Harbin's location in north east China has facilitated a strong influence from neighbouring Russia.
This means Russian architecture, cheap vodka, queues for bread (I'm not joking), and dozens of little shops selling Russian tat.
As well as Russian dolls, hip flasks and kitsch soviet memorabilia, you can pick up vicious knives and taser guns. These might be handy if you find yourself in a dodgy Russian bar surrounded by scar-faced mafioso.
The ice sculpture park (see pic) is by far the highlight of the colder-than-freezing city. It includes illuminated frozen art on a scale that can't be imagined until you see it up close.
Not for the first time since we came to China, a Chinese girl stopped us and gestured towards her camera. We presumed she wanted her photo taken but, as usual, she wanted her photo taken with us.
There must be scores of photos of us in the houses of people we don't know and will never see again.
I ended up buying a pair of snow boots because my toes were literally freezing. Naively, I had turned up wearing a pair of wafer-thin-soled Asics runners.
Harbin is a unique place, not just for its -20 degree temperatures, but for its mix of Chinese and Russian cultures. I'd recommend it - but bring three pairs of socks and two jackets. And decent snow boots.
1 comment:
Interesting article, although the photo of yourself, which you have posted in your profile, doesn't do you justice.
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