Harbin Travelblog
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My backpacking trip this time was on a quest for ice. What better thing could a person ask for, than to have a chance to visit Harbin Ice & Snow World (Hā'ěrbīn Bīngxuě Dà Shìjiè), the festival being held here every year from 5 Jan to 5 Feb.
2015 Hā'ěrbīn Bīngxuě Jié - The Ice and Snow Festival Highlights in Harbin was held on January 5th, 2015 and last till the end of February, 2015, covering three important Chinese festivals – New Year’s Day, Spring Festival and Lantern Festival. Based on the theme of “Ice-snow Fascinating Harbin, Charming Chinese Dream”, a variety of activities about ice and snow will welcome all tourists. People can enjoy beautiful ice sculptures and snow arts in the Sun Island Scenic Area, Ice and Snow World, Zhaolin Park and Central Street. In addition, St. Sophia Cathedral, Harbin Polarland and Songhua River are also worth a visit during the festival. I planned to travel alone to experience different cultures, people and historical locations one country at a time and will never know what it feels like if you never try it first hand. I was very thrilled about the planning and preparation to go there since I need to understand first the “what, where and how” and knowing these would enable me to enjoy the journey. For me to discover things beyond my expectation would be an adventure. I enjoy challenging myself, walking around with temperature of -30° Celsius and really exciting to be able to stand the frozen climate.
I first came across Harbin ice sculpturing festival on TV quite sometime ago, It would be fascinating to have the opportunity to experience winter and snowy cold weather. I love seeing the wildlife, enjoy natural scenery, extraordinary and enchanting landscape. I had a strong desire to explore the culture and always looking forward for a chance to go to Harbin during the ice & snow festival. So, this year I decided to travel to China again, and of course it must be Harbin. I like adventure and this travel is the most unusual. Therefore, I picked early February 2015 the day to fly to Dalian and to continue the journey to Harbin by train.
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| Take A Train From Dalian To Harbin |
For everyone that intended to visit Harbin during winter will be worried about the cold climate. Being born and grew up in a tropical country, we will be challenged to face the cold weather lower than minus 20°C but when it turns out I was able to get through even enjoyed it! Don't worry because you will always be able to find a place to get warmth in this lovely city.
THE PREPARATIONS BEFORE THE TRAVEL, FLIGHT TICKETS, TRAVEL VISA, LOCATIONS OF PLACES OF ATTRACTIONS IN HARBIN, MODE OF TRAVEL WITHIN HARBIN CITY AND BOOKING OF ACCOMMODATION.
This time I travelled alone on a backpacking journey. I was going to a location the most northern part of China, Harbin known by the nickname "The City of Ice" due to extreme cold climate, even colder than Beijing, where I have been earlier.
On the previous entry I have written about how cold and misery of my stay in Beijing in extreme winter. In Beijing temperatures reaching down to -17°C and I said I cannot stand the coldness, but in Harbin temperature was even colder. Want to know how? Harbin temperature is -30°C. Do not believe? -30°C is not impossible. At first I was not sure if I could survive in an atmosphere of extreme cold temperatures such as this.
In China people made jokes about Harbin coldness,"In Harbin nasal mucus drip that will come out of nose will freeze immediately just above the mustache / lips”. It may sound funny, right? Or perhaps it would sound rather hilariously scary as well.
Harbin has scenic places, a beautiful town during the winter since the snow is always there. The feeling has long been surging in my heart to see the Ice sculpture artwork exhibition. It makes me very excited to go there.
I did some research about Harbin on the internet and through http://www.china.org.cn.... http://www.tour-beijing.com/harbin_attractions/... www.chinatravel.com/ and google chrome map.
Apart from that, I also made reference from travel blogs of written by others that have been in Harbin, in languages such as Malay, Chinese and English. I took notes of the names of places to visit, to write it in Chinese characters and also how to take the public transport. So I think I’ve made enough preparations already.
Sightseeing trip in Harbin will be rather challenging; cold climate below zero temperatures, it would be the matter of: will I stand up to the cold weather in Harbin?
THE BASIC NEEDS FOR TRAVELLING IN HARBIN DURING WINTER
So, here I listed down the basic needs for the tour:
- Wear suitable clothing and enough layers of clothing to protect from the effects of extreme cold climate.
- Consume enough food and water to survive and to have the energy for the journey, the locations of food outlets need to be identified.
- Difficulty to walk on Harbin icy cold and slippery road path; this can be overcome by getting suitable boots to walk.
- Bring enough cash to pay for accommodation, food, transportation, buy things etc. The Chinese currency is RMB that is also known as Yuan or Kuai. Change money from RM to 元 (Chinese Yuan) in KL (Kuala Lumpur) to avoid any trouble later on.
- When you travel to another country, not only you have to worry about different currencies and languages - you also need to worry about different plug shapes and electricity voltages. There’s no one standard socket shape or voltage in the whole world. Search ahead what sort of electrical connection they are having there, so that you can charge your handphones, powerbanks and use your electrical devices.
- A smaller bag would be required for carrying food, bottled water, map, compass and basic personal items for travelling in Harbin. The bigger bag will be kept in the hotel room.
- An accommodation for having a shelter, need to be comfortable with heating facility, a place of privacy to rest, to perform prayer, to sleep, having a bathroom and toilet to answer the call of nature; body normal physiology for urination or defecation and clean-up, brush teeth, taking bath etc. The internet dataplan charges was RM38 per day, this charge can be avoided if you select an accommodation that has wifi facility to communicate using whatsapp, e-mails, facebook etc; to send text, picture messaging using smartphones. People can get in touch with you, the family back home will surely want to know how you’re doing and they love to see some photos you have taken during your travel.
- Plan the travel, what is the plan for day 1 until the last day of the vacation, there are many attractive venues in Harbin. Where exactly on the map is the location of that venue of your interest and which bus/ subway to get on and which stop to get off. Get a map and find out how to get there, what mode of transport to use. Look up for bus route, Metro subway route and train route / schedule.
- Find out the times for the 5-daily prayers, since it relates to the point of the sun in the sky. Mid-day is when the sun has reached the center of the sky. Time for Zuhr begins when the sun begins to decline after reaching its highest point and the length of shadow cast by the sun starts lengthen. The earth's axis of rotation is tilted at an angle with respect to the plane of the earth's orbit affecting the changes of the season throughout the year, and so as the Prayer Times. It is important to understanding where we are at the time of prayer. When I look at the wristwatch it will tell me how much time left before the sun sets and it gets dark, begins the time for Maghrib.
The prayer times during my stay in Harbin:
| Prayer | Fajr | Dhuhr | Asr | Maghrib | Isha |
| Time | 5:15 am | 11.47 am | 2.14 pm | 4.36 pm | 6.13 pm |
Transportation to use Bus and Subway services to commute to destinations within Harbin City Centre and to use Bus or Train services to go outside Harbin so as to spend less money on transportation. Avoid taking taxis since there are cases the taxi driver will become a real scoundrel for being reluctant to charge the passengers taxi fare according to meter. They will ask for unreasonably high taxi fare because you are an outsider. They may pretend they don’t know the destination as per the address writings given by you and sometimes the driver would be reluctant to take you there. Some taxis that already picked-up some passengers would stop and ask you your destination, if heading the same direction they will take you and ask you to pay the full amount as the passengers that earlier were already in the taxi. Some taxi drivers will drop you off somewhere along the road and tell you that they were prohibited to deliver passengers to the area of your destination. They would then show you a place to take another taxi to get there.
Anyway, Bus, Subway and Train services in Harbin are reliable, comfortable and efficient.
ELECTRICAL CONNECTION
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| Malaysia and United Kingdom using similar type electrical connection |
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| China and Australia using different electrical connection as compared with Malaysia |
THE TRAVEL ARRANGEMENT
After much read-up about Harbin, the preparation for the travel took me about 2 weeks before the day of departure. I booked the ticket via the internet from Xiamen Air official website for a roundtrip ticket. I was worried that it will be more expensive or ran out of tickets if it got closer to the date of travel. From Dalian I planned to take high-speed train and the trip was expected to take about 5 half hours.
The selection of flight was made in consideration time duration of travel from KUL to destination and the transportation fare:
- Selected: Xiamen Air: Starting from Kuala Lumpur Airport at 8.45 am reach Dalian at 4.45 pm. Take train from North Dalian Train will reach Harbin City Centre 11.37 pm total time taken 14 hours plus.
Other Options:
- Option 1: China Eastern (Shanghai Airlines is a subsidiary of China Eastern Airlines) From KLIA 2.10 am reach Harbin 1:40 pm total travelling time 11 hours plus and haven’t include waiting and travel time from Airport to Harbin City Centre, the flight tickets are slightly expensive.
- Option 2: MAS 6.25 pm reach Beijing 12:20 am. Take the first train from Beijing and will reach Harbin West 3:08 pm total travelling time 20 hours plus, the flight tickets price about the same as Xiamen airlines. In conclusion, Options 1, 2, are worthwhile to be revisited if I plan to go to Harbin again in the future since Flight Tickets + Train Travel as compared to taking China Eastern Flight + Bus trip to Harbin City Centre, might not be much difference in term of total tickets price.
- Option 3: Xiamen Air: Kuala Lumpur 8.45 am and arrive in Beijing at 5.45 pm or Cathay Pacific: Kuala Lumpur 10.35 am and arrive in Beijing 9.10 pm or China Eastern Airlines: Kuala Lumpur 2.10am arrive Beijing 11.45 am or Thai Airways: Kuala Lumpur 7.55 am arrive Beijing 3.50 pm, option 3 would be just nice if you want to spend the night in Beijing and take “D” or “G” train the next morning.
2015, the Federal Territory day fell on Sunday therefore Monday was a public holiday. Thaipusam holiday fell on Tuesday. I took my annual leave for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. That enables me to take the whole week off.
I booked a flight KUL-DLC for 01-Feb and return on 06-Feb with Xiamen Airlines (Kuala Lumpur International Airport - Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport). The flight fare with return flight tickets, inclusive tax, and the total flight fare was RM1459.
