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Visiting China: Our Experiences

How to Cope with Culture Shock in China

4/21/2019

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Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no extra cost to you we receive compensation if you decide to click through and make a purchase.
If you have been to China before, you've experienced the intense culture shock that comes with it. I'd been to almost 20 countries before visiting China and even lived in a few but I was not prepared for how different it would be. We've made this guide to help first-time visitors and even returning tourists to understand the differences in culture as well as how to cope with the sudden change. 

Let me give you a little recap of my experience in China: I was lucky enough to stay in Harbin for summer 2018 as a part of my master's research and Nick visited for my last two weeks in the country. I can hardly speak any Mandarin and had never been to China before. I lived in a quirky Airbnb with a Chinese medicine student and had the help of a student translator. Besides them, I couldn't speak to anyone. English is a popular subject amongst university students, otherwise, there was not a high proficiency where I was located. In the very northeast of the country, there are also not many tourists from outside of China. In a city of 10 million, that means, many people often have not seen anyone of European decent in real life before and when they do, they are usually Russians working as part of a tourist attraction. I loved my time in China and can't wait to go back! But there are some things I wish I had been prepared for. 
Bronze lions in front of a temple in The Forbidden City, Beijing
Bronze lions in The Forbidden City, Beijing.
Language Barriers

I took ten weeks of Mandarin classes before I embarked on my research trip to China. I wanted to have a basic understanding as I would be there for 6 weeks and I know, from previous travels, that a little goes a long way when impressing locals with language. However, once I landed in China, I realized that the pronunciation of words is extremely important in Mandarin as it's a tonal language. For example, in English, accents don't prevent people from understanding each other. However, if I pronounced a Mandarin word in a different tone, the meaning was totally changed. Second-language giant
Babbel, named Mandarin as one of the hardest languages to learn for English speakers.

In the end, besides pronouncing and understanding numbers, my 10 weeks of Mandarin classes were pretty much useless. What I'm trying to say is, learning Mandarin is hard and if you find learning languages difficult like me, you'll have to put serious effort into learning the correct tones in the language.

How to Prepare: If you don't have time for Mandarin classes, download a good translator that can be used offline like Pleco and buy a SIM when you get there (roaming charges get expensive fast!). Also don't worry too much, people are always eager to help. People I met would their use phones to translate words back to me. Another thing to note: everyone has smartphones in China! If your going to bargain for clothes like I did, I would use my phone calculator to show them what I wanted to pay and they would return the haggle with theirs. Also, get a VPN to speak to your loved ones at home; it will help with the culture shock. I'll explain VPN's below in the Internet Control section. 
Man and woman speaking while sat at the entrance of a traditional Chinese building.
Our friend Vicki teaching Nick about Chinese history in The Forbidden City.
Forbidden City entrance
One entrance to The Forbidden City, Beijing.
Chinese calligraphy.
An impromptu calligraphy lesson at my Airbnb.
Over 3000 Written Characters 

Characters are one of the biggest differences between Western and East Asian cultures. If you're going to China for a short while, you'll have to accept that you won't be able to read signs, menu's or information while you are there. In tourist hot spots like Beijing or Shanghai, they will usually have signs in both English and Mandarin. But if you are travelling outside the realm of a tourist zone, like me, there will be lots of laughs between you and shops owners as you try to translate what you want. 

How to Prepare: If you are outside Beijing or Shanghai, I'd suggest travelling with a friend or translator fluent in Mandarin. If you're alone, write on your translator app what you'd like. For example, at a breakfast dumpling shop down the road, I'd show them "four vegetarian" on my app and the steamed buns filled with veggies would be ready only moments later. I also used Google Maps (only available with a VPN) to plan routes before I left and figure out what subway line or bus I needed to take because reading the maps were impossible. If in any situation you are unsure of what to do, watch other people and see how they do it. Copy them. I stood on the entry curb at a Buddhist temple and was shouted at because I couldn't read the rules sign. I watched others afterwards and saw that everyone was careful to step over the entry. I later learned that it was disrespectful to stand on the entry itself.
Sea Cucumbers on the Menu

It's no secret that food varies A LOT between cultures and that "western" Chinese food from your local restaurant is nothing like the real thing. China is a huge country and so cuisine varies significantly across the country. It's worth researching what kinds of food are popular in the area you'll be visiting.

