Stalin Park ( 斯大林公园 ; Sīdàlíngōngyuán ), ( Runs parallel to the Songhua River ). Long tree covered w

Harbin is China's northernmost major city, with a population in excess of 10 million, and over 4 million in the city center alone. Historically, the city has been influenced a lot by neighboring Russia, in particular after the Russian Revolution of
The city was founded in 1897 as a camp for Russian engineers surveying the Trans-Siberian Railway. Labor demands brought in a collection of outcasts from across Russia, Poland cheap travel deals and even from within Manchuria. The city eventually was captured by the Japanese during World War II and later captured cheap travel deals by the Chinese in 1946. Once nothing more than a Russian-built cheap travel deals outpost of the railway line, Harbin has managed to become a major player in her own right as well as capital of Heilongjiang Province.
Northeastern China was originally built up as an industrial center using pre-existing Soviet and Japanese factories. By the 1980s these outdated and inefficient factories could not keep up. To further cheap travel deals complicate matters, starting in the early 1990s, cheap travel deals large portions of China's state-owned enterprise workers were laid off. Thus, like many other cities in this region, contemporary Harbin is struggling with an aging work force and unemployment. Private enterprise is mostly centered in the service sector, retail, restaurants, etc. with most large scale enterprises still state owned. However, the province has thousands of state-owned enterprises up for sale, and many have been purchased since the late 1990s. Numerous universities in Harbin also play a vital role in the economy in education and research and through their subsidiary companies.
Harbin cheap travel deals is infamous for its very cold winters—it is at the same latitude as Montreal , and winter temperatures as low as −38 °C (−36 °F) have been recorded, cheap travel deals though in January daytime temperatures average −12 °C (10 °F). Bring more clothes than you will think you will need so that you can layer. Winter can become dreary if you are a long-term resident, as the entire city uses coal for heat; air quality rapidly decreases during these months.
cheap travel deals Harbin can be a great place to visit in the summer, with daytime temperatures normally in the upper 20s °C. Compared with most places in China, the weather is cool and it seems to be perpetually breezy, and most of the city's streets are lined with trees. Because the city is so cold all winter, life almost explodes and people crowd the streets until late at night eating kabobs, playing poker, and drinking Harbin Beer (哈啤 Hapi ). This is a great escape from the heat of Beijing. A trip up to the border regions this time of year would be nice as well.
The airport is not located in the city center and is about a 45 minute drive outside of the city in the middle of soybean fields. If you are flying out of Harbin most ticket agencies can arrange transportation to be included in the cost of the ticket. Another option is to take a taxi, which costs around ¥100-120. Always negotiate this price before the ride, though. Drivers will make their meters read more for the ride otherwise or try to get you to pay for the highway ticket in addition.Please ask the taxi driver for invoices and take down the car number if necessary. It is safe to take a taxi with official certification at the airport.
Taking a train to Harbin cheap travel deals is very easy and most are overnight trains, including a new rapid service from Beijing. Different ways to travel include chair, "hard berth", or "soft berth". Hard berth compartments generally have six sleeping bunks which open onto the main passageway going through the car; soft berth usually has a four person compartment, softer mattresses, and a compartment door you can close. Hard berth is roughly 55% of the price of a soft berth ticket. The bottom bunk is where all your neighbors will want to sit and eat with you when you are not sleeping.
When you get out of the train station there are literally dozens of taxis waiting. cheap travel deals Make sure to take a cab that is in the official waiting line and have them turn their meter on. In some cases these drivers have been waiting all day here and want to get as much money as they can.
One daily departure which leaves early in the morning. Buy tickets in the Russian travel agency on the second floor of the bus station. The price is basically the same as going through Mudanjiang/Suifenhe on your own.
Given that you have all your papers sorted the border crossing is straightforward. Guard(s) on the Chinese side speak fluent English and might be curious of non-Russian/Chinese passports. You are required to take all your items with you when crossing the border, do not leave bags on the bus.
Taxi drivers in Harbin are known to be reckless running red lights, driving into oncoming cheap travel deals traffic, etc. so buckle up! Most taxi drivers cheap travel deals do not speak any English or read Pinyin, so unless you speak fluent Mandarin Chinese showing them the Chinese characters for your destination is often the only option that will work. Do not be surprised if the taxi stops to pick up other passengers during rush hour, and if you are picked up by a taxi with passengers, even if the meter reads Y13 when you get in, the taxi driver will still expect you to pay the full amount on the meter when you depart the taxi!
If you plan to live in Harbin for a while, it's recommended cheap travel deals that you figure out the basic bus routes around your home. Note that during the winter months the buses stop running earlier. Hawkers on the street will sell a map of greater Harbin including bus routes for about ¥5.
