in brief :: harbin
I’d disembarked dreaming of russian architecture and shuffling streets only to find a plaque reading ‘we’ve proudly preserved 11 buildings’. right.
however the trip is absolutely worth it for the ice sculpture festival alone. one night is enough. but go early and stay late. art in ice. gorgeous.
the main drag is where most of the few remaining buildings reside. it’s also where people go to buy overpriced things. it’s also where you’ll find a pile of foreigners and all things catering to em. nothing to recommend or avoid, it just is what it is.
at -30C, dress like a small child in antarctica. it’s more fun that way. don’t forget your shades.
hotel :: we splurged on the ‘modern’, ironically the oldest hotel in the city. a bit run down, a bit too expensive at 300 kuai/night for a double with bath, but worth every luxurious penny for the fantastic architecture, deco lobby, and top floor room under its mansard roof with a fantastic view (well, you have to stand on the bed to see out the window, but still)
fyi :: with out side trip to russia thwarted by unknown bus schedules on the russian side (though I hear tell it is posible to get to vladivotok via a 12 hours train ride, border crossing, then 4 hour bus I have yet to get confirmation for the bus bit) we spent only two rather blase days in the city, heading asap to the much more pleasant (and cheaper) jilin, an easy 5 hour train ride south.
filed under :: geographically speaking, points north :: annie carr @ 3:17 pm