Subsequently, I sent an e-mail to Xiamen Air to request Halal food for going and return flights, the e-mail address < kul@xiamenair.com.cn > and I followed-up with phone call tel : +6-03-211668222 to confirm this request. Although they can send the flight itinerary by e-mail to me, anyway I just went to Xiamen Air office in Plaza OSK located beside Ampang Park Shopping Complex to collect the flight itinerary print-out. The flight itinerary and a passport photo were needed for travel visa preparation. Chinese Visa Application Service Centre in Kuala Lumpur is located on the 5th floor of Hampshire Place Office, Jalan Mayang Sari. I downloaded the application form from the internet and filled it up and then went to Visa Application office. Tourist Visa to go to China, the regular applications (4th working days collection) service fee was RM85.
DAY 1, Sunday , 01-February 2015
I'M OFF TO KLIA AIRPORT
My family and I left the house quite early about 4 am to take into consideration if there are things that might delay the travel from home to airport. Everything went smoothly, travel by own car to airport. Once arrived at airport the kids were still sleepy and rested the waiting area near the check-in counter on level 5 of the airport building. It was about 5 something o’clock in the morning that we decided to take breakfast in a McD located on the same level. It’s opened 24 hours. We finished breakfast close to 6 o’clock to go back to check-in counter. There about 20 people already queued up in front of the counter. I didn’t check-in the bags since I only got with me two small bags. We hurriedly went to Anjung Tinjau where the prayer room was located, still had time for Fajr (Subuh). My family sent me off.
I got on board the plane Xiamen Airlines MF832 departure Kuala Lumpur Airport 8:45 am with 1 stop in Xiamen.
FLIGHT TRANSIT IN XIAMEN GAOQI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
After 4 hours long flight from KLIA to Xiamen and we need to get off the plane for immigration. The passengers destined for Xiamen got off. Keep the other half of the migration card in the passport since it had to hand it in when leaving the country. : . There were some new passengers got on-board, we then re-boarded the same plane but the flight crew members were different this time round.
Mostly the passengers on the plane were from People's Republic of China, some Malaysian Chinese and I was the only Malay person. In the plane I was served with halal food as I had requested at about the same time I bought the on-line tickets. There Qingzhen writing (halal) on food box. For the rest of the passengers I was not sure, perhaps no "halal" label on the food box. Anyway, they don't serve pork.
ARRIVED IN DALIAN, CHINA (DALIAN ZHOUSHUIZI AIRPORT)
The flight arrived in Dalian Zhoushuizi Airport at 4:45 pm. Harbin was still 921km distance away from Dalian. From Dalian Airport I planned to take Bus 908 to Dalian North Train Station.
I tried asking people there for the bus stop but nobody seemed to know. Only this Chinese guy of that replied to me in English knowing I was a foreigner. He said better take a taxi and he hold a taxi for me. I thanked him and got on the taxi. It was difficult to get a bus therefore from Dalian Airport, I took a taxi to go to Dalian North Train Station. I think it was because the bus service in that area in Dalian was not frequent. The traffic was very congested that it took about 40 minutes for the taxi to arrive in Dalian North Railway Station. The taxi fare 35元.
Distance from Dalian airport to north railway is 19 km and the taxi fare CNY ¥ 30 to 35. Estimated Travel Time by taxi was twenty five minutes + more time if got trapped in traffic congestion. Nighttime fare will be subjected to additional charges.
There are four railway stations in Dalian for different destinations. Therefore, make sure you're at the right station. The station, make sure you are in the correct entrance as signage mostly in Mandarin. Don’t worry, we can always ask the people around there.
I took Train D1327 (6.25 pm Dalian North Railway Station - 22:33 pm Harbin West) Second Class Seat. The travelling time 5h 26min). This was the last D train of the day going to Harbin. I also bought in advance the train ticket to return on 6-Feb. Need to show passport to the Shoupiaoyuan to buy the ticket. Ticket fare for roundtrip was 567元.
Initially, I planned to take “G” Zidan Huoche (Bullet Train) to get to Harbin Xi Zhan (Harbin West Train Station) however, I was disappointed since I want to take Train "G" Dalian-Harbin but the actual fact it was not offered, not sure why, therefore I bought "D" train ticket to Harbin).
D1327 from Dalian Bei (大连北) and will be reaching Harbin Xi (哈尔滨西) on the 8th train stop.
In case, if I missed this train then, I have to take a taxi to go to Dalian Train Station to take “T” Train at 8.20 pm and will arrive in Harbin the next day. Touch wood! Nau'zubillahi min zalik, “We seek refuge in Allah from any calamity that may befall on us” - Thank God everything was okay.
HIGH SPEED TRAIN RIDE FROM DALIAN BEI HUOCHE ZHAN (DALIAN NORTH RAILWAY STATION) TO HARBIN XI (WEST HARBIN)
Earlier we were at the train station in Dalian Bei Huoche Zhan or Dalian North Railway Station. At 5.30 am we already at the station because we do not want to miss. We sat and waited, soon after we were called to enter the train coach. Exactly at 7.00 am High Speed Rail left Dalian. We climbed on the 2 class coach. It was very comfortable. In this second class each row has 2 seats together. The train condition was very clean. There was always a Qingjie gong to clean the floor. Clean toilets as well!
Coach Second Class High Speed Rail I was riding to Harbin. At first High Speed Rail is moving at a speed 35km / h, then increased to 90km / h and finally increased to 193km / h. The temperature inside and outside the train is also displayed on the screen. Outside temperature progressively decreased from -4° C down to -20° C. As the temperature in the trains can be controlled, then it is set at 24° C.
I sat in a chair by the window 6A. Arrived at Harbin at 11.37 pm and the temperature was -10° C
High Speed Rail is delivered on an expected time at 3.00pm and no delays, it makes me wonder. We are very pleased to have reached the destination. The event was capture by taking photos to symbolize joy and the astonishment in seeing the advanced infrastructure as compared to the train system we have back in our own country.
ARRIVED AT HARBIN (HARBIN WEST TRAIN STATION)
Finally we set foot in Harbin close to mid-night of 1st February. The cold and foggy atmosphere when I reached Harbin. Harbin greeted us with snow on slippery and icy roads temperature -10° C. I followed the crowd to the exit. Outside there are plenty of taxis waiting for passengers willing. I boarded a taxi and asked the driver to send us to the hotel. Harbin, a dynamic city full of history and charm. Yet even more exciting is that there are Russian heritage in this city. Our arrival in Dalian at midnight on February 1st, 2015 cold. the snow blanketed Harbin seems greet us! Everyone was very happy but cold weather is not that friendly. I took a chance serenity The next planned destination - winter hiking snowy to Harbin, a dream destination since the first time to set foot in China again. The most ideal Harbin visited in winter to enjoy Snow and Ice Festival.
Arrived at the Harbin Xi after a tiring 5 half hours travel, without expecting much in terms of the coldness that was about to dawn upon me. I struggled to carry the luggage across a frozen iced floor, to the parking lot where the bus was waiting for us.
Expect to arrive in Harbin West Train Station quite late at night and on the day need to return to The Train Station it will be very early in the morning and difficult to take public transport outside its normal operation hours to get to Hotel from Train Station and vice-versa.
The Train was comfortable and clean. And luckily the passengers were fine, and orderly.
Harbin is the capital and the largest city in the Heilongjiang Province, northeast China, thus the city which has a population the tenth placing for most populous in China. Harbin known as the "City of Ice" because the cold winters piercing to the bone. The city is also famous by carving ice is so beautiful and Russian heritage, as well as role in China-Russia trade even until now.
CHECKED-IN AT PANDORA APARTMENT – NANGANG HAXI WANDA SOHO GONGYU (哈尔滨潘朵拉公寓 南岗区哈西万达广场)
Not long after arrival in Harbin Xi Train Station I exited the train station and looked for an apartment (hotel) located on Zhongxing Dadao (中兴大道), situated near the train station and convenient to be accessed by walking. From Harbin West Railway Station, so near, I can reach the hotel on foot in no time.
I checked-in at Haxi Wanda Guangchang SOHO Apartment Block B (哈西万达广场SOHO 公寓B座), This building is also known as Haxi Wanda Mingdian Gongyu(哈西万达名典公寓). The bank of China (China Citic bank) was located on the ground floor. The exact location of this apartment was beside the junction of Zhongxing Dadao and Hexie Dadao. Wanda Plaza Shopping Complex (哈西万达) was just a few steps away from the apartment, go across Hexie Dadao Street (和谐大道) and I can get the groceries and other necessities from Wanda Plaza, very convenient.
The hotel (accommodation) was Pandora Apartment. On booking.com booking print-out showed security deposit 200元 upon arrival, but I paid 700元 deposit for 5 nights for a Deluxe Double Room – the actual charges was 640元 inclusive taxes and they will return 60元 during check-out. The room has 1 king size bed, heater, wifi (panduola – please ask the password from the person at the reception), television (flat screen), electric jug, slippers, and a bathroom with shower, washing sink and toilet.
The room was comfortable. The heater worked well so as everything else such as bathroom etc. After check-in and leaving the luggage in the room, I went out for dinner at the kosher restaurant. Merchants restaurant is a family, they are very friendly with us and we are happy to receive there.
Harbin temperatures from 1-Feb to 6-Feb, 2015. The highest temperature during my stay was on 2-Feb at 6 pm that was -3 degrees Celcius.
| ______ | ______________ | ______________ | ______________ | ______________ | ______________ | ______________ |
| . | Sunday, 1-Feb | Monday, 2-Feb | Tuesday, 3-Feb | Wednesday, 4-Feb | Thursday, 5-Feb | Friday, 6-Feb |
| 6 am | Lo:-23, Hi:-22 | Lo:-20, Hi:-19 | Lo:-21, Hi:-18 | Lo:-17, Hi:-16 | Lo:-20, Hi:-18 | Lo:-11, Hi:-9 |
| 12 pm | Lo:-20, Hi:-8 | Lo:-18, Hi:-17 | Lo:-19, Hi:-11 | Lo:-16, Hi:-9 | Lo:-18, Hi:-11 | Lo:-10, Hi:-6 |
| 6 pm | Lo:-8, Hi:-6 | Lo:-8, Hi:-3 | Lo:-10, Hi:-5 | Lo:-9, Hi:-5 | Lo:-9, Hi:-7 | Lo:-5, Hi:-4 |
| 12 am | Lo:-18, Hi:-10 | Lo:-15, Hi:-14 | Lo:-16, Hi:-14 | Lo:-16, Hi:-13 | Lo:-9, Hi:-9 | Lo:-9, Hi:-7 |
DAY 2, 02-February-2015
The first morning in Harbin – I so tired and quite reluctant to leave the comfort and warmth of the blankets. First thing first, have to get up and perform Solat.
