Long Da Times Hotel

Gamer's Delight

by John195123

One of the popular places of relaxation for Harbin youth, at least, seems to be playing games in internet cafes. I assume this is all over China and the world, as well.

Enter the Danube Net Bar to behold a poorly ventilated smoker's paradise, with a semi-futuristic decor, where the air hurts to breathe and sickens the gut. Keeping your eyes open while staring for hours at computer screens is hard enough, but throw in smoke and they burn even more.

That said, the Danube has a good and fast connection, as did the other internet cafe we went to farther down Haping Lu, and large, comfortable chairs to entice players to sit and stay a while. A long while. The price is reasonable, I believe 2.5 yuan per person per hour, and there seem to be multiple floors (at least two that I've seen) with many computers (about 100 on the first floor alone.) You can buy drinks (mostly non-alcoholic), eat, smoke and enjoy.

Nielai Church

by mke1963

Possiby one of the most intriguing churches in Harbin is the Nielai Church, built by the Russian architect Feorob in 1916 as a lone Protestant Church among the many Eastern Orthodox and Catholic churches of the city.
Although there were a great many Protestat missionaries in China and Harbin at that time, they were not particularly successful. The Danish Lutheran Missionary Society is reputed to have had more than 20 missionaries working in Harbin alone. Quite why so many, and why Danish, is a mystery. Could these Danes speak Chinese or Russian?
This elegant little church is now 'managed' by the Harbin Christian Association.
Opposite is the Ukrainian Church of St Mary.

Ice Festival

by John195123

If you are coming to Harbin for the Ice Festival attractions, book hotels and all early. It seems to be a popular time. I will get photos this winter, if I can, and upload them then. For now, some information. It's become an international festival, though I can't say it was as impressive as I imagined.

There are a few places to go to see Ice: Sun Island Park, Harbin Ice and Snow World and Zhaolin Park . Each has something different.

Sun Island Park holds the Snow Sculpture Exposition and the largest snow/ice art museum in the world, I believe.

Harbin Ice and Snow World is the site for other Chinese ice sculptures, buildings made from blocks of ice with colored lights inside. Get here around dusk (which can be 4:30pm during the winter). In the summer, get here around 8pm, but don't expect to see any ice... ;)

Zhaolin Park has the more traditional ice lanterns. Supposedly well worth a visit.

There are several bus lines that run to these. For more information, the website http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/heilongjiang/harbin/ice_snow.htm has good information.

Three images.

Sun Island Park (Taiyangdao...

by PieterB

Sun Island Park (Taiyangdao Gongyuan): On the north side of the river, there is a recreational area covering 3800 hectares. The sun island park is in this area and contains gardens, one of them called the Japanees frienship garden (Ironic name?), and severa atractions for young and old: A water world, a crocodile taming and show center and so on. All those attractions are closed in autumn, winter and early spring.

Harbin: ice and domes

by GillianMcLaughlin

"Winter wonderland"

Harbin is up in the very North East of China. Every year in January it hosts an amazing ice sculpture festival: wrap up warm, practice those long exposures on the camera and get out there.

I stayed only one night, but this was plenty of time to slip and slide around the city during the day and then get down to see the sculptures in the evening. It was amazing.

I took the train from Beijing: an overnight journey with a rather unexpected flight at a certain moment (see transport tips). I flew out to Shangai after: but there was serious doubt about whether the flight would be going because of snow.

"Beijing comes to Harbin"

The term "ice sculpture" may conjure up an image of a see-through salmon on a buffet table... Harbin gives you the Texas version... everything's much bigger out here!

You could climb inside some of these sculptures and many had slides for coming down!