If you are eating with others at a restaurant, you will likely be served an empty saucer, bowl and cup. Each dish will come on a large plate and is shared with everyone. One person, the host, usually orders all of the food. There are so many amazing foods in China and many people are very proud of their local delicacies, and you are expected to try what is given to you. If you don't want to eat it, accept the serving from your host and eat around it in your bowl. With food and tea, the faster you consume it, the faster it will be refilled by your host. When you are finished eating or drinking, leave a little left at the bottom to show you are done. There are also loads of food delivery services in China, you'll see the delivery drivers wiz by on mopeds! However, they are notoriously difficult to use for foreigners. We couldn't figure it out without someone fluent in Chinese  present! If you are fluent in Mandarin or are travelling with someone who is, check out this article on popular food delivery apps in China. In addition, it is common in China for people to slurp, burp and smack their lips to show they are enjoying a meal.

How to Prepare: If you have allergies or you are a vegetarian, have a fluent Mandarin speaker record a message on your phone stating that you cannot eat food with this ingredient. Failing that, have it written done. Remember there are over 3000 written characters so it's better to be safe than sorry and have a verbal message.
Traditional hotpot restaurant in Beijing
My favourite Chinese dish is hotpot where you cook meats, tofu and veggies in a hot soup before serving with sauces.
Bonus: Chopsticks. There are no forks or knives with meals in China but waitresses would sometimes bring me a spoon because they thought I would struggle. I purchased a set of chopsticks for $2.00 and practiced for a month or so before I left. Nick did not and brought a travel cutlery set from the dollar store before arriving. My advice would be to bring one of these sets if you think you will have a hard time. Even with practice, I had a hard time eating a fried egg with chopsticks! 
Two women taking a selfie at a street market in Harbin, China.
This woman asked to take a selfie with me.
Staring, Paparazzi and Strangers
​

The Chinese are very curious and it isn't considered rude to watch others. If you have ever seen a Mahjong game, strangers will stop by and watch others play. If you are not of east asian decent and travelling outside of Beijing or Shanghai, expect lots of stares and photos being taken of you. This was one of the hardest things for me to deal with when I went to China. It does not help that I have blonde hair, blue eyes and at 5'10", I'm much taller than the average woman in China. People often came up to me and asked to take photos with me. Most people were extremely friendly about it and if I wasn't in a rush, I agreed. However, in one instance, a man grabbed me around the waist, took off my sunglasses and hat without permission, or even saying anything, to take a photo!

How to Prepare: Understand that most people are not being rude, they are just curious. And remember there are a**holes in every country, if you feel uncomfortable at any point, like when the guy who took my sunglasses off, get out of the situation and ask for help. In Mandarin, there is no specific word for no but bù xíng means "not okay" when someone is asking permission to do something. Say this when you don't want people to take photos of you. 
Squat toilet in Northeast Forestry University, Harbin.
A typical squat style toilet in Harbin.
Squat toilets and BYO toilet paper
​

One of the biggest shocks you'll find coming from the West are squat toilets. I also shocked to find there was no toilet paper in any of the squat toilets throughout Harbin. It's because I didn't know people carry little packs of toilet tissue with them. They look exactly like mini packs of Kleenex. My friend took me to a market to buy some straight away. Many newer buildings, such as shopping malls and hotels, will have Western style toilets and toilet paper.

How to Prepare: Always carry a pack of toilet paper in your purse or backpack. If you are uncomfortable with squat toilets, look out for newer buildings and the Western toilet symbol on the stall door. 

Be Ready for Crowds
​

China has a population of over 1.2 billion people. It is the largest country in the world and Beijing alone has over 21.7 million residents. Beijing and Shanghai have great public transit but there are just so many people you can often be crammed in like sardines. People will push and shove to use all available space! There will be wait times at restaurants and bars in big cities, just like in NYC or London. 


How to Prepare: Avoid travelling at rush hour. Expect crowds, wait times and when in Rome, do as the Romans do. I'm not saying push an old lady down. Just make sure to squeeze on and don't let everyone go ahead of you or you might not get on at all! If you are travelling by bus, make sure to go as far back as possible at every stop (as people get off) and start moving towards the door at the stop before yours.
Crowded bus in Harbin, China.
A crammed bus in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjang province. The city has a population of over 10 million.
Busy street market in Harbin, China
'Snack' street in Harbin on a regular evening.
Mega-cities and Pollution

As I said above, China is the biggest country in the world and obviously, it means their cities are huge! I was still not expecting the vastness of them. For example, where I staying in Harbin to the city center took over an hour by bus. 

