Nowadays
visitors to Harbin mainly arrive for one of two reasons: either to
attend the Ice
Lantern Festival in freezing January and February temperatures or
to trade (a multitude of Russians have now returned to the
city).
This does not mean, however, that the
city has nothing else to offer and visitors here at any time of year
will still not be disappointed, with some of northwest China's best
historical sights, interesting recreational resorts and some great
Russian architecture.
The city has been through some really
rough times in recent history, from turbulent wars and despotic
regimes to some of the worst flooding ever witnessed. Many of the
sights in and around Harbin reflect this, of particular interest being
the twin sad sights of the Japanese
Germ Warfare Experimental Base just out of town and the Stalin
Park/Flood Control Monument on the southern bank of the Songhua
river. However the city has also known good times and the Russian
architecture here is testament to a period when the town, also known
as Little
Moscow, was in economic boom. The best of these sights would have
to be the St.
Sofia Orthodox Church, which is located in the nicest area of
town, the northwestern Daoli District with its cobbled streets and
solid facades.
In terms of fun, the best sight to visit
in the city proper would have to be the Sun
Island Recreation Resort, which, besides relaxation, also houses
the Siberia Tiger Park, designed to cultivate and
then release these beautiful, endangered beasts back to the wild.
There is also the Jile
Temple, one of the four largest Buddhist temples in northeast
China. Out of town are the more active sights, and many coming to
Harbin are here for the skiing or hunting. Harbin boasts China's
largest and most well-facilitated skiing region, the Yabuli
Ski Resort, which hosted the 1996 Asian Winter Games. For those
without animal killing qualms, winter is also the ideal time for
trying your luck and spending your money at the Yuquan
Hunting Ground.
