HISTORIC HARBIN

N E X T J O U R N E Y . O R G

Most of the best looking historical buildings in Harbin were built in the 1920s, but in a style reminiscent of older times. Although nominally located in China, old Harbin was a backwater Russian city, growing on the tail of Russia just as its head, out West, was convulsed by civil war and revolution. Consequently, the style of Harbin Russian buildings look more like 1880 than 1920.
Today, there are forlorn, peeling examples of Russian architecture scattered among several neighborhoods in Harbin. In the countryside, you still see little wooden shacks with a Russian flavor too.

One street, Zhongyang Dajie is quite different. There, the old buildings have been classified, protected and restored, and the few newer buildings are stylistically coherent with the rest. Zhongyang Dajie is a pedestrian street, with a unique atmosphere. In the old days, it was the spot for Harbin's 200,000 Russians inhabitants to feel at home. During the Cultural Revolution, it was still a busy and popular thoroughfare. Today, it is a chic shopping street, crowded even during the frigid days of Winter.

Interesting buildings in Harbin are not all of that "buttercream" style, although that is what you encounter the most.
You will also stumble on variously styled old buildings here and there, almost hidden by their huge modern neighbors.

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	Most of the best looking historical buildings in Harbin were built in the 1920s, but in a style reminiscent of older times. Although nominally located in China, old Harbin was a backwater Russian city, growing on the tail of Russia just as its head, out West, was convulsed by civil war and revolution. Consequently, the style of Harbin Russian buildings look more like 1880 than 1920. Today, there are forlorn, peeling examples of Russian architecture scattered among several neighborhoods in Harbin. In the countryside, you still see little wooden shacks with a Russian flavor too. One street, Zhongyang Dajie is quite different. There, the old buildings have been classified, protected and restored, and the few newer buildings are stylistically coherent with the rest. Zhongyang Dajie is a pedestrian street, with a unique atmosphere. In the old days, it was the spot for Harbin's 200,000 Russians inhabitants to feel at home. During the Cultural Revolution, it was still a busy and popular thoroughfare. Today, it is a chic shopping street, crowded even during the frigid days of Winter.


	Interesting buildings in Harbin are not all of that "buttercream" style, although that is what you encounter the most. You will also stumble on variously styled old buildings here and there, almost hidden by their huge modern neighbors.