​One of the other things I was not expecting in Harbin was the crumbling infrastructure of city property. The concrete of sidewalks and overpasses were crumbling, power lines were leaning precariously and the buses had wires running through them. I read afterwards that often once something is built in China, it doesn't lose it's rating. Meaning a five star hotel from 1980 is still advertised as one now, even if there hasn't been any maintenance since! In Beijing, however, we didn't see anything like this. 

As for pollution, it is typically much worse in the winter and Beijing recently closed all of the factories within city limits. We didn't find pollution to be much a problem, besides car exhaust fumes, when we visited in the summer of 2018. However, in other areas in the country, it can be very bad and many locals wear pollution masks. This study done in Beijing found that pollution masks do work but not all are created equal. 
Cityscape from the Harbin Opera House
One of Harbin's many cityscapes.
How to Prepare: Research travel times before you go and give yourself extra time to get to and from places. Also, read reviews online for places to stay and watch where you walk as to not trip on jagged concrete in these areas.

I checked the Air Quality Index every morning to see if it was healthy to travel outside a lot that day. We also purchased a Vogmask before visiting China in case we ran into heavy pollution. I used it a few times in denser areas; although the air smelt cleaner, I have no way of telling it actually helped keep air pollution out of my lungs. I also didn't sweat too much in the 40 C weather. If you are travelling to a heavily polluted area and want to save a bit of money, the article suggests that work masks with filters (from your local hardware store), are better for than the flimsy medical masks. ​
Woman wearing black Vogmask in China.
Wearing a filtered Vogmask for heavy pollution.
View of Harbin, China from foot bridge
A small section of Harbin, China.
Internet Control

The Chinese government also has a tight hold over internet use. Facebook, Instagram and Google to name a few, are banned. I would have definitely been lost, figuratively and literally, without Google Maps in China. In basic terms, a VPN hides your IP address, and therefore your location, to go around the Chinese internet blocks. Using VPNs is technically banned in the country, however, almost all foreigners do so without issue.

The Fix: I recommend getting a VPN before you leave. We wrote a guide about how to prepare for travelling to China and including more on what VPN to use here. It will feel a lot less lonely in China when you can stay in contact easily with friends and family. Just prepare for an inevitable time difference!
Park security vehicle in Harbin, China
Park security vehicle in Harbin.
Final Thoughts

China is an amazing country and incredibly diverse! I had a fantastic time there and cannot wait to go back! I believe learning about another culture before visiting always make the transition easier. If you know what to expect and how people will act, it shouldn't be a great shock when you land.
Picture
A classical Chinese garden in Beihai Park, Beijing.
Group of four people taking a selfie on a boat in Beihai Park
We rented a boat with friends on the lake at Beihai Park.
How to Cope with Culture Shock in China. Budget Breaks Blog.
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Visitor's Guide to Harbin, China in the Summer

4/16/2019

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In the summer of 2018, Caitlin and I stayed in the city of Harbin in northeastern China (the capital city of Heilongjiang province). Harbin is a city in the process of modernizing, with some areas state of the art and heavily funded and other areas reminiscent of what the city might have looked like half a century ago. This coming together of the old China and new China makes Harbin a particularly interesting and culturally rich place to visit. The city is home to over 10 million people, a number which makes any European capital city seem insignificant and Harbin sprawls for miles in every direction.
A walking path to the ferry lined with red flags on the Songhua River
Sunset on the Songhua River, Harbin.
Preparing for Harbin

In spite of Harbin being very far north, temperatures during our visit (May - June 2018) often reached 40 degrees, which meant the two pairs of jeans I packed were seldom worn whatsoever. If you decide to visit Harbin in the Summer, be sure to pack with this in mind! For a more complete guide on preparing to visit China, check out our guide. Also, bus travel is very popular in Harbin (and extremely cheap!). There is currently one subway line with more planned to open. We recommend saving all 1 yuan notes for bus travel in the city.
Street food in Harbin, China
Street food in Harbin.
A view of Harbin, China near Northeast Forestry University
View of the city near Northeast Forestry University.
Visit downtown (and don't miss the underground markets)

Any visit to Harbin wouldn't be complete without visiting the beautiful downtown, or Zhongyang. Very different to almost anywhere else in China, most of the architecture of downtown Harbin resembles that of a early 20th century European city. This alone draws hordes of tourists from other areas of China, who are keen to get a taste of Europe without the expense of leaving the country.