Looking through the window, looks down to see the snow was endless. The temperature was -18° C. The plan was to fill the stomach, shopping for shoes and find souvenirs while sightseeing.
ON COURSE TOWARDS DAOWAI MOSQUE
It was 6 am that I left the Hotel and headed for Zhongxing Dadao (Haxi Wanda Guangchang) take bus 120 to go to Arab Square (Alabo Guangchang) located on Shisidao Street. There the Daowai Mosque was located. Around the mosque there are places where I can buy food.
The bus fare was 1元 flat rate, regardless of distance. There was a box next to the driver where you put money in it.
Harbin is a busy city, crowded with people and lots of traffic on the road and regular traffic noise cars honking etc. We will wonder how things work the way it work here. I have to be as open minded as possible and will enjoy much more during my stay here.
So that morning, I made my move for Daowai Mosque. The mosque is located in the district Daowai, on Shisidao Street, Harbin. I relied on the bus announcement - Voice Annunciation System that called-out the name of the bus stop it arrived and also called-out the name of next bus stop. The journey by bus went on and finally I could see the minarets on left side of the bus and got off the bus. It took around forty minutes to get here from the hotel.
Elderly people playing "Bing Ga" 打冰尜 (also being called "Bīng Tuóluó" 冰陀螺) at public square near to Daowai Mosque. There was load cracking noise sound similar to noise made by firework. They crack the whip to make "Bing Ga" spin on the ground, and continue to beat to make it rotate.
HAHUI QINGXIANG CUN CAKE HOUSE AND BAKERY SHOP (哈回•清香村糕点面包坊HAHUI QINGXIANG CUN GAODIAN MIANBAOFANG)
This bakery is located 180, South Shi'erdao Street, Daowai, Harbin. Harbin 's daowai district. Buns with sausage, buns with tuna and I personally think meat they serve was quite good, the coffee was good.
Buy Bread, Cakes and Biscuits Halal. Before returning to the hotel we had stopped at a bakery here. The business owner was a man Huizu was very friendly and gave us eat some biscuits. It is nice that we can find an assortment of biscuits that many dietary China. This cake Bakery, bread and biscuits halal
Masjid Daowai was located at the roadside. We were fascinated. It is very large and is built over a wide area. Construction is also interesting because of evident characteristics of Islamic architecture with a mix of architectural China and Russia.
Front gate of Daowai Masjid. The main prayer hall in front of him. After looking through a fence, we enter into the gates of the mosque door in the back fence. We are looking for women's prayer hall. We see some people walking towards the Islam of the smaller buildings in the area of the mosque. She wished to go to see the small building that is the person. But Amy found out that they were all paying his respects there.
After inquiring, there are several people told us to go to the main prayer hall for prayers. The main prayer hall was located in the middle of the mosque and right in front of the front gate. We peered into the main prayer hall. No one in the main prayer hall.
We unable to ablution, then asked where ablutions to some passers-by outside the main prayer hall. They point towards a building adjacent to the main prayer hall. We went into the hall. We noticed there were stairs leading to the upper room. That's where women pray. The board was no one there. We are looking for a place to take ablution in it but not see-bye. In this building, we found that many of the rooms surrounded by a curtain. We flick through the veil and find it cluttered with stuff. So we expect that took place ablution was closed because of being renovated.
Then we went out to find a place of ablution, but all rooms taking ablution in the mosque was closed and locked. People who had been present at the mosque paying his respects also gone. Only two of us stayed in the mosque. Because we do not see a place to take ablution and we intend locked room will pray plural in the hotel room alone.
Masjid Daowai follow back fence. Daowai from the corner near the mosque. The mosque was built in 1935.
The main prayer hall. Next to the mosque there are shops Qingzhen (halal). Mostly there are butcher meat shops and eateries. Across the street there is also the kosher bakery. So here we can conclude that many Muslims live in this area and Islam spread throughout China.
Islamic business district. Halal shops adjacent to the mosque Daowai. Upon check-in we asked about halal restaurants there. At first we were very worried because according to my Chinese friends, I will be difficult to find halal restaurants in Harbin, as compared to Beijing. I also have to bring along my own food like Gogood Muesli Bar and bread for our supplies. But Alhamdulillah the people at the bakery told us that halal restaurant located in the left lane only hotel.
LAO ZHEN XING GUAN RESTAURANT
Lao Zhen Xing Guan (老镇兴馆) located 148, South Shi'erdao Street, Daowai - 道外区 南十二道街148号(近清真寺)
When you have found a mosque, buy bread we returned to the hotel .
I had Chinese Meat Pie (馅饼Xian Bing) and Mutton Soup (羊汤 Yang Tang).
We see Muslims he happily told us that he also Muslims (Huizu people). We are very happy to have the Islam. So maybe he's going to send us because we see that Islam and he also Muslims.
On that day we can gain new experience about Islam, the food, the warmth between Muslims and the public transport system in Harbin.
You will be stunned when you see this from afar and walking towards it. I was met with a guide for the Harbin tour. I had no idea they also paid for the guide but it was a welcome surprise (or is it?). We reorganized the tour a bit because it was Sunday and there are flea market along the roads around the Daowai Mosque, somewhere along Yumin Street so we decided to go there first.
It displayed Qingzhen (halal) in front restaurants near Hotel in Harbin. Kalimah toyyibah in halal restaurants in Harbin.
Egg fried rice as our first dinner in Harbin. During the walk leading to the earlier halal restaurants, very slippery road conditions because the snow had frozen and become ice. Boot shoes that I bought in Beijing does not seem suitable to be worn in Harbin.
The temperature that night was very cold: -30 ° C. We then dabble runs adjacent to our hotel. We went to see the ice sculptures carved and displayed on roadsides and parks. Very beautiful because it is ice blocks were carved with diligence, transparent and illuminated with colorful lights.
MAKEWEI SHOES CITY (SHOPPING COMPLEX)
After breakfast I went to the shoe store and see the appropriate boot shoes to wear. Makewei Shoes City (玛克威鞋城 Makewei Xie Cheng) located at 178 Jingyu Street, Daowai district.
Grocers there-friendly. They were happy to see us. They turn our pants legs and saw that we still wear less layers of thermal underwear. They advise us to wear more layers of thermal underwear while flipping through them and show that they themselves wearing 3 layers.
I immediately bought a pair of boots that have a strong grip and sputter and in it there is wool that can withstand my legs from the cold. Boot shoes priced at 150 yuan. After wearing it, I think it's comfortable and I can walk without worry of slipping on snow and ice on the roads.
Besides the streets parallel to the River, is more famous Jingyu Street. On both sides of the street there is relatively full Baroque style buildings fell, after centuries of wind and rain, getting old, and fortunately some of the old buildings to protect members of the public campaigning, some of which are protected. Jing Yu Street South at the intersection of two streets, and Chinese Baroque street of the new building, as well as newly remodeled Beijing dashilan, but, as a tourists to visit than to those new antique building is much more true in the abstract.
Outside the road, daowai district is in fact part of the mainly extends along the Jing Yu Jie opened jingyu 20 Street between first street, daowai district.
After exploring the area of influence of Russia's leaving me and intends to track a mosque and lunch there.
In my last entry I see thermometer showing -18° C at 11:15 am in Harbin. But to your knowledge that the temperature just a little. 1 pm when the temperature dropped to -20 ° C, then progressively decreased to -22° C, -24° C, -26° C as the day progresses afternoon and fell sharply to -30° C at night.
Monday 10 am - Travel from Alabo Guangchang to Gongcheng Daxue Subway Station take Bus 202 ... or ... from Alabo Guangchang to Huàshùjiē Zhàn Subway Station take Bus 120.
Monday 10.30 am - Take subway to get to Hadong Zhan - East Train Station.
Monday 11 am - Yuding mingtian zaoshang de huoche piao qu Nan Yabuli Zhan - Buy train ticket at East Train Station. Train ticket for tomorrow journey to South Yabuli Train Station.
Monday 3.15 pm - From Tieluju Zhan Subway Station walk to Guozhan Zhengda Gouwu Guangchang.
I read from one of the travel blogs that the writer stayed in a Hotel in Harbin, this hotel offered a package trip to the ice and snow festival. It would be something like 300元 entrance ticket to the Ice & Snow World including transport. She with some other visitors left the hotel at 5.30 pm, arrived at the festival location in about 25 minutes. The hotel provided transportation and will fetch them back to the hotel in two hours. The first instance, she thought that the two hours given perhaps would be enough in view of the cold she needed to endure. But once she arrived there, only then she knew it the festival area was quite large and two hours’ time flew quite fast. She also wrote about the difficulty in getting a transportation to get to there, but in fact she was unfamiliar with the bus system in Harbin. The actual fact was that the transportation was quite convenient and efficient, there were so many buses travelled along Songbei Main Street (Songbei Dadao) and don’t need to wait long to get a bus to get to Fanghong Jinian Ta or to locations near Harbin Train Station.
Monday 3.30 pm - From Guozhan Zhengda Gouwu Guangchang 国战争大购物广场 to get to Bingxue Da Shijie take Bus 119.
Sheng Bolan Zhongxin Bus Stop, (From Harbin West Railway Station take Bus 10, Bus 11 or Bus 120) - Guózhǎn Zhèngdà Gòuwù Guǎngchǎng 国展正大购物广场 is located here. Also quite near to Tieluju Subway Station, can use subway station exit 3
Take Bus 119 Guozhan Zhengda Gouwu Guangchang 国展正大购物广场 at Xidazhi Street (Sheng Bolan Zhongxin Bus Stop) to go to Bingxue Da Shijie 冰雪大世界 at Songbei Dadao Avenue.
Guozhan Zhengda Gouwu Guangchang (Carrefour on Xidazhi Street)
The cold was extreme. It was so cold to the extent that it no longer felt cold. It felt more like pain to us. Pain when the wind blew on our faces. Pain when we had to walk to ice. It was so cold to the extent that our toes and feet become numb from constantly walking on ice. I couldn't feel my feet and had to constantly check that my toes were still intact.
The Snow sculptures were beautiful and huge. Taking pictures of it was a bit difficult part due to the numbed feet and fingers. But frankly it was really fun!
In all, I enjoyed the trip despite the numbed feet and fingers. As Harbin is not a famous tourism spot in China due to its extreme cold.
