Harbin
China's most prominent northern city, Harbin is famous for its brutally cold winters, some of which reach -36 degrees Fahrenheit (a chilly -38 degrees Celsius). Located in the northeast, the traditional homeland of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, for centuries Harbin was off-limits to non-Manchu settlers. Following China's opening to the world, however, Harbin became an increasingly cosmopolitan, prosperous city, and soon fell under the influence of Russia. Following the 1917 Soviet Revolution, a mass exodus of White Russians, or supporters of the Czar, fled to Harbin. Today, the Russian influences live on in Harbin's architecture and cuisine, and the city itself is pleasant and comfortable.
Experiences
A handpicked selection of experiences endorsed by our experts. If you can’t see what you’re looking for, let us know, as our extensive network of local contacts can open many doors.
Center Street
Take an early morning stroll down Center Street, the main artery of Harbin’s old city. Enjoy the beautiful early twentieth century Russian architecture, a rare sight in modernizing China.
Harbin International Snow and Ice Festival
If visiting in January or February, visit the Harbin International Snow and Ice Festival, held in various locations around Harbin. Massive structures, including replicas of the Roman Coliseum and the Forbidden City, are finely crafted out of snow and ice, entire blocks of which are cut from the nearby Songhua River, creating a frosty wonderland of epic proportions.
Siberian Tiger Reserve
Drive to the nearby Siberian Tiger Reserve, where you can see hundreds of tigers and witness a feeding.
St. Sophia Cathedral
See the St. Sophia Cathedral, a Russian Orthodox Christian church built in 1923 that houses an architecture museum of the city of Harbin.
Yabuli Ski Resort
Spend the day hitting the slopes at Yabuli Ski Resort, China’s largest ski resort and host of the 1996 Winter Asian Games.
China Regions
Explore in-depth information, experiences and highlights by navigating to specific regions using the links below on the right.
Northern
Southeastern
Central
Western & Silk Road
Southern
Yunnan
Multi-Country Specialists
China Goes Well With
Why Remote Lands?
Exclusively Asia
With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.
With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, in the continent that our north American founders Catherine and Jay have adored and explored for decades, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.
Travelogues
An Asia-focused magazine brought to you by Remote Lands - a platform for adventure, luxury, and authenticity from experts and explorers around the continent.
Remote Lands: Asia’s Top 10 Hot and Cold Winter Holiday Destinations
- Author
- Remote Lands
Whether you’re celebrating Christmas or Chanukah or looking for ice diving or ultra-lux resorts, Remote Lands’ experts have suggestions for every persuasion.
Asia’s Top 6 Private Jet Destinations
- Author
- Remote Lands
Luxury travel simply doesn’t get more luxurious than travelling by private jet! And in a huge continent like Asia, with so many remote destinations, it’s often the best way to travel, particularly if you are pressed for time.
What Others Say
Here is a small selection of the kind words our clients have said about us recently.
A California father and son
Also unforgettable was our experience driving through Beijing in an old fashioned motorcycle side car followed by lunch with a local family in their traditional hutong house.