The reason so much of Zhongyang street seems European is thanks to the heavy Russian influence the city saw when they constructed the Chinese section of the Trans-Siberian Railway. You'll notice several times in this guide a heavy Russian influence that the tourism board of Harbin have played on to bring visitors from around China. Zhongyang street is always bustling and something is always happening worth stopping and watching. On one occasion, we were that 'thing that was happening' as we both decided to get caricatures made of ourselves. Two foreigners being painted (quite badly we later found out, see right) was enough to merit an audience.
Caricature in Harbin, China
I'm not sure my portrait is 100% accurate...
Something that will always stick with me about the downtown of Harbin, and to a degree the rest of the city, were the vast and sprawling underground markets. The most impressive of these subterranean malls could be found near the end of Zhongyang (near the river!) where hundreds of vendors selling just about anything can be found, and always at a much lower price than the above ground sellers. Most of the things I bought in China was underground! If you decide to purchase there, haggle! Although we struggled to pronounce numbers correctly, most of the haggling was done by punching numbers into a calculator followed by either a nod of approval or a counter offer. ​
Central street in Harbin, China.
Zhongyang or central street in Harbin has lots of food, shops and European architecture.
Zhongyang street in Harbin, China at night
Zhongyang street at night featuring our Airbnb host.
Ice cream bars in Harbin, China
Ice cream bars are a local favourite.
Try an Ice Cream Bar at 1906

As we quickly discovered, each city in China is famous for a certain culinary element, Harbin being no exception with theirs being the ice cream bars and sausages. 1906 is the name of the restaurant most commonly associated with the Ice Cream bars, which although fairly plain in flavour, are cheap and a welcome sweet treat in a country not famous for its desserts.

1906's reputation means there was always a crowd waiting to buy the ice creams (without an orderly queue?!), however fortunately you are able to find these ice cream bars all over the city, usually on street corners (for cheaper too)! Spending 30p on a tasty frozen treat in 40 degree heat doesn't sound like a bad deal does it?
St. Sophia Cathedral

Caitlin and I first stumbled across St. Sophia Cathedral by accident walking around the city one afternoon and felt although we might have accidentally wandered into Russia. The Orthodox cathedral in the middle of a fairly obscure Chinese city seems wrong, however then you remember how many Russians would have been stationed in the city to administer the construction of the railways, they would have needed a place to pray right?

There are not many Russians in the city nowadays, so the cathedral has become a tourist attraction rather than an orthodox place of worship.  It is a museum of the multi-cultural history in Harbin. The architecture style actually doesn't seem too out of place after a journey around Zhongyang (downtown). We found the building to be most spectacular, and least busy, at night-time where it's beautifully lit up.
St. Sophia Cathedral in Harbin, China
St. Sophia Cathedral is now a museum.
Smiling couple in front of St. Spohia Cathedral in Harbin, China at night.
Are we in Europe or Asia?
Stalin Park

Despite the word park in the name, Stalin park isn't a park in the traditional sense of grass, trees and so on. Stalin park is an area at the end of Zhongyang which hugs the Songhua river. It is home to a giant monument named 'Flood Control Success Monument' which no doubt sounds a little more impressive in its native mandarin. The monument is best enjoyed at night (see below) where powerful light beams are shone from it into the black sky. People congregate in this area at all times of the day, and it's a hot bed of relaxation and games. It's not uncommon to see people enjoying ping pong, dancing with loved ones in the street and devouring tasty late night snacks. The atmosphere in Stalin Park is so positive, day and night, and well worth the 1 yuan (12p?) bus ticket to get us there.

On multiple occasions we a spent long while watching locals searching for tasty muscles on the shore of the Songhua river.
Fisherman in small boat at dusk on the river with city lights visible in the distance. Songhua River in Harbin, China.
Fisherman at dusk on the Songhua.
Golden lights outline a river bridge at dusk. Songhua River Bridge in Harbin, China.
Songhua River Bridge.
Colours light up a semi-circle monument with statue in the centre. Flood Control Success Monument in Harbin, China.
Light show at the Flood Control Success Monument.
Songhua River Bridge