That evening we prepare for greater challenges, namely the Ice and Snow World, with a temperature of -30° C at night. Why should we go at night? Would not it be cool night? Ice and Snow World is more beautiful at night because the lights were lit multicolored sparkly refract light through the transparent ice and brighten the garden.
Continue along my with surprise after surprise in Ice and Snow World in extreme cold temperatures .
Ice and Snow World, Like Life in World of Fantasy. In Harbin (Harbin) The full moon is jealous of the Solar. At 4.15pm they had Sang Suria quickly enter into a contest and immediately take over the full moon in the sky.
I got ready to wear thick clothes even added another layer of clothing we compared this afternoon, as we were going through a very cold night in our lifetime: -30°C.
To prevent attacks from "snow / frost bite", thermal inside, socks, gloves, scarves and jackets worn layered body that feels too heavy and neck not able to turn to the left and right. So felt like a robot. For supplies and durability in extreme cold temperatures Warm pad can withstand the heat for 4 hours. So I do not worry so much that the feet and fingers numb and I will freeze. Another way to not want to bear the risk of "snow / frost bite".
HARBIN GRAND WORLD OF ICE AND SNOW, ALSO KNOWN AS BINGXUE BIG WORLD
Harbin Grand World of Ice and Snow is located on west part of the Sun Island, Songbei District. When I arrived at this Ice and Snow World location, there are too many people. Quite long to buy tickets. But thank God, tickets already purchased for us by our van driver assistant and he took us in directly, without having to queue. They have done this work for years apparently. So they already have the networking contact for assistance. It has saved us time and we did not have to queue for long and miserable cold.
Entrance Ice and Snow World is decorated colorful lights. In Ice and Snow World was captivated by the beauty of our ice sculptures made of stone buildings as tall and big. Lights adorn the building and its scan dazzling and brighten the night was dark and cold.
Picture satisfied, they are big and small sliding, concert and café, so cafe drinking coffee . I then pinched my cheek. "Ouch!" Nature apparently my fantasy. I made movement of my fingers. Oh still moving. But feel like going to freeze again. Because of my fingers almost froze, I went into the service center there.
Outside the Ice and Snow World. Once satisfied fantasize in Ice and Snow World. Thank God, we are all well and sleep well at night cold. Tomorrow we will travel to see an attractive destination in Harbin. Because Harbin is bordered by Russia, then he received a strong influence of Russia. We will see Russian's influence.
DAY 3, Tuesday, 03-February-2015
Tuesday 6 am – I waited at Zhongxing Dadao Bus stop for either Bus 120 or 31, it didn’t take long until Bus 31 arrived and got on the bus to go to the nearest Subway Station. Actually I missed a few stops because it was still dark, I was unfamiliar with the bus route and the bus announcement (Voice Annunciation System) that tells the station the voice system was rather faint and vague - I could not hear it clearly, therefore not certain whether should I get off or stay on the bus. When I heard clearly that the bus was arriving at Hexinglu bus stop, only then I got prepared to get off the bus.
I walked to Hexinglu subway station and waited in front on the subway entrance until it actually opened at 6.05 am. Bought the ticket from a vending machine at the station.
Tuesday 6.15 am - From Guozhan Zhengda Gouwu Guangchang walk to Tieluju Zhan Subway Station.
Tuesday 6.30 am - From Tieluju Zhan Subway Station to Hadong Zhan. The ticket entrance of exit - East Train Station by the subway service. Ticket 37.5元
TAKING TRAIN K7047 AT HAERBIN DONG TRAIN STATION (哈尔滨东)
Today I am going to Yabuli Nan (亚布力南), therefore I need to get on a train at Harbin East Train Station.
There are three or four entrances are always crowded with passenger at Harbin East Train Station. We had no rhythm because the term 'queue' here. Everyone will try to be in front. Protect your bag from pickpocket who always taking a chance in the bustle of people many. Upon completion of the inspection of bags, we went into the hall waiting for the large. There were no announcements in English, but numbers trains, waiting rooms and platforms appear on electronic display signboard in middle station to wait 30 minutes before departure.
The train had seated coaches and bunk beds cabins. The coach was at once then had to walk quite a distance. If you are a traveler on a budget, such as we can choose a soft seat. I just look out the window and view of God's creation. Train travel smoothly through the forest and small town shrouded in thick snow. Unusually beautiful scenery it certainly made us really appreciate the greatness of God's creation.
Through glass windows and looked down and saw snow. The temperature had dropped to the level -34 °C. Not wanting to repeat the "suffering" due to the cold extreme suffered earlier in the day, we decided shopping for shoes, warm shoes and souvenirs while sightseeing.
The views from the wide glass window presents the image of a quiet rural atmosphere. The image is colored gray, the trees are bare, brick houses solidly hold the wind has eroded all the leaves. An average house brick high fenced to withstand the wind. The remaining snow is still visible here and there. The grass had been yellowed all barren atmosphere in winter.
After three hours, we arrived at the resort and were given two hours to skiing, including the hiring and use of playground equipment ski. Definitely two hours actually too short. For me that often travel across Asia and Europe, given time and the charges are unreasonable. But that was the nature of trade.
Tuesday 7.15 am - From Harbin East Train Station to get on train K7047 to get to South Yabuli Train Station.
Tuesday 10.31 am – I arrived at South Yabuli Station.
YABULI SKI RESORT (亚布力滑雪场YABULI HUAXUE CHANG)
Yabuli ski resort was divided into competition skiing area and visitors’ area. The competition ski area had better facilities, meanwhile, the visitors and junior skier had basic facilities.
THE SKIING CHARGES
Junior ski
Weekday tickets: 50 Yuan/person/2 hours, 100 Yuan/half day/person, 180 yuan/day/person
Weekend: 60 Yuan/person/2 hours and 120 Yuan/half day/person, 200 Yuan/day/person
Festival ticket: 70 Yuan/person/2 hours and 120 Yuan/half day/person, 210 Yuan/day/person
Intermediate skiing
Weekday tickets: 100 yuan/person/2 hours, 180 yuan/half day/person, 240 Yuan/day/person
Weekend: 110 Yuan/person/2 hours, 230 yuan/half day/person, 280 Yuan/day/person
Festival tickets: 130 Yuan/person/2 hours, 280 Yuan/half day/person, 320 Yuan/day/person
Alpine skiing
Weekday tickets: 140/person/2 hours, 240 Yuan/half day/person, 300 yuan/day/person
Weekend ticket: 160 RMB/person/2 hours, 280 Yuan/half day/person, 370 Yuan/day/person
Festival tickets: 220 Yuan/person/2 hours, 320 Yuan/half day/person, 420/day/person
Tuesday 10.35 am - walk to the ski resort located west of South Yabuli Train Station. 10 minutes walk.
5 Ski resorts located at Yabuli: 1. Yawangsi Ski Resort 雅旺斯亚布力滑雪场 (Yǎwàngsī Yàbùlì Huáxuě Chǎng), 2. Xinhao Ski Resort 新濠滑雪场 (Xīnháo Huáxuě Chǎng), 3. Hero Ridge Ski Resort 亚布力好汉岭滑雪场 (Yàbùlì Hǎohàn Lǐng Huáxuě Chǎng), 4. Xin Tiwei Ski Resort 亚布力新体委滑雪场 Yàbùlì Xīn Tǐwěi Huáxuě Chǎng and 5. Qingshan Ski Resort 亚布力滑雪度假区青山村 (Yàbùlì Huáxuě Dùjià Qū Qīngshān Cūn)
Take a bus from Yabuli South train station to reach Yabuli Ski Resort, the bus fare is 5 yuan. 亚布力南站即亚布力滑雪场站,出站乘巴士进滑雪场,车费5元.Yàbùlì nán zhàn jí yàbùlì huáxuě chǎng zhàn, chū zhàn chéng bāshì jìn huáxuě chǎng, chē fèi 5 yuán.
Yabuli Ski Resort (亚布力滑雪旅游度假区Yàbùlì Huáxuě Llǚyóu Dùjià qū)
Xinhao Yabuli Sunshine Resort (formerly Yabuli Windmill Hill) 新濠亚布力阳光度假村（原亚布力风车山庄） Xīnháo Yàbùlì Yángguāng Dùjiàcūn (yuán yàbùlì fēngchē shānzhuāng)
Harbin Windmill Hill (now renamed as Xinhao Yabuli Sunshine Resort) is the Yabuli Ski Resort Area 哈尔滨风车山庄（目前已经更名为新濠亚布力阳光度假村）是亚布力滑雪场的休闲度假区 Hā'ěrbīn Fēngchē Shānzhuāng (mùqián yǐjīng gēngmíng wèi Xīnháo Yàbùlì Yángguāng Dùjiàcūn) shì Yàbùlì Huáxuě Chǎng de xiūxián dùjià qū
Beginner 初学者 chū xué zhě
Bus Drop Off 巴士停靠站 Bāshì Tíngkào Zhàn
Ski Resort Schematic 雪场示意图 Xuě chǎng shìyìtú
Yabuli Sun Ski Resort (Yabuli Yangguang Dujiacun Huaxue): Charges (including ski rental space fee and cable car fees) is 260元 for 2 hours (2小时 - liǎng xiǎoshí).
Hero Ridge Ski Resort: Charges includes ski rental fees, site fees and cableway fee is 120元 for 2 hours (2小时 - liǎng xiǎoshí).
HEILONGJIANG SENGONG SKIING TRAINING SCHOOL
Walked along Jinpai Ave(金牌大道Jinpai Dadao) Heilongjiang Sengong Skiing Training School (黑龙江省森工系统导滑员培训基地Heilongjiangsheng Sengong Xitong Daohuayuan Peixun Jidi).
Actually I was looking to go to Sun Mountain Ski Resort (亚布力阳光度假村滑雪Yabuli Yangguang Dujiacun Huaxue), however, need to get a transport to get there. I just preferred to walk to a nearby ski school instead.
Heilongjiang province Sengong guide system skiing training base is located in Yabuli Resort Area of from Harbin city 195 km, winter mountain snow depth for 30-50 cm, mountain top will have thick snow up 1 meter around. Annual snow period of 170 days, from mid-November to early April of each year is the best skier here, nearly 150 days with snow , it has become the first choice of ski tourism, is developing in our country the best place to ski and ski tourism.
TO YABULI TOWN TO HEAD BACK TO HARBIN CITY
I was just wanted to explore this area if I could walk from Nan Yabuli Train Station to a nearby resort, however I could only find the ski training school. If want to go skiing it would be next time since in case anything happen to me I will be really in trouble since I am alone if any mishaps happen during skiing than I will create unnecessary risk to this trip. I feel satisfied taking photos of skiing activities at Sengong Ski School.
