Yuandong Hotel

A visit to the siberian tiger...

by PieterB

A visit to the siberian tiger park (Dongbei Hu Linyuan): The Lonely planet guide (sept.2000) described it as a few 11 tigers lying idly in the dust so I had no great expectations. But in fact it appeard to be a breeding farm with well over 70 tigers, some old some young, some in sepparate cages, some roaming together in an area indeed much to small for them (roughly 300m x 250m)where tourist busses disturb their peace. Also a nice area with a fenced off walkway that alows you to studdy the animals at your own speed and tempo. I reffer you to the tiger farm travel logue included in this page.

Short walk behind and along Zhongyang Jie - Part 2

by mke1963

Just before reaching Zhingyang Jie is a cluster of older buildings. To the left of the first low yellow building is a small alleyway. Go down this alleyway, which twists right then left. You are in a courtyard of old Harbin: the bit the pictures and tour guides never show. The brick is unpainted, the windows original, and at the end the wrought-iron canopy sits where it has done since the building was put up in the 1920s. The courtyard, full of lumber, piles of bricks, bicycles and bits of equipment has probably been like this just as long. This is old Harbin at its best.
Hongzhuan Lu appears on Zhongyang Lu by the magnificent Baroque-style Xinhua Educational Bookstore with its huge red dome. It was originally constructed in 1909 for the Songpu Company.
At this point turn right towards the bright pink Moderne Hotel, actually Harbin's oldest hotel or left for the riverbank and the parks.

Jile Buddhist Temple

by Flying.Scotsman

Built in 1920 this is the largest modern Buddhist temple in Heilongjang Province. The temple is found in the Nangang District of Harbin near the junction of East Dazhi Street and South Shisi Street. You can view the beautiful architecture and artwork as well as watch the daily life inside the grounds. This is an active temple so do be aware that it is a place of worship. There is a former Confucian Temple nearby on Jie Wenmiao (Confucian Street) that is an Ethnic Museum.

Temple of Heavenly Bliss (Jile Si)

by calcaf38

This is a very active Buddhist Temple, with plenty of rich atmosphere. It would be a shame not to visit Jile Si if you are in Harbin.

Jile Si is not an ancient temple, so most of the statuary has an almost carnival feel. But the sincerity of the worshippers is the real thing.

Sooooo cold

by Yso

"Kick off the New Year in Style"

At the beginning of the year, while the students I teach were having their mid year exams, I decided to fet away from glorious Fushun (see my Fushun pages) and visit some of this vast country!

Harbin is apparantly THE place to go in winter, even though it is seriously cold. Its olny about 400km from Vlasivostok and according to the Lonely Planet you can start your trip on the tran-siberian from here...

As you will see by looking through the must see pages of Harbin, the major biggie is the Ice Lantern Festival which runs thru Jan and most of Feb. Everywhere you go in the city there are sculptures built our of great big blocks of ice or out of snow.
Its definately a lot more sophisticated than your average snoman!