Harbin  is located at longitude 125°42′-130°10′E and latitude 44°04′-46°40′N, as the provincial capital of Heilongjiang Province. It lies on the southern bank of the Songhua River.  Harbin is the political, economic and cultural center of the north of Northeast China, as well as a metropolis whose area is the largest and whose population is the second largest among all the provincial cities of China.
The special historical course and geographical position has contributed to Harbin, the beautiful city with an exotic tone, which not only brings together the historical culture of northern ethnic minorities, but also combines western and eastern culture. It is a famous historical and tourist city in China, with many beautiful names such as “the City of Culture”, “the City of Music”, “Ice City”, “A Pearl under the Neck of the Swan”, “Eastern Moscow”, and “Eastern Little Paris”.

 

An introduction to the Tourist Attractions in Harbin

 

Harbin Ice and Snow World is the largest ice and snow art exhibition in the world. It is commonly referred to as possessing four of the key 'mosts': the most art attractions, the most beautiful night views, the most recreational activities and the most forms of entertainment. Furthermore, the festival is constantly evolving and each year brings with it a new theme, providing visitors with a totally unique experience from one year to the next. The ice carvings at the Harbin Ice and Snow World are regarded as some of the world's finest examples of ice art, with visitors able to admire some of the largest and most majestic ice-sculpted masterpieces.


St. Sophia Church in Harbin is the largest Eastern Orthodox Church in the Far East. It is 53.3 meters (175 feet) high and occupies an area of 721 square meters (0.18 acres). It is a respectable landmark for Harbiners and for tourism. The Byzantine style church is so beautiful, it is said to look as if it had been made by God's hands. In fact, St. Sophia means 'God's wisdom'.


Being famous both home and abroad, the Sun Island Scenic Area lies on the north bank of the Songhua River. This dainty area, surrounded by blue water, boasts crystal lakes, wooden rockeries, beautiful flowers and exotic buildings. in winter, the spot is a paradise for ice-snow travel. Every year, the Harbin International Snow Sculpture Art Expo held here exhibits enthralling ice or snow sculptures and architectures. Covering an area of 3,800 hectares (9,390 acres), this scenic area consists of the Sun Island and some other small islands.

The Yabuli International Ski Resort is the biggest and best ski resort in China. The resort provides great skiing with high mountains and good snow. The ski resort includes two distinctive areas: the competitive section and the leisure skiing section. Built according to international standard, provides an excellent environment for professional skiers, and also provides a comparatively safe environment for leisure skiing. There is also a German built slide where tourists can enjoy sliding down from the top of the snowy mountain.