About Harbin

The Culture in Harbin

 

Oriental Moscow

Blessed with picturesque scenery and strong East European flavor, Harbin has long been crowned as "the Oriental Moscow". Its buildings with striking features are in a perfect combination of eastern and western architecture style. Boasting a long history, it's not only the place where the cultures of northern ethnic minorities infuse with one another, but also a famous city that absorbs both Chinese and western cultures. The solemn and majestic Sancta Cathedral, mysterious Nicolas Cathedral, the Russian wooden houses in unique shape, the exquisite Gothic buildings, the Central Street with European buildings and the bright and elegant architecture style all reflect the unique charm of "the Oriental Moscow".

 

The Culture of Ice and Snow

Harbin has long been crowned as the city of ice. Its culture of ice lanterns and ice sculptures can be dated back to the beginning of 1960s and stemmed from the folk culture of ice and snow. Dependant on landscape art and mainly represented by architectures and sculptures, it gradually developed into the representative culture of ice and snow in Harbin at the second half of the last century. The annual Ice and Snow Festival and the ice lantern garden party offer opportunities for you to appreciate the splendid ice lanterns and ice sculptures.

 

Cooking Culture

The Han people are the most dominant residents in Harbin and most of them are the immigrants from Shandong and Hebei provinces. In the old days, a there were many foreign emigrants in Harbin, amongst whom the Russian emigrants were dominant. The foreign emigrants' way of life and their customs exerted a deep influence on the culture and the eating habits of the Harbin people. Back then, the staple food of the Harbin people was large pancake (fried corn bread). Today, such eating habits as having gruels, steamed millet and stewed dishes remain as they were. Influenced by the culture of the ethnic minorities, the local people are fond of rice cakes, steamed sticky-rice buns, loaves and sausages.

 

Going Outing and Having Picnics

Influenced by the northern nomads, the Harbin people have formed the habit of going outing as early as in 1990s. After its liberation, this habit started to become increasingly prevailing amongst the people. Every spring, summer and autumn, the local people would go outing in companies. As the texture of people's life has been upgraded, going outing started to involve such activities as having picnics, hunting and riding horses in Yuqua and Pingshan Mountain. Surrounded by the blue verdant hills and green waters, you can drink beers and have barbecues while enjoying what nature has to offer. What a pleasure in life!

 

Architecture Style

The various European buildings and traditional Chinese buildings both contribute to the uniqueness of the architecture style of Harbin. In recent years, a myriad of newly-constructed modern buildings make the city rich in both western and Chinese architecture styles. Anyone who visits Harbin for the first time will definitely have the feelings of being inside a museum of architectures.