As you can see in the picture above, the impressive Songhua River bridge straddles the river in impressive fashion. Built by the Russians in 1900 and only falling into disuse in the last 5 years, the bridge offers fantastic panoramic views of the city. You can use the bridge to access Sun Island, another major tourist hot spot in the city, however its certainly not our preferred method, as mentioned below.
A river's edge with a park. Skyscaper's are visiable in the distance. Stalin Park, Harbin, China.
View of Stalin Park from Songhua River Bridge.
Sun Island

Rather than the more tiresome option of walking across the Songhua River bridge or mundane bus journey, we decided to take a ride on the ferry across to Sun Island. The ferry set us back 10 yuan each for a return (£1.20) and was an enjoyable and relaxing way to cross the river. As we visited the city during something of a hot spell, the river was much lower than usual and we had to trudge across the sandy beach to reach the ferry itself.

Again the Russian influence rears its head in the city of Harbin, and much of Sun Island is in fact something of a theme park, with the theme being all things Russian. After a quick Google search, whoops I mean Baidu search, we decided the theme park didn't merit the entrance fee and instead we explored the rest of Sun Island which is mostly old colonial style buildings and parkland with a thick tree canopy which provides reprieve from the glaring sun. On a few occasions, we were mistaken for Russian 'attractions' and people asked for pictures with us, however most requests were polite and as such were fine. At times however people can be rude about picture taking, in these instances we reacted as anyone would and said no. Caitlin talks about this in her post on culture shock here.

Sun Island was a chance to get away from the urban metropolis that is the city of Harbin proper, and which not offering a great deal to do, was worth it for the ferry ride there and back. For those of you a little braver, there is a cable car which climbs high above the river as it crosses, however we didn't trust it and went for the seemingly safer waterborne option.
Man on beach of Sun Island in Harbin China
Sun Island has a large beach and a number of gardens.
Smiling woman next to Russian egg statue in Harbin, China
Two Babushkas hanging out.
Snack Street (aka night-markets)

Nothing stands out more from our time in China than the street food. While there are many, many 'snack streets' scattered around the city, our favorite two can be found just off of Zhongyang and also near North-East Forestry University. Street food is an experience as fun as it is tasty, and often not knowing what something is can be beneficial. Eating at a snack street offers you a chance to enjoy food you will almost certainly never be able to again with each vendor selling something totally unique and handmade. Particular favorites were garlic oysters and lamb in a bun, don't be put off by the picture below, most of the food found on snack streets looks great and is always affordable.

Snack streets are also known as night-markets as they almost always only operate from 5pm-10pm, they are also usually located near universities (ours being no exception). As with anything in Harbin if you don't speak Mandarin, enjoying a snack street is easier with a local helping you! Even without however, pointing suffices! If you have food allergies, be extra cautious.
Smiling woman in large crowd on snack street in Harbin China
A typical evening on 'snack street'.
Insects, arachnids and starfish for sale at a food stall in Harbin, China.
Locals were daring their friends to eat these insects, arachnids and starfish!
Jile Temple

Jile Temple has to be one of the more iconic tourist destinations in the city of Harbin and with good reason. Jile Temple is actually a large group of many temples together and can be easily accessed from the cities state of the art new subway system. It really is hard to take a bad picture at the temples as you can see below as the buildings are incredibly photogenic. The lucky red can be found on much of the religious architecture and while the temples can be a little busy, the atmosphere is serene and relaxed, no doubt a result of the temples retaining their spiritual importance into the modern day. As the temples are still active, its important to note that you should refrain from taking pictures of the golden Buddha statues inside the temples (outside is fine though) and do not stand on the golden 'curbs' between areas, as this is seen as extremely disrespectful, a mistake Caitlin made only once.

As this was our first time visiting a religious building outside of Western 'Abrahamic' faiths, we were particularly awestruck at the beauty of the temples. Jile temple has to be on your to-do list when you visit Harbin.
Smiling woman in red temple archway. Jile Temple, Harbin
Temple in Jile Temple, Harbin China
Painted ceiling with golden dragon in Jile Temple, Harbin China
Jile Temple, Harbin, China
Imperial guardian lion in Jile Temple, Harbin, China
Unit 731 Museum

Unit 731 is a museum dedicated to remembering the atrocities committed by the Japanese Army during the Second World War. The museum doesn't withhold any gruesome detail, and some exhibits can be difficult to read. Anyone with even a passing interest in history should make sure they take the long-ish bus journey to the museum. We managed to spend several hours exploring the various exhibits. Much of the war crimes committed by the Japanese Army in the region revolved around testing on local Chinese people in some of the most horrific ways imaginable. The vast majority of the museum has an English translation which was much appreciated on our part. I would urge all those who have time to visit Unit 731, especially as to this day the current Japanese government denies these atrocities even took place.

