Things to see and do in Harbin, China?

The city of Harbin has been a strategic enclave over the years due to its position bordering Korea and Russia. However, in addition to the cultural influence of neighboring countries that is reflected in the cuisine, traditions and local architecture, there is a lot to see in Harbin, the eighth largest city in China. Despite the cold, it is recommended to go in winter, when everything is dressed in white and the famous Ice and Snow Festival, the most important event of the year, takes place.

In this post we will tell you about the main points of interest to add to your travel itinerary. We will also tell you all the details you need to know not to miss anything. Where is the best place to stay? What are the typical dishes? What is the best way to move around the city? Below we answer all these questions and give you other travel tips that will surely be useful in this wonderful country. Are you ready? Let’s get started.

What are the best places to visit in Harbin?

1. Siberian Tiger Park

This park protects and shelters more than 100 Siberian tigers, an endangered species, as well as some pumas and leopards. They run loose in a large enclosure with fences. And you can access there in cars and buses. In addition, you can buy chickens to feed them. There is also an interpretive center called Popular Science Exhibits, which is free to enter.

The most curious thing about the park is the ligre that lives in it, a cross between a tiger and a lion. The park is open from 8:00 am to 11:00 pm (make sure to check it before going there) and has stores and restaurants where you can eat and buy souvenirs. Admission costs between 110 and 130 yuan and the visit lasts between 2 and 3 hours.

2. Zhaolin Park in Harbin

It was the first park built in the city of Harbin and to this day remains the most impressive. Be sure to go there, day or night, winter or summer, the park has a lot to offer. Among its charms we highlight the views of the surrounding mountains of Huaguo and Meigui, and the artificial lake that we can cross by several bridges. In summer the park is full of flowers and is a very pleasant place to walk or rest. In winter there are ice sculptures and everything is covered by a white mantle.

3. Zhongyang Street

In the heart of the city we find a street with the architecture not exactly reminiscent of China. There you will find buildings of Baroque and Renaissance styles reminiscent of European cities, but especially Russia, as the country has great influence in this city that sometimes called Little Eastern Russia. We recommend strolling through the streets and enjoying the facades of the buildings, visit the stores and eat in the restaurants in the area. You can also choose to hire a guided tour in which they will tell you in more detail about every corner.

4. Harbin Ice and Snow Festival

The Ice and Snow Festival is the international important event in Harbin and the rest of China. It is an exhibition of ice sculptures spread throughout the city, although the main points of interest are at Ice and Snow World. There are also bars and hotels, and even a labyrinth. Since 1999, this unique event has been held from December 20 to February.

The best part of the whole festival comes at night, when all the sculptures are illuminated and the whole city is filled with light. Visiting hours are from 9:30 am to 9:00 pm and the entrance fee is 100 yuan.

5. Heilongjiang Provincial Museum

This museum located in the downtown area and opened in 1906 is the largest and most important museum in the entire Heilongjiang region for its exhibits of artifacts dating back more than 4,000 years. The museum offers four halls. In the Nature and Animals exhibition hall we can see dinosaur and mammoth fossils. And in the Historical Relics Exhibition Hall you will learn about the history of the city through more than 900 cultural objects such as jade jewelry or fabrics and silk tools. It also has a very large collection of classic baroque design. Admission to the museum is free.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

What to see around Harbin

1. Yabuli Ski Resort

The Yabuli ski resort is located 230km from Harbin, and is one of the most famous in the country for its size. It has 49 slopes for all levels, and they also have the widest alpine slope in all of China that attracts hundreds of expert skiers every year.

From Harbin it takes 1.5 hours by train and 3 hours by car. The slope opens between 10:00 am and 8:00 pm and offers equipment rental, accommodation, restaurants and courses to learn to ski. The season starts in November and ends in March.

2. Sun Island in Harbin

Sun Island is one of the best preserved and most pleasant places to visit in Harbin. It is located almost 3km away from the Ice and Snow World complex. It is a place surrounded by nature perfect for walking, cycling or picnics. The best time to go is in spring, summer and early autumn, when the weather is not so cold. In winter it is covered with snow and there we can also see the famous sculptures of the Ice and Snow Festival.

The best way to get there from the city of Harbin is by ferry, which runs every 15 minutes between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. The price is 10 yuan, but if we also want to enjoy a ride on the Songhua River, then it rises to 20 yuan.  