Russian Buildings . Harbin's old quarter, which covers a wide area of the city near the Songhua River, is still today mostly made up of buildings cheap travel deals that were constructed by the Russians at the turn of the 19th century. Most of them are built in baroque or byzantine style with spires and cupolas and interesting shades of yellow, white, green, or red. While St. Sophia is known as the main architectural attraction to the city, areas of the city such as Harbin's cheap travel deals old quarter are made up of buildings that have been left untouched since the Russians left. While most of these streets are fairly decrepit and in need of repair, at least the area has been free from the wrecking ball like many other historical districts cheap travel deals in China. Only due to the fact that Harbin has yet to attract the world's investment. edit
Zhongyang Dajie ( 中央大街 ; Zhōngyāngdàjiē; lit. Central Avenue ), ( Runs from Jingwei Jie to Stalin Park at the river ). Pretty much closes by 10PM (weekend cheap travel deals nights included) . This cobblestone lined street is a pedestrian only street that could serve as a perfect cheap travel deals remnant of the bustling international business activities at the turn of the 20th century. The 1.4-km long street is a veritable museum of European architectural styles, including Baroque and Byzantine facades, Jewish architectural wonders, a Russian resteraunt, French fashion houses (Fake Chinese Brands), American snack food outlets (Mcdonalds cheap travel deals and KFC and a Chinese owned "American Bar"), and a Japanese restaurant. In winter, one can walk out onto the ice or take a dog sledge or horse sledge ride. It is the prettiest site in Harbin as far as the city itself is concerned, however, if you go mid-day during the weekend be prepared to push through the crowds. edit
Stalin Park ( 斯大林公园 ; Sīdàlíngōngyuán ), ( Runs parallel to the Songhua River ). Long tree covered walkway that stretches the city-side banks of the Songhua river, cheap travel deals a really cheap travel deals nice and pleasant walk. edit
St. Sophia Cathedral ( 圣索非亚教堂 ; Shèngsuǒfēiyàjiàotáng ), ( In Daoli District on the corner of Zhaolin Street and Toulong Street ). One of the few still standing Orthodox churches in the city. It is now converted into a Harbin cheap travel deals Museum of Architecture. Inside there are exhibitions of many photographs from old times. Definitely worth going into, however, if you are used to European Churches do not expect the quality. edit
Harbin Jewish New Synagogue ( 哈尔滨犹太新会堂 ; Hāěrbīnyóutàixīnhuìtáng ), 162 Jing Wei Jie . Has been restored cheap travel deals and contains an impressive collection detailing the history of Jews in Harbin. There were 20,000 at one point and the synagogue is well worth a visit. Further up Tong Jiang Jie is the old synagogue that is now a youth hostel and cafe, with the old Jewish school next door -both worth a detour to look at from the outside. ¥25 . edit
Unit 731 Museum ( 侵华日军地 731 部队遗址 ; Qīnhuárìjūnde 731 Bùduìyízhǐ ), ( It is about an hourlong bus ride from the city center cheap travel deals (Bus 338 or the slower 343 from near the train station on Tielu Jie, get off at 双拥路 and walk around the corner to the right) ). Closes at 4PM (last entry is at 3PM), is closed from 11AM-1PM for lunch and the museum is completely closed on Mondays . A grim reminder of what happened during the Japanese occupation to over 2,000 prisoners of war. The museum, located out in the suburbs, tells the story of these individuals although its displays are limited. edit
Siberian Tiger Preserve ( 老虎公园 ; Lǎohǔgōngyuán ), ( Just a ¥40 cab ride from the city center (don't have them wait for you; you will always be able to find a ride home) ). This is without a doubt Harbin's "must see". Not for the faint hearted or obsessive animal lovers. There are literally hundreds of tigers in multiple huge pens. If you want to go by bus instead of taking a taxi, take the 88 line (facing the train station, walk into the small street on your left for 300 m before seeing the bus stop) to Shangye Daxue 商业大学. It should take about 30 minutes, and it is the third stop after the long stretch of highway crossing the river. Then, take the 54 bus towards the same direction, and you will see the entrance to the Tiger Park on your right after 5 minutes or so. For just ¥90 you can ride in an open bus with metal caging around it. The ride is about an hour long and while on the bus you can purchase strips of meat (¥10) to hand feed the tigers. Live chickens (¥50), pheasants (¥100), ducks (¥100), goats (¥600) and even cows (somewhere around USD200) . edit
Zhaolin Park ( 兆麟公园 ; Zhàolíngōngyuán ), Youyi Lu and Shangzhi