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Harbin, known as "Ice City,” is famous for its winter scenery and charming combination of European and Chinese architecture. The annual Ice & Snow Festival, held from the 5th of January to the end of February, has attracted tens of thousands tourists from home and abroad. Another feature that set this pleasant city apart from other Manchurian cities is its Russian influence.
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There have a lot of attractions in the city, such as St. Sofia Orthodox Church, Central Street, Dragon Tower and Sun Island Scenic Resort, which can make you have wonderful experience there.
Top Attractions
Central Street (Zhongyang Dajie)
Harbin Ice and Snow World
Sun Island Scenic Area
Siberian Tiger Park
St. Sophia Church
Russian influence
Located in the boundary between China and Russia, Harbin today is still very much influenced by its Russian past. A city once under Russian rule, it is now a center of trade with that country.The influence of Russia came with the construction of the China Far East Railway, an extension of the Trans-Siberian Railway, and Harbin, known formerly as a fishing village began to prosper as the largest commercial, economic center of North Eastern Asia.
Tsarist Russia encouraged Russian settlement in their important Trans-Siberian-Railway outpost by waiving the then 25 year long military service. For Jews who settled there, the restrictions applying in Russia were also waived. The local cuisine in Harbin is also Russian-influenced. Harbin's bakeries are famous for their bread. Harbin's sausages are another notable product, in that they tend to be of a much more European flavor than other Chinese sausages.
Winter sports
The third Winter Asian Games took place in Harbin in 1996. The city of Harbin bid for hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics. The Alpine skiing events would have taken place in the Yabuli ski resort. In the frame of this campaign to assert its role on the world scene, Harbin will also be the host city of the 2009 Winter Universiade. Harbin plans to spend US$ 1.5 billion in construction and renovation of its sport infrastructure for this Universiade. Harbin also bid for the 2012 Winter Youth Olympics, but was passed over so still has its sights on the Olympics.
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