Things to do in 1 day in Harbin

Depending on the time of year we travel to Harbin there will be more or less to do. It is usually recommended to visit the city in winter, as its main attraction is the Ice and Snow Festival that takes place every year between December and February. In such a case, one day will be more than enough to enjoy the city and the sculptures; the cold weather doesn’t invite you to spend much more time either.

If you go in summer or spring, however, it is recommended to spend a couple of days, or a day and a half to have enough time to visit the Sun Island, Zhaolin Park, and the Siberian Tiger Park. The city is relatively quick to see and from one place to another you will pass through the streets in the center as well.

Where and what to eat in Harbin

Due to the city’s location, the cuisine in Harbin is directly influenced by Russian, Mongolian and Korean, but mostly by the cuisine of Shandong, a region in northern China. The dishes are hearty; savory stews and marinades where vegetables and corn predominate. Some common dishes are chicken with mushrooms or smoked sausages. These are some of the best restaurants where you can eat well at a good price.

• MaoMao XunRou DaBing: this is an authentic northeastern Chinese restaurant. The unpretentious food is homemade and hearty. The price is very affordable.
• DongFang JiaoZi Wang: is an authentic Chinese restaurant in the purest traditional northern style. It’s a bit complicated to choose since the menu is not translated nor do they speak English, but if you get to understand each other you will surely enjoy like never before.
• Golden Hans: At this Chinese buffet you won’t go hungry. It has a wide variety of dishes and although it’s a bit more expensive than the previous ones, the quality is worth it.

Where to stay in Harbin

Harbin is a relatively large city where there is a wide choice of accommodation. The best areas to stay are five: Daoli, Nangang, Harbin West Railway Station, River North in Songbei, and Yabuli. All of them are very well connected to the center, but probably the central area of Daoli is the best and the closest to the main tourist attractions. Still, here we leave you a list with some good accommodation options.

• Little Bear Hostel: is a cozy hostel perfect for backpackers on a tight budget. A night in a shared room costs 5€ and family rooms are also available.
• Harbin Kai Rui Hotel: Located just 2km from the city center, this modern hotel is a really convenient option to stay as it has private parking and is also very well connected. Breakfast is included in the room rate, which starts at €50.
• Harbin Daoli-Central Street-Locals Apartment: this apartment complex is a very good option for staying in the city. Each apartment has two rooms with double bed, kitchen, private bathroom and wifi. The price in high season is 130 per night.

How to get to Harbin

The fastest way to get to Harbin from Europe is by plane although there are no direct flights. You will have to make a stopover at another Chinese airport to get to Harbin Taipin International Airport, the closest airport in the city which is 35km from the tourist area. From there you will be able to reach the center by:

• Bus: it costs 20 yuan and makes several stops.
• Taxi: this is the most comfortable option but also the most expensive. It costs 100 yuan and takes about 45 minutes.

To move around the city you’ll experience no problems as the urban transport is very complete. There are more than 100 bus lines and two specific routes that connect all tourist attractions. The cab is another very common means but it is advisable to negotiate the price before leaving.

What should I consider before traveling to Harbin?

• The official currency is the Renminbi (Yuan).
• Money can be withdrawn directly from ATMs or exchanged at exchange offices.
• Harbin is a very safe city, but as in any tourist spot, be careful with your belongings.
• Beware when crossing the street, cars do not respect zebra crossings.
• The best time to travel to Harbin are the months of May, June, July, August and September.
• It is best to avoid exchanging money at the airport, as their prices are high.
• In Harbin we can bargain in places where the price is not fixed. Like in the street markets or in some candy or souvenir stores.
• If you go in winter you should dress up well, take a snow coat, gloves, a hat and something to cover your nose.
• Cover yourself against possible medical emergencies: travel insured.
• The water quality in the city is bad, better drink only bottled water.

How to prepare what to see on your trip to Harbin

Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.

• Get inspired by the experiences of other travelers.
• Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it.
• Add the stops you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest we indicate in this post as a reference).
• Organize your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can be inspired by the routes presented in the post)
• Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
• Make any modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
• Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend to other travelers the things to do in Harbin.

If you have doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.

Frequently asked questions about a trip to Harbin