I waited for a bus and waved for bus that run along Jinpai Main Street heading east direction and it stopped means that it was on its way to Yabuli Town. The bus fare was 5元 and reach Yabuli town in about 20 minutes. It dropped me off along Suiman Highway (绥满公路) close to Yabuli railway station, actually need to walk about 5 minutes to get to Yabuli Train Station. Bus service available in front of the railway station but the last bus was 12.20 o’clock noon; if I only came sooner I could take the bus ride. My initial plan was to take a bus from Yabuli Town (亚布力镇) to return to Harbin Heilongjiang Longyun Bus Terminal Services Company (黑龙江龙运客运站务有限责任公司), a bus terminal located near to Harbin Train Station in Harbin City Centre.
Bus from Yabuli bound for Harbin, five trips daily: departure time 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00 and 12:20 . 亚布力开往哈尔滨的巴士每天五班，分别为6:00、7:00、 8:00、 9:00 和 12:20发车。Yàbùlì kāi wǎng hā'ěrbīn de bāshì měitiān wǔ bān, fēnbié wèi 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00 Hé 12:20 Fāchē.
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| Tianzhu Hotel 天竹宾馆 ( Longyun Bus Station ) |
( PS. Tianzhu hotel is located at the intersection of Haiguan Street and Songhuajiang Street )
Why I didn’t just take a train from South Yabuli Station, It was because Train K7048 only departs at 5.12 pm will arrive in Harbin East at 8.30 pm, think about time I’ve lost waiting for this train and that not yet mentioning the opportunity to explore a different method to return to Harbin Town. I had missed my chance to get on a bus from Yabuli Town to Harbin; instead I took a train from Yabuli Train Station located on Yongshun Road (永顺路) in Yabuli Town. Got on Train K7226 ticket price 18.50元 departed at 1.47 pm and reached Harbin East train Station at 5.17 pm on the 7th stop.
Travelling from Yabuli to Harbin was tiring but rewarding at the same time. The journey takes 3 half hours of train ride. I fell asleep on the train most of the time, but when i open my eyes to this view, the backaches and all was worth it.
Hadongzhan Subway Station located a few step away from Harbin East Railway Station (哈尔滨东火车站 Harbin Dong Huoche Zhan). I took subway to get to Heilongjiang Daxue Zhan.
Once arrived, I got out from Heilongjiang Daxue Zhan exit 1 and started to walk back to the hotel. I always want to explore this part of Harbin. I bought Baked Sweet Potato for 6元 from a seller by the road side near to this subway exit. Steaming hot and sweet.
I could see a building - Haxi Textile City (哈西家纺城 Haxi Jiafang Cheng) located along Zhongxing Avenue close to a junction Zhongxing Avenue – Xuefu Road. Behind this building where7 Days Inn Harbin Xi Fuzhuang Cheng (Hotel) – (7天连锁酒店 Qitian Liansuo Jiudian) was located. This hotel will be an alternative if I wish to come to Harbin next time round.
WALKING BACK TO HOTEL FROM HEILONGJIANG DAXUE SUBWAY STATION
The experience to explore area surrounding Heilongjiang Daxue Subway Station, this was what I have always been looking for in a trip like this, a local touch. Seeing how the locals actually live is the best reward I could ever get and such a memorable experience to walk along Zhongxing Main Street to see the frozen river along the way.
I walked by myself, will arrive at the hotel within half an hour walk. Once I arrived at the hotel it was around 7 pm, washed up and performed the prayers.
HAXI WANDA PLAZA
I explored Wanda Plaza and found many things such as winter clothing that not that that expensive. Finally I went to Yonghui Supermarket (永辉超市Yonghui Chaoshi) was located in Wanda Guangchang at the basement level and I bought bread and kinds of food.
I was feeling extremely tired at that point so I decided to rest and ended the day early. Went back to hotel and went to sleep.
DAY 4, Wednesday, 04-February-2015
Having breakfast at Lao Zhen Xing Guan and had soup, Xian Bing and porridge.
TAIPINGQIAO MOSQUE (太平桥清真寺 Tàipíngqiáo Qīngzhēnsì)
This mosque is quite small and attached to other buildings on its left and right, within a row of buildings in a quiet narrow alley.
This Mosque is located in center of Harbin near to Taipingqiao Subway Station on the east of this Station, in an area high density with buildings. Harbin Taipingqiao Mosque is a small building surrounded by old shop houses, kindergarten (艺术幼儿园 Yìshù yòu'éryuán on Tai'an Street) and apartments located tightly close together.
From 靖宇十二道街站jìngyǔ shí'èr dào jiē zhàn took Bus 205
市老年医院站shì lǎonián yīyuàn zhàn
市国税稽查局站 shì guóshuì jīchá jú zhàn
Wednesday 6 am - From Haxi Wanda Guangchang got on Bus 120 to get to Alabo Guangchang.
Fánghóng Jìniàn Tǎ (Yǒuyì Lù) 防洪纪念塔(友谊路) Youyi Lu (Bus 74 take from Yidayiyuan Bus Stop, Jinhe Hotel)
Zhaolin Park. Ice Lantern Garden Party
Wednesday 6.15 am - From Tieluju Zhan Subway Station to get to Hadong Zhan by subway service.
I read from the internet to take Bus 35 from Hadong Zhan station however, when I arrived, there were not many buses coming here and according to one bus driver he told me that Bus 35 didn’t come to this area. I got on Bus 6 and he dropped me off at a bus stop along Dongzhi Road, very near to a junction at Dongzhi Road and Beigongye Tou Dao (北工业头道) and told me to wait there for Bus 35 at that bus stop.
If I knew it I should not have taken Bus 35 from Hadong Subway Station. From Taipingqiao Subway Station, I should just walk across Ershidao Street and waited at Shi Laonian Yiyuan Bus Stop (市老年医院) to take Bus 35 to go to Harbin Siberian Tiger Park (Dongbei Hulin Yuan), instead of waiting for a bus at Hadong Subway Station.
Wednesday 6.30 am - From Hadong Zhan walk to roadside (post note - Bus 35 route had changed, so now please wait for bus 35 at a bus stop on Ershidao Street, across the street of exit 2 Taipingqiao Subway Station).
SIBERIAN TIGER PARK Siberia Tiger Park (东北虎林园 Dōngběi Hǔlínyuán) located at Zhongyuan Dadao
If you travel to China, do not forget to visit Harbin Siberian Tiger. China has a garden of the Siberian Tiger species. Across China, there are many grounds of tigers, one of Harbin. What interesting about Harbin Tiger Park? You want to watch the Tiger pouncing on the animal of prey... and devoured animals alive? Harbin Tiger Park provides it all. There displayed the price list of live animal to feed to the tigers, so we can watch it live action the tiger devour on its prey, that can be considered as sadist, this scene might be graphic and disturbing - might not suitable for viewing by some people. I’ve seen a cow which has been reserved by visitors was brought in by a truck and the cow was released in field. Haa ... Ngaapp! The visitors in the tour bus can view the action live and this event can rarely be seen anywhere in the world, only can be found in Harbin Tiger Park.
Located at the north bank of the Songhua River, the Siberian Tiger Park is the largest natural park for wild Siberian tigers in the world, covering an area of 1.44 million. It was opened to public in 1996, with the aim to save and protect the Siberian Tiger - an endangered species.
Staying inside a bus, protected by wire mesh cage, visitors can see the tigers walking around. If you are brave enough, you can buy live animals to feed to the tigers, including chickens and even cows. The Siberian Tigers were the main attraction, in addition there were white tigers, leopards and several other big cat types can be found in the park.
Recommended visiting hours: 2 hours. Opening time: 9:00—16:00. Siberian Tiger Park was located on Songbei Street, Songjiang District and accessible by public bus 35 to Siberian Tiger Park Station.
Siberian Tiger Park covering an area of 360,000 square kilometers is located in the north bank of Songhua River. It is next to the Sun Island. It is the biggest Siberian Tiger Base to rescue and protect the endangered Siberian tigers. Siberian tigers are the biggest catamounts with average body length of 2.8 meters and tail length of 1 meter. The biggest Siberian tiger weighs 780 kilograms. Walking zone and Viewing Tiger platform.
Wednesday 10 am - From Taipingqiao Zhan to Tieluju Zhan by subway service.
Wednesday 10.15 am - From Tieluju Zhan Subway station walk to Sheng Bolan Zhongxin take Bus 16 to go to Fanghong Jinian Ta at a bus stop along Youyi Street in front of Harbin Dangdai Yishu Guan (当代艺术馆)
Wednesday 11.30 am - From Fanghong Jinian Ta Bus stop walk to Songhuajiang Suodao Station Cable car to get to Taiyang Dao scenic spot.
Wednesday 5.30 pm - From Tieluju to walk to a bus stop on Beijing Street located south of Huayuancun Hotel close to south corner of Guozhan Zhengda Shopping Centre.
Wednesday 5.45 pm - Take bus 16 or 118 to get to Fanghong Jinian Ta.
Wednesday 6 pm - From Fanghong Jinian Ta at Youyi Road to walk to Zhaolin Park.
THE CABLECAR CROSSING OVER SONGHUAJIANG RIVER (松花江索道 SONGHUAJIANG SUODAO)
I got onboard the Cable Car to cross Songhuajiang river Cableway is in the Songhua River 1997 Annual spending huge sums to build and construction of Harbin city, one of the key projects. Cableway connecting South daoli district square at Stalin Park (Tong Jiang Jie 通江街), a strategic location located on the bank of beautiful Songhua, to get across the Songhua River to reach Youyuan Street (游园街) on Sun Island scenic spot. Songhua River cableway will able to see the beautiful landscape on the Songhua River surrounding.
41ST CHINA HARBIN ICE LANTERN ART SHOW IN ZHAOLIN PARK
On the fifth day, we visited the park with ice lanterns entrance fee is 150元per person. We visited the park in the early months of the festival was held. At that time, the park was officially opened yet because many carvings were still not ready. The whole garden was covered with snow and ice frozen, very slippery and cold, but the scenery was beautiful and amazing.
