In Nangang District, next to Songlei Shopping Mall, is Zhongyi Grand World, a four-storey complex with abundant clothing, accessories, fashion jewellery, cosmetics, perfume, Korean stationery and other small goods at very low prices. For Russian goods, try the area near the Flood Control Victory Monument, but compare prices carefully. For clothing, head to the underground clothing market beneath Zhongyi.

When shopping in Harbin, don't miss the themed streets, including Indian Style Street, Russian Style Street and Women's Street.