For those with a strong interest in the Japanese occupation period of Harbin, check out the appropriately named 'North East Anti-Japanese Museum' in the city, which is free to enter as long as you show your passport. Thanks to the nature of the muesum, the Anti-Japanese museum has a heavy security presence. 
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Unit 731 honours the memory of those lost to Japanese war crimes.
Picture
One of the many exhibits showing the Japanese experimenting on locals.
Harbin Opera House

A lesser known attraction to international visitors to Harbin would be the vast and gorgeous Opera House. Located not far from the much more well known attraction 'Harbin Tiger Park' which for many reasons we would urge you not to see, the Opera House can be found over an hour away by bus. We decided to get off of the bus before the Opera House itself so that we could walk through a beautiful wetland, where we saw an array of different birds and fish. While we didn't actually go into the Opera House as there wasn't a performance on, the building has an external staircase which you can climb to see amazing views of Harbin, which really showcase its size.
Harbin Opera House in China
The Opera House is a great symbol of the wealth of New China.
Wetlands with Harbin Opera House in the distance. Harbin, China
Harbin Opera House with the beautiful wetlands in the foreground.
three people pose for a photo in front of the Harbin Opera House.
Myself, Caitlin and Aries (our host) struggling with the summer sun.
Honourable Mentions

Dragon Tower (Long Ta) - 330m tall television tower which doubles as an observation tower. We decided not to do this because of the extortionate entrance fee, however for those less concerned with their budget and keen on seeing more of the city, this could be a good option. There is also a restaurant at the top of the tower, serving Russian cuisine.

Harbin Ice and Snow World - As Harbin is most well known for its Ice Festival, most people only visit in the dead cold of winter. However for those of you who, like us, visit at the opposite time of year, Harbin's Ice Museum will satisfy your frozen curiosities. Basically a much smaller and indoor version of the Ice Festival, you can find magnificent ice sculptures, palaces and performances.
How to get here

As Harbin was our main destination in China, we arrived via plane on Air China. We flew from London to Beijing and then two hours onto Harbin. We both recommend Air China, the service was fantastic. Caitlin actually missed her flight from Beijing to Harbin because the connecting time turned out to be too short (hour and a half) and Air China put her on the next plane no questions asked.

We also took a return trip to Beijing by train. Beijing to Harbin can take anywhere between 8 and 11 hours by train. On our way to Beijing, we took the high speed train during the day from Harbin West station. There aren't a lot of sights along the way but Caitlin through the agrarian landscapes we're like stepping into another time. You'll also get an idea of how big China really is. We passed so many mega-cities along the way. The seats were comfortable in first class, however, if you are at the back of the carriage like us (Seat's 1 A and B), people who purchased standing tickets will lean on your headrest. We also took a night train to Harbin, which took the full 11 hours. We definitely think 'soft sleepers' were worth the extra price. Each of these have four beds with mattresses (YAY!) and we ended up with two businessmen who went straight to sleep. We also recommend arriving early to pick up your tickets! Lines in China can be very long! 
Photo of woman visiting on bed in soft sleeper cabin on Chinese train.
A photo of Caitlin in our soft sleeper cabin.
Where to stay

Staying near Zhongyang street is ideal when visiting on holiday. It is close to many of the attractions and main bus terminals. If you are visiting Harbin for work or a specific purpose, we suggest finding accommodation near to where you'll be spending the most time. We keep saying it because it's true, this city is huge! Harbin currently has one subway line and the buses can take hours to get to your destination. Because Caitlin was staying in Harbin for so long (2 months) and working at a university, we opted for an Airbnb near the uni. It was cheap and easy, and we made a friend in our host. 
Visitor's Guide to Harbin, China in the summer
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We both loved our time in Harbin and believe it's worth visiting when you are in China. It has a very unique feel compared to the other areas we went to. It's relatively short history results in a lack of 'traditional' Chinese architecture (with the exception of Jile Temple) and instead is replaced with a mix of European and industrial. We'd love to go back for the winter to see the famous Ice and Snow World even if the -30 C weather seems a little unappealing (it's next to Siberia after all!). 
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