Have you seen dozens of buildings and giant statues built using ice blocks? In fact, there is also ice sculpture with 26 meters high and 117 meters wide. You can watch it interesting carvings in the International Snow Sculpture Festival Harbin which is taking place in the capital of Heilongjiang province, China. Entering its 29th year of organizing, the annual festival was first inaugurated on Jan. 5 and will normally be ended at the end of February according to weather conditions. Also known as the city of Harbin ice because every time winter temperatures can reach below freezing -30 degrees Celsius.
This festival has been held since 1963, prior disrupted several years following the Cultural Revolution in China. But the festival is brought back as an annual event since January 5, 1985.
Festival Harbin International Snow Sculpture Art is one of the world's four largest ice festival in addition to the Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan, Quebec Winter Carnival (Carnaval de Quebec) in Canada and Ski Festival in Norway.
It is fully funded by the Regional Council of Heilongjiang, Harbin Municipal Council, the Council of Tourism Administration Harbin and Agricultural Bank of China.
At least 10,000 skilled workers in the field of ice carving hired to work day and night for two weeks to produce these carvings. All of the labor involved using only basic tools such as shovels, chisels and hoes to form lumps of snow into various stunning works of art.
They used ice blocks of 180,000 square meters and 150,000 square meters of snow, while there were also open excavations of the ice-blocks on the surface Songhua River in Harbin by cutting and transported them to the festival locations as needed to build the ice buildings and statues.
For further highlight the greatness of the landscape and sculpture, the organizers were lighted light emitting diode (LED) in all urban areas, thus creating a beautiful view at night. Although, temperatures around -30 degrees Celsius recorded, but it does not become an obstacle to the visitors to enjoy the greatness of this festival. Over 1 million visitors from home and abroad are expected to flood the city Harbin every year. Besides enjoying an interesting sculpture carving, visitors can also take part in other activities available such as Ice Lantern Garden Party, skiing and theater performances.
I tried to look for a place to have a meal at Shangzhi Hutong, but there wasn't any Qingzhen restaurant on Shangzhi Hutong. I have learned that it would be better to eat at Dahongmei that located in front Friendship Hotel on Youyi Road.
DAY 5, Thursday, 05-February-2015
Tomorrow will be the day I would be taking a train to Dalian to get to an airport in Dalian to return to KL. If I were to visit the places I have already planned then, this will be my final day.
As usual I took Bus 120 to go to Arab Square where I need to walk from the Alabo Guangchang bus stop to the Bakery Shop on Nan Shi'erdao Street to have coffee and buy food. This time I came too early, they were not ready.
From the bakery I walked to Daowai Shi'er Dao Jie Bus Stop (near Arab Square) and got on Bus 79. I got off at Fanghong Jinian Ta Bus Stop and walked to Stalin Park in front of Sun Island
WALK ON RIVER SONGHUAJIANG
Exploring the scenery along the Songhua River very common, but there is a crossing. River water The spacious fully frozen with a thickness of one meter. Temperatures very cool cause our toes and fingers numb and throbbing. After an hour, we walked back to hotel with step crippled due to fatigue and chills. Our stop by for a relaxing dinner and warm spirit that almost froze.
I read from the internet take a taxi from Zhongyang Pedestrian Street to Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo on The Sun Island, taxi fare about 40元. The winged Victory of Samothrace, Discovery (Albert Einstein), The Gift of the Apple and Darwin.
Thursday 7 am – Walked on River. I walked across Songhua River.
Thursday 1 pm noon - From Taiyang Dao scenic spot walk to Harbin Jidiguan ( Polarland )
Thursday 2 pm - Take cable car to return to Youyi Road.
Thursday 2.30 pm - Tour Zhongyang Street and St Sophia cathederal.
From Haicheng Street take bus 112 to go to Long da Harbin Tower.
During the day, visit to some notable attractions of the city including visits to Sun Island (Taiyang dao) International Snow Sculpture, Tour Zhongyang Street and St Sophia Cathederal.
Thursday 12 pm noon - Guozhan Zhengda walk to Jianshe Street and have lunch at Ruyizhai Restaurant on Jianshe Street or Muslim food court on Heguo Street that is near by.
HARBIN SUN ISLAND INTERNATIONAL SNOW SCULPTURE ART EXPO 2015
Sun Island Scenic Area in winter, it is a place attracting visitors from all over the world to see ice vivid sculptures on the islands. Take bus No. 29 to Sun Island Station. At this time, it is the biggest snow theme park in China. Various entertainments about ice and snow will be held.
Recommended visiting hours: 3 hours. Ticket price: 240元. Location: on the north bank of Songhua river (in the west side of Sun Island). The Ice sculptures in here are portrayed international Ice Art. There are the highest, longest, biggest and most famous ice sculptures in here. Outdoor large scale live performance, dancing and singing performance and acrobatic show on stage. Activities including big slide, climb the ice castles, ice mazes will make visitors happily play. At night, when colorful lights open, this world is just like a fairy tale world. People in China say it, "if you have not been to Sun Island, means that you have never been to Harbin."
Tourist information centre (水阁云天Shuige Yuntian)
Harbin is the capital of Heilongjiang province in the far northeast of mainland China, which shares a border with Russia. Harbin is famous for its weather is super cool, here every year Ice and Snow Festival was held in December to January. At times that's the coldest weather, and that's precisely the best time to visit Harbin.
Because it is close to Russia, Harbin has many elements of Russia that became its merchandise products, particularly in the area of downtown's Zhongyang Street and surrounding areas, the architecture still left from the period of Western Renaissance. The atmosphere here is indeed a bit like Europe because of its architecture, plus a super cold weather adds to the feel of sensation… the place where I came from, when it rains all day long, got stuck at home and have nothing else to do… sits on the floor while eating boiled tapioca with roasted salted fish in small plate and dipping it in sambal, this sort of sensation when I was a boy growing up in a small village. People born in other countries may have encountered different feeling of sensation. In fact, the sensation feeling in Harbin was even better than what we have ever felt before.
Since on the train heading for Harbin, even from the Dalian railway station at waiting to Harbin, started to feel a bit different, from the side of its people. Harbin more friendly people and good (compared to our previous visit Beijing City that were a bit stiff), Harbin more friendly, more care for the others. In addition it began also looks caucasian faces, white, high nose, and eyes like a Russian doll.
One of the most frequently asked questions to me about this trip was, how it was minus 20 degrees Celsius.
When the train arrived in Harbin almost people start preparing. Thick-thick jackets that since morning removed now began to wear again. There is made with a layer of thick wool, some of the material is wool, or feather. Various equipment adequate winter protection can be seen here. Thick scarves. Gloves. And not less important is the mask to cover the mouth and nose. In short, there cannot be the slightest opening, leaving only the two eyes to see.
That lyric from a well-known Malaysian Blues Group “Blues Gang” in their song “Apo Nak Dikato”, the lyric goes, “…tengah hari tengah panas..”. The winter here, even at mid-noon the temperature would still be below zero.
The temperature in the train at the time it was minus 24° Celsius. In the room closed and public vehicles in the winter are often given a heating facility to reduce the harshness of life in winter.
Therefore when stepping out of a warm to train outdoors temperature is minus 20° Celsius, it was like stepping into the freezer to freeze meats. My glasses were foggy and directly covering the view. Everyone’s mouth and nose would give-out vapor. It’s really chilly!
Really cold, shouldn't spend too long outdoors. Soon only people running around exit stations (which is still very busy at 23.30) and looked for a taxi. Here have formed long queues and I am grateful that it didn’t long for my turn.
We got in a taxi and interestingly here is we can share a taxi with others that are in line with our destination. So if there's been a passenger in the taxi, we can still intercept, then the driver will ask our destination, if he would be willing to accept direction from us. This way taxi fare is becoming more expensive, and not based on meter. After a few days in Harbin, I observe that this may be caused by a lack of supply of taxis than any that need it, resulting in a solution like this.
We stay not far from the Central Street, is arguably the best area is in Harbin. Just a few minutes already up in the St. Sophia Church are famous. Just walk along the Central Street of fun alone is enough, no need to any more. Here is the center of the crowd, the center of the Association of young children, a place where people watching people. Many stores that are interesting to visit, many events are held. Architecture around the charming, also adorned the trees along the way. At a time when the venue of the Ice and Snow Festival, there are many sculptures made of ice. There is a statue of Marylin Monroe, a miniature living room, sculpture-sculpture in the shape of the writing, and much more. At night more beautiful because there are colorful lights. We can also sit on the chairs of the ice is and will not be wet because the ice doesn't melt at temperatures as cool as this. It reminded me that the ice was solid.
In weather as cool as the most important of these is the complement of our bodies with adequate clothes. Every want to get out of the hotel it was like leaving the war. Make sure all the equipment is complete, let no body parts are open. For example, the nose can be painful when it is not closed. As well as the ears, the lips will always be dry. Use moisturizer lotion since air tend to be dry. I'm also wearing underwear thermal warmed. Plus suits, sweaters, and jackets, the total could reach 5 layers, no wonder we would look fat - many things that were stuffed under the winter jactet made us look like the Michelin man.
At the end of Central Street have Stalin Park which also became one of the tourist attractions. The Park is located on the bank of the famous Songhua River. At the time of our visit to Harbin, the river has dried up completely. Not the slightest mention of water left, that there is only ice and snow remaining, people play ice skating in the area on the River takes the form of another season.
When night comes the eagerly awaited moment came when visiting the Ice and Snow World. The exhibits range from ice and snow carving on a large scale is one of the main attractions of Harbin. Therefore, although it was rather expensive entry tickets for us (300元) would be a shame when we missed it. Already all the way up to Harbin's ... either when it will be back here again.
Ice and Snow World, it turns out that you won’t be disappointed paying 300元 to see colorful beauty in the ice. For those who have never touched snow, here there are many. Unfortunately, it is very unfortunate because during this trip we didn't find it snowed, just got fragments just above the ground.
Ice and Snow World, of its name might be a bit daunting for people who are afraid of the cold. But not to worry, because it turns out here too much room (indoor) is provided so that if it can't stand too long in the pool, can seek out the warmth in a building. Similarly, around the city of Harbin. We usually can't stand too long in the outdoors, the maximum between 1 and 2 hours, we had to enter, into a building, otherwise need to get in a vehicle, a bus or subway coach perhaps. Here the buildings were provided with heating facility, so no need to worry.
Ice sculptures carved in the shape of buildings, archway and vases on display at the roadside in Harbin
After a walk in the cold time in Harbin on our first night there, we've tweaked our body's resistance level at a temperature of -30 ° C. From there we can prepare for the next day. Tomorrow we will visit the Sun Island and Ice and Snow World, which is a concentration of people and that we wanted to go.
