Located in far northeast China, Harbin, is the political, economic, educational and cultural capital of Heilongjiang Province. It is also the location for one of the four largest international ice festivals in the world, along with Japan's Sapporo Snow Festival, Canada's Quebec City Winter Carnival, and Norway's Ski Festival.
Harbin was the birthplace of Jin (1115-1234) and Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties, the latter of which had a very considerable influence on modern Chinese history. Although the modern city of Harbin originated in 1898 from a small village. It was then that Russia built the terminus of the Middle East Railway here, an extension of the Trans-Siberian Railway, which lead to a large number of foreigners migrating to Harbin, promoting the development of a capitalist economy in the city.
The economy and culture of Harbin prospered and the city gradually grew into a famous international commercial port. Combining Manchu, Han and Russian cultures has created its unique and exotic cityscape visible today. The majestic St. Sofia Orthodox Church and Zhongyang Dajie (Central Avenue) are built in a European style which has lead harbin to be referred to as the Oriental St Petersburg.
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 local cuisine in Harbin is also Russian-influenced. Harbin's bakeries are famous for their bread, lie-ba in local dialect, derived from the Russian word khleb for 'bread'. Harbin's sausages, qiu-lin hong-chang, are another notable product, in that they tend to be of a much more European flavour than other Chinese sausages.
Besides its rich cultural heritage, Harbin boasts a unique ice and snow festival famous the world over, so Harbin is also called the 'Ice City'. Each winter fantastic sculptures created from snow and ice, ice lanterns and exciting sporting events attract thousands of visitors from China and abroad.
The annual festival has been held since 1985. Although the official start date is January 5th each year, in practice, many of the sculptures can be seen before. While there are ice sculptures throughout the city, there are two main exhibition areas: Enormous snow sculptures at Sun Island and the separate "Ice and Snow World" that operates each night. Ice and Snow World features illuminated full size buildings made from blocks of ice.
The third Winter Asian Games took place in Harbin in 1996 and the city bid to host the 2010 Winter Olympics. Harbin will also host 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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