Discover Harbin

Harbin brings together landscapes, ice and snow art, historic architecture and museums with a range of different focuses. When choosing a hotel, it may help to first consider which of these aspects of the city will shape your trip. Local features and metro connections can give you a practical guide.

Sun Island and Ice and Snow Art

Sun Island Scenic Area is designated as a national scenic area and national wetland park. Traditionally known as Sun Island, this cultural and scenic area covers 7.05 square kilometers and is divided into eastern, central and western sections. Sun Island is therefore a distinct landscape and cultural area within Harbin.

Another key attraction is Harbin Ice and Snow World. The site is in Songbei District, west of Sun Island. It was established in 1999, when the Harbin municipal government launched the large-scale ice and snow art project to support the millennium celebration as part of the “China Century Tour” event. Its origins make ice and snow art part of a municipal cultural project, while Sun Island is characterized by its designated protected areas and its layout as a scenic area.

Metro connections to help you get around

Metro Line 2 connects, among other places, Harbin Ice and Snow World, Sun Island, Harbin Polar Park, Central Street and Sofia Square. It is also listed as a way to reach Ice and Snow World from both Harbin Railway Station and Central Street. Check the current timetable before traveling, as frequency and service may change.

A different route is described for the Exhibition Hall of the Crimes Committed by Unit 731: it is located at 23 Xinjiang Street in Harbin. From Xinjiang Street Station on Metro Line 1, the directions are to take Exit 2 and walk about 600 meters east.

Historic districts and architecture

Central Street was developed as a commercial street in 1907, after Harbin opened up. Of its 75 European or pseudo-European buildings, 36 are classified as protected buildings. The Heilongjiang Provincial Government lists the street as one of the province’s first historic and cultural districts; the relevant announcement dates to 2020. Central Street thus combines its development as a commercial thoroughfare with its later cultural designation.

The Chinese Baroque Historic and Cultural District is considered an important cultural heritage site and tourist attraction. Its architecture combines traditional Chinese elements with Western Baroque features and reflects Harbin’s historical transformation and the intertwining of Chinese and Western cultures. The complex is the largest by area and the most completely preserved surviving ensemble of its kind in China. The district covers 47.23 hectares and contains 40 immovable cultural heritage sites, 61 historic buildings and 105 courtyards.

Museums and city history

Through its many collections and diverse exhibitions, the Harbin City Museum presents the city’s history, revolutionary culture, and Harbin’s music and folk culture. The Heilongjiang Ethnic Museum, housed in Harbin Confucius Temple, has a stronger ethnological focus: it is a national first-class museum, a state-accredited Grade 3A museum and China’s first specialized provincial-level ethnological museum. Those interested in Harbin’s culture can therefore explore both the city’s history and a distinct ethnological perspective. Individual exhibitions may change.

The Exhibition Hall of the Crimes Committed by Unit 731 of the Japanese Army, in Harbin’s Pingfang District, was established in 1985. It is an important site-based museum dedicated to documenting fascist crimes during World War II. Its work includes preserving historical sites connected with the Japanese germ warfare campaign, as well as research, exhibitions and education. Its subject differs considerably from the city and cultural histories presented by the other museums, giving your itinerary a distinct historical focus.

Another focus: polar themes

Harbin Polar Park focuses its visitor offerings on polar-themed shows, animal interactions and science education. If a particular program or animal offering matters to your plans, check the latest information, as individual shows and animals may change. Together with the cultural and landscape attractions mentioned above, this offers a range of interests to help you plan your trip and choose a hotel in Harbin.

Discover more destinations: Mudanjiang, Suihua, Shuangyashan, Jiamusi, Qiqihar, Qitaihe, Greater Khingan Mountains, Daqing.

View the main travel overview: Heilongjiang.