So keep on reading my backpacking trip to Harbin and watch a surprise that we experienced while in Ice City extreme cold temperatures of -30°C.
Sun Island Snow Sculpture Cold and Full. The second morning at City Ice Harbin gave new impetus to my backpack travel. This is because the new atmosphere, extreme cold, long nights and short afternoon. The next temperature of about -20°C, -17°C midday and evening temperatures down to -30°C.
After wearing a thick, layered, thick gloved hands, boots with thick soles and a foothold grip. The streets were very slippery and I'm very careful running scared of slipping. Sometimes also slipped and almost fall. This is because I stepped on a floor made of marble. So since then, when walking, I'm always looking down and avoid stepping on the marble floor.
To Sun Island and Challenges. We are going to Sun Island this morning. People say, if you have never been to the Sun Island, it means you really have has never been to Harbin. Sun Island is located in the north of the Songhua River and measures 38 square meters. It is an urban resort in the summer vacation. In winter, snow Sun Island exhibit that has been shaped and carved with great artistry. It is a popular and very popular. Apart from seeing snow sculptures, we can go skiing, on skiing snow and see the beauty of the gardens and mountains there.
Arriving at Sun Island, the cold is felt. Lips and nose feels too cold and dry. I close with fur muffler. Lid and lid child I used two coats, socks 4 layers and two layers of gloves. But my fingers froze. I fear will be exposed to "frost bite" or some call it "frost bite" and that endanger my health. "Snow / frost bite" this can make the blood does not run, nerves froze, fingers off and we can topple. I see gloves and boots sellers for extreme temperatures this business outside the entrance of Sun Island. The boots then buy shoes that are sold there so he does not slip.
The ticket was 240元 for entering the Sun Island. Bridge, snow and frozen river at Sun Island.
My problem is that I wear glasses, so when I wear fur muffler to cover my mouth and nose from becoming hard and dry, air breathed out from the mouth rose up and the moisture obscured my glasses, so I do not see anything. I've tried to wipe a few times, but fog still cover my glasses. So I give up, and do not shut me up again. When my lips taste like cold, then I cover with my gloves, then release again. Foggy on the glasses. But before this I never thought it would be a problem to me.
My problem is another to take pictures because gloves were thick, difficult to even hold the camera. The camera lens was always foggy and always wipe affected. In this extreme cold weather cameras are easy hours, so touched always hidden in his jacket. This was demonstrated when 30 minutes I took the picture without saving it in a jacket, Digital SLR camera I've started to glisten with ice and glazed on the lens and the display screen. I think my SLR camera will not be long life because I take good care less.
Train in Sun Island
Everything Snow
When we had come to the Sun Island, we see many sculptures were carved beautifully. Eyes grew cold stare. Fortunately eyeball got frozen into ice cubes!
Different shapes of snow sculptures there. There are big ones. There are high. There are forms of traditional houses. No form of famous characters. There are also contested. There are also exhibited only.
In Sun Island is also available Service Centre, toilets, souvenir shops, stalls, skiing, dog sledding, ski scooter, mountain and forest. When I feel I'm getting frostbitten hands and worry will be exposed to frost bite then better get into a Service Centre building. There I warm my hands and my fingers with the hand dryer at the toilet area.
When satisfied look beautiful snow sculptures and experience the extreme cold temperatures of exhaustion.
Now we headed out to Daowai Masjid, the biggest mosque in which is located in the proximity of the Old Harbin district. The guide gave me only 15 minutes as he tries to rush through the day. Since it was in the morning, it was quite peaceful. Although, it isn’t as big as I thought but still impressive. This is one of the best place in hands down. Very peaceful with large areas for you to walk around. I wish I had more time here, unfortunately the guide only gave me 15 minutes and he said I might not be able to see every places if I was not on time.
Visit the Ice Snow World, You will stunned when you see this from afar and walking towards it.
Here’s the thing about traveling solo, I can do whatever I want. I just sat on the side enjoying the view of the river and people walking and talking for hours. It was one of the most peaceful moment I had been. A great break from a busy city.
This place is very underwhelming. It looks huge in photos but it actually is a very small building on the side of the road. I didn’t go inside since the next destination excited me more.
There’s something about the design of doors in that really caught my attention. You can almost always find a unique detail of each doors around . So mesmerising.
Approximately 2 hours we spent time in Sun Island Park. Out of the main entrance and continue to Harbin Polarland located opposite the Sun Island.
HARBIN POLARLAND
Harbin Polarland (哈尔滨极地馆Harbin Jidiguan) located near main entrance of Sun Island Snow Sclupture. Central Street (Zhongyang Street), St. Sophia Church.
Harbin Polarland this is the first theme park scenes of polar land in China. Admission is 130Y per pax. The shoupiaoyuan girl at ticket counter was so attractive. She was not a snob for not wanting to speak but she was too shy.
Harbin Polarland ni, we may experience life polar region. Through large glass display for each animal, we can see clearly among the pure penguin family of South Polar. The polar bear brothers and also a seriously large and very active.
Difficult want to take pictures penguin. And this is the polar bear under the brothers; sekor red shy sister sekor active again. Swank brother when many visitors not take pictures of him. Posing cute! Best hugs bring to sleep. I played just a little. Because he was cool! . But was cute. Here there are also wild arctic wolves was first introduced in Asia and like to sleep all day and also arctic fox brothers who love to run on running machine, while the other one was lazy to run. Tried my best tap on glass wake him up. Which is cute right. If only I can hold them.
Show of dolphins in Harbin pole aquarium
Beluga or white whale show in China's Harbin Polar Land
Show playing of sea lions, seals, sea-ox and more animals in China Harbin Polarland
Exciting white whale or beluga show in China Harbin Polar Land Aquarium
Polar bears in Harbin Polarland
Penguin breeding or raising in Harbin Polar Land China
Harbin Polar land is the most professional one of its kind in China.
The Pole Aquarium consists of Fisherman Wharf, Whale Bay, Penguin Island of South Pole, Homeland of North Pole Animals, Arctic of Lapland, Happy Sea Lion Kingdom and some other interesting attractions.
Harbin Pole Aquarium is the first polar land themed park combining animal shows, polar land sights and an interactive experience into one.
Covering an area of 16,000 square meters, located at the famous scenic site—Sun Island in Harbin city, the Harbin Pole Aquarium (also called Harbin Polar land) is one of the four major scenic areas of the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival.
Harbin Polarland Dolphin Show attracts lots of visitors.
And most thrill is polar land animal show that performance presented by walrus. The walrus show didn’t take a long time already and trainers are very friendly to the animal and also tourist. Pool was big. Some of the show here in China and there are also translation in Russian. But our jaws dropped, mouth open wide!
Here also may be seen by White whales show, also called Beluga Whale that has been trained very very well. Show only available at certain times je ie at 1, 3 and 5 pm. So make sure you do not miss out because this is one of the best show in Harbin Polarland.
Why I see how such a dolphin aa? Having a good time watching the feel of the show. Ready tide titanic song! The whale is undescribably cute laa! Cleverly tu. Feeling like hold stroked je. Best when I saw whale trainer ni follow the instruction of the cause, the kind of love is very near their own trainers. Follow je they get her to do anything, ready to hug and kiss-kiss. In addition, there are also glass in the show once large aquarium which houses various species of fish and marine animals such as sharks. And there is also a jellyfish on a glass display in the direction of the exit. Many reviews say when you're here there will be a mix of feelings. I feel sure enough tu review. It was enjoyable to look at the rare polar creatures, but at the same time very sad to see a narrow confined area! While the best performance and very great, but the place is really small je actually. There is such an animal that big. Indeed pity when I saw 2 beluga share a narrow tank. There seems to want to swim freely everywhere. The same with the other animals. How should they exaggerated this place little free space.
Both beluga whales were huge and unspeakable cute.
I am unable to be expressed in words of the show how deep it touched my heart.
The show was affectionate and gave me the feeling of strong emotions.
The Beluga show at Harbin's Polarland
Stunning underwater show with 2 belugas and 2 performers at Polarland, Harbin
Some fantastic animals on show but enclosures were too small. The belugas were stunning and their performance was amazing.
Loved the Baluga whales dancing to the Titanic theme song. The tanks were of course far too small, but that is expected from acquariums.
The polarland park is located on Sun Island near the Snow and Ice exhibition areas. But it is small compared to other larger attractions of the same kind elsewhere.
The main reason for coming here is to see the Beluga show. This 10-minute show is the highlight of the experience of visiting as the cute faces of the intelligent pair of beluga whales perform with their human minders. One thing is to come early to get a good standing position to watch the performance. Don't miss it or else it would be as if you did not come.
There is also a sea lion show, though it was a little less exciting than the Beluga one. For the rest of the aquarium it is informative and similar to others around the world.
the shows are entertaining
There are two shows - a sea lion show which was quite fun (though a bit cheesy) but requiring understanding of Mandarin to follow. The beluga show is clearly the highlight - two divers 'dancing' in the water with two beautiful beluga whales. Really has to be seen to be believed. Amazing. Shows are at set times - so check. I rate 5 stars for the beluga show.
We had an absolutely fantastic day at Harbin Polarland. We got in at around 10am and left at about 12:30. I probably could have lingered even longer. I was really charmed by the presentation of the place, each of the rooms is decorated really nicely, with lots of kitsch and trinkets.
You might see on the website that they have free storage available. We made the mistake of thinking this meant a locker like at the science and technology museum. Actually all they had was a section behind the counter where some people had left suitcases and larger bags. We asked if they could take our hats/scarves etc but they said no. I am glad I didn't take a backpack as this would have been a serious inconvenience to lug around all day. Polarland is set out so that you walk through from room to room. At one point - rushing to catch a show - we were concerned that we might not be able to revisit rooms. Actually do not worry about this, you are free to go back as often as you like. Even once you arrive at the end you can pop right back to the very start (just don't leave the building). There are lots of cute souvenirs available, especially stuffed toys. These are quite expensive though. Surprisingly, you can also buy hot drinks and food from more than one location, too!
