Sights in Hāěrbīn
- Sort by:
- Popular
-
Japanese Germ Warfare Experimental Base - 731 Division
In 1939 the Japanese army set up a top-secret germ warfare research centre in Hāěrbīn, where medical experts performed gruesome experiments on Chinese, Soviet, Korean, Mongolian and British prisoners of war. Over 4000 people were exterminated: some were frozen or infected with bubonic plague, others were injected with syphilis and many were roasted alive in furnaces.
The history of these war horrors is on view at the Japanese Germ Warfare Experimental Base - 731 Division, where grim photos and sculptures illustrate various tortures. In videotaped interviews (with English subtitles), Japanese officers describe what went on at the base with eerie detachment.
reviewed
-
Dàolǐqū
Hāěrbīn's Russian legacy lives on in the Dàolǐqū area, along cobblestone-lined Zhongyang Dajie - a pedestrian plaza - and on the surrounding side streets. Though the early-1900s buildings here are now shops, restaurants and hotels, much of the architecture still shows a strong Russian influence, with spires, cupolas and scalloped turrets.
reviewed
-
Siberian Tiger Park
The mission of the Siberian Tiger Park is to study, breed, release and ultimately save the Manchurian tiger from extinction. Though protected by the Chinese government and recognised as an endangered species worldwide, the tigers' situation remains perilous. Estimates put the remaining number of Siberian tigers living in the wild at fewer than 400, with most in eastern Russia, North Korea and northeastern China.
As you drive safari-like through the fenced-off fields, you get an up-close look at more than 100 of these animals, as well as African lions and a pair of rare white tigers. It's not clear how the park is preparing these animals for the wild, with the minibus driv…
reviewed
-
Hāěrbīn New Synagogue
In the 1920s the Hāěrbīn New Synagogue was the centre of the city's small but influential Jewish community, most of whom had emigrated east from Russia over the preceding 20 years. The building was converted to a museum in 2004. The 2nd and 3rd floors house interesting exhibits about the history and cultural life of Hāěrbīn's Jews in the early 20th century; the 1st floor is an (unrelated) architecture exhibition about construction projects under way in the city, including the new Hāěrbīn subway system.
reviewed
-
A
Seven-tiered Buddhist Pagoda
Hēilóngjiāng's largest temple complex, the Seven-tiered Buddhist Pagoda was built in 1924. The elegant stone pagoda in the middle of the courtyard makes a great photo op with the Ferris wheel in the adjacent park! The illustrations along the back wall tell classical stories of filial piety. Tickets include admission to the Temple of Bliss next door.
For the Buddhist Pagoda and Temple of Bliss, cross Yiman Jie and walk north to Dongdazhi Jie, which is a pedestrian plaza in front of the temples.
reviewed
-
B
Church of St Sophia
The Church of St Sophia, one of Hāěrbīn's most photographed landmarks, is a Russian Orthodox church built in 1907. The church now houses the Haerbin Architecture Arts Centre, which displays black-and-white photographs of Hāěrbīn from the early 1900s (captions are in Chinese only).
reviewed
-
C
Heilongjiang Provincial Museum
The rather musty Heilongjiang Provincial Museum may appeal to the archaeologically inclined, with displays showcasing huge dinosaur skeletons and other finds from digs around the province. Also on view is fish-skin clothing worn by the Hezhen minority. On the museum's lower level is the Sea World aquarium (Y40).
reviewed
-
D
Stalin Park
Locals and visitors alike congregate year-round in Stalin Park. The tree-lined promenade, dotted with statues, playgrounds and cafés, is built along a 42km-long embankment that was built to curb the unruly Songhua River.
reviewed
-
E
Temple of Bliss
There's an active Buddhist community in residence at the serene Temple of Bliss. The many statues here include Milefo (Maitreya), the Buddha yet-to-come, whose arrival will bring paradise on earth.
reviewed
-
F
Sun Island Park
Across the river from Stalin Park is Sun Island Park, a 3800-hectare recreational zone offering gardens, forested areas and a 'water world'. In winter it has its own snow-sculpture exhibition.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
G
Flood Control Monument
The odd Flood Control Monument, built in 1958, commemorates the thousands of people who died in years past when the river overflowed its banks.
reviewed
-
Confucius Temple
This peaceful and seemingly little-visited temple claims to be the largest Confucian temple in northeastern China. It was built in 1929.
reviewed
-
Heilongjiang Science and Technology Museum
The excellent hands-on Heilongjiang Science and Technology Museum is at the west end of Sun Island Park.
reviewed
