City Guide:
Harbin makes your childhood dreams come true.
When you were a child and spent your time in front of the telly watching “The Snow Queen”, you could only dream to visit this world of ice and snow for yorself. Today your dreams can come true in Harbin regarded as the introduction to the snow kingdom with carnival-like appearance in winter and its streets lined with fantastic ice sculptures.
It is like something from a fairy tale, but in reality Harbin is only a few clicks away with Booked.net. Be it a room in cheap hotel in Harbin to luxury one all are available at Booked.net. Our listings include maps, photos and secure forms on each hotel.
Appraised rather for its natural scenery than no less striking cultural heritages, Harbin is well-known as a point of severe temperatures. Reaching almost −18.4degC, inclement cold weather has shaped striking ice and snow culture making Harbin a real subject of temperature extremes and foreign interest.
Sitting on the banks of Songhua River, Harbin harsh weather conditions earned it the ranking of the ''Ice City''. Harbin learned to do business on its impressive vistas and natural environment and today it is second to none winter escape in China.
But snow bunnies usually flock Harbin not only for a laid-back winter retreat and activities like skiing, skating, hiking and so on, but for the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival where the world's richest collections of ice artworks are exhibited.
Other attractions include;
-
St Sophia Cathedral, an old Orthodox church converted into a Harbin Museum of Architecture
-
Temple of Heavenly Bliss, a stunning example of active Buddhist temple
-
Confucius Temple, the largest of its kind in northeast China
The main reason for Harbin's unprecedented success as winter retreat is external culture within the city. Foreign interest to the city began in the 19th century when the Russians built the terminus of the Middle East Railway and transported more than 160,000 new comers to boost capitalist economy. Since then Harbin has absorbed the best from the foreign presence in the area and has evolved into exotic mix of different styles.
On your trip to Harbin you will gain a feeling as if every time there you discover new influences. At first, its eclectic mix will introduce you to European style of the ''eastern Moscow'', while then it will immerse you into the true atmosphere of China.
Whatever way you look at Harbin, from its European feel to truly Chinese lifestyle, it is a fabulous city to complete a trip with Booked.net.