We arrived a half an hour early for the beluga whale show and it was already very crowded. No chance of getting a seat - there are only a few and these are really reserved for the children. There is a staircase which was as packed as a metro at peak hour. We stood up near the side and looked in-beween children on shoulders and people holding cameras up into the air. Despite this, I really enjoyed the beluga show. Very talented animals and trainers. The theme is quite weird though - the whales "fall deeply in love" with their trainers, and share "romantic" kisses to the Titanic soundtrack. The show goes for about 10 minutes. I am afraid I do not have any advice on how to make the most of it except maybe find a child to take to the show and sit down with him or her in the stands a good half hour early?
The sea-lion show has loads more seats but it could easily pack out on a busy day. I would go as soon as possible after the whale show and wait to get in and get a seat. Don't worry about missing lunch, actually while you sit in the theatre waiting for it to start staff come in with trays of hot food and icecreams that you can buy and eat there.
A highlight for me was actually the carp. The first room you enter has large tanks of goldfish and huge carp. You can buy a baby bottle of watery fish food for 15 yuan and feed it to the fish! They will come up to you and suck out of the bottle. Loads of fun. You can also buy food for the seals (also 15 yuan) and feed them while they do tricks for you. To be honest the seal enclosure creeped me out a bit and I was worried that the seals looked like they had eye infections. No need to say anymore about polarbears and arctic fox enclosures as other reviewers have mentioned this.
Overall, really great experience. Not a large place but really well presented (albeit with some questionable animal quality of life issues) and lots of talent displayed in the shows. I really recommend it.
Love the beluga show!
The beluga show is one of its kind in the world where there was amazing chemistry between the beluga and their trainers!
The beluga show is - as most people say - outstanding. Come early before viewing time and go to the lower level below the surface! Also stay for a few minutes after the show - the divers sometimes make some extra practice rounds with the whales.
There are some fishes to be seen and penquins, polar bears etc. The big bears, for example, are living in really small gages so many of us my start to feel only sad when seeing them. The best parts are sea lion and beluga shows. Better to be there wel in advance to pick up a good seat for sea lion show and good view (standing) for beluga show. Beluga show can be seen both above and below the surface. Above the surface (upstairs) there is not that much to see especially if you are not in the first row, so better to go downstairs to watch it.
can see everything in 1,5-2h. They have show for sea lion 11.00,13.00 and 15.00 o'clock and beluga whale show 12.00, 14.00 and 16.00 o'clock. The shows are crowded and no chance to get a seat.
Positive:
My favorite was beautiful beluga show, very very god! I also loves the jelly fish light installation. A lot to see there, also good for kids.
Negative:
White wolf and his babies looked very sad: the small cell includes a fake snow landscape made of plastic - can't image that has anything to do with their natural living areas.
Also big ice best was lying depressed in his cell, I did not even want to made a picture of this pure animal.
All in all:
Nice place to see. Just hope all the entrance money would be more used to provide more natural animal cells. PLEASE IMPROVE THAT!
We went to the information centre for tourists, in search for directions to the Polarland, and found out that they were organising local tours intended for locals, offering slightly cheaper tickets and free transport from Central Street to and fro Polarland and the Ice and Snow World. We bought the whole package including Polarland and Ice and Snow World.
One bad thing was that they always had to wait for enough people to start the trip, but once we had enough participants, everything went smoothly.
Polarland is actually not big, but somehow they managed to create multiple floors (slightly like the Kaiyukan in Osaka) to exhibit the animals. Highlights were the Beluga Whales, Polar Bears, Penguins, Seal show etc. You have to get a ticket to watch the seal show, (price included in the ticket), but we ran out of time so we didn't watch it. We did, however, watch the beluga show, which was sweet and they managed to bring a symphony of music and actions!
One sad thing was that the exhibits looked a bit like it was lacking housekeeping at times, and the space for the polar bear did look a bit small for its size... Otherwise, this place isn't a bad attraction, and is especially fun for families with kids!
Amazing!
It's a must see. Observing tigers in their natural environment can be quite exciting. After taking a bus ride the guide take you to same cages when you can feed tigers.
Worth a visit
Polar land is just a few metres from the Snow carving exhibition so can easily combine the visits.
The Beluga whales were great, penguins cute, but the polar bears did seem distressed. The Aquarium is well set up and full of signs in English, and different shows throughout the day.
I'm glad I visited - allow 2 hours at Polar Land (inside & heated), after 3 hours at snow carving exhibition.
it was located opposite to a park. it was in a huge building, with walrus and seal show. , i think the interesting part was the beluga show. and like its name after there was 2 huge polar bear in it.
Nicely laid out aquarium with a good variety of animals and fish. They seemed well cared for as far as we could see. Very large crowds for both he seal and beluga show and if you want a seat make sure to get there well before the show is scheduled to start.
highlight was the show involving beluga whales which was pretty interesting and worthwhile to watch.
belugas puff rings our of their nozzle. They are super cute! small aquarium, but definitely a must see while you are in Harbin
The main attraction of the Polar Land is the Beluga Show. It is beautifully choreographed on the song ' My heart will go on' and the two Belugas dance around like child's play.
It's a cross between a zoo and an aquarium; and that makes it unique in its own way.
As it's already well-described by many, I shall offer some tips if you love to see/photograph artic animals like polar bears, snow wolves, snow foxes....and the lovely and ever-active belugas - watch out for them at their own exhibit area as well as the theatre.
Top of the list is to go early; I started at 9am when it opens. Some taxi has a rmb5 discount coupon whilst they gain points. Follow the flow of exhibits; there's no need to rush as the place is quite small. You may also return to previous exhibits at the beluga theatre (look for the stairs) and before the exit.
The beluga show is a major highlight (first show at 10am); so be sure to reserve your best standing seat (avoid ground level) at least 30mins before show time... it's one of the most "romantic" animal-performances I've ever seen; definitely well worth the wait!
On the other hand, do not go too early for the walrus-seal show unless you intend to have a munch at your seat with the rest of the crowd before the show starts. Mobile vendors aplenty will try to sell food/ice-cream/drinks up until the show's about to start. Be forewarned and time yourself.
As mentioned, this place is unique...worth spending your 2-3 hours there!
Polarland for adults is boring unless you are into sea lion and beluga performances. The marine themed park houses a small number of animals, such as snow foxes, penguins, fish, jelly fish, etc. The 2 shows mentioned above were jammed packed. The staff basically allowed everyone through the door until the arena was crammed full.
I've seen polar bears and numerous aquariums in the world and was hesitant in coming here. But after watching the Beluga whale show, I'm glad I came. They put on the best sea animal show I have ever seen and I am still in awe as to how they train the Beluga to perform certain stunts. And the movements choreographed to the Titanic theme song was beautiful. This show is worth the admission and you could enjoy the other aquarium exhibits as well... But be warned: Go to the Beluga whale show plenty early as the seating area is Very small…
memorable White Whale and Sea lion show
Wonderful show that amazes the audience of how they actually train these lovely animals. The show is one on a life time for me.
The Beluga show was truly amazing and moving. Beluga is a such beautiful animal and I have seen them in other aquariums but never watched a Beluga show. Being able to see them performing with the trainers was unreal. It is worth going to this aquarium just for the Beluga show. We loved the show so much that we stayed on and watched it twice. I simply wish these beautiful animals can get a bigger tank one day.
The Walrus show was fun too but if you don't understand Chinese, you probably miss half of the fun.
The main attractions are the Sea Lion Show and the Underwater White Whale performances. The Sea Lion show is full of fun and will amuse the whole family including the children.
The Underwater White Whale performances are beautiful and romantic. This is the only place in China (perhaps in the world) that you can watch such underwater performances. When you arrive there first check the next performance time schedule so that you will not miss it. It’s a great opportunity to watch and appreciate the beauty and intelligence of the two white whales – surely you will like it. By the way it is just next to the Sun Island Park, so you should not miss it.
a lot of improvements. Of course, there's a lot more to be done, mostly with the infrastructure of the building. The walls must be painted, and it would be great if the tanks/pools got more space. It is sad to see huge polar bears and belugas confined in such small pools.
The tanks seem to be well-maintained, a new big fish tank has been introduced with a lot of fishes, including one shark. For families and kids, it's a nice place, however it is difficult not to think about the biggest animals and their small pools.
The beluga show needs an improvement about all the aspects. The pool wall is in bad condition, it is small for two whales, the "auditorium" gets overcrowded during the presentation.
The walrus show is better! The pool is bigger, the presentation doesn't take long, and the trainers/handlers are friendly to the animal.
The beluga show is in Chinese and the walrus show, besides Chinese, there is some translation for Russian.
If you are in Harbin, it is a must-see spot.
the sealion show did impress me. they were really fast and smart but do wonder how they tolerated the loud music and lights.
good place to warm up in between outdoor activities. (located close to the snow sculptures). the belugas were very close to their trainers.
are concerned about the size of some of the displays being to small. That maybe true, however, visiting it to support it will definitely provide the funds to expand.
We loved the Beluga whale and Sea Lion shows.
Truly well done. It is next to the Snow World on Sun Island and the Ice and Snow Festival.
Harbin Polarland is the place where tourists can find polar bears, penguins, sea lions, whales and some animal that live in the artic. The beluga whale show was very nice and was very tender and cute to see the whales face... cannot imagine such huge animal with such cute face.
The polarland park is located on Sun Island near the Snow and Ice exhibition areas. But it is small compared to other larger attractions of the same kind elsewhere.
The main reason for coming here is to see the Beluga show. This 10-minute show is the highlight of the experience of visiting as the cute faces of the intelligent pair of beluga whales perform with their human minders. One thing is to come early to get a good standing position to watch the performance. Don't miss it or else it would be as if you did not come.
There is also a sea lion show, though it was a little less exciting than the Beluga one. For the rest of the aquarium it is informative and similar to others around the world.
good animal exhibits - polar wolf, polar bears, penguins, seals (though was a bit sad to see these magnificent animals in such cooped up homes. Polarland appears to be striving for a Disney feel with different themes as you walk through sections - to the extent of playing Disney theme music (Finding Nemo etc).
There are two shows - a sea lion show which was quite fun (though a bit cheesy) but requiring understanding of Mandarin to follow. The beluga show is clearly the highlight - two divers 'dancing' in the water with two beautiful beluga whales. Really has to be seen to be believed. Amazing.
I enjoyed myself at Harbin Polarland and son its ttme to head back to the hotel.
It was about 15-20 minutes walk from Polarland to get to the main street Songhua Dadao. There was a bus stop across the main street to wait for Bus 29 to get to Zhongyang Street. It was a blessing in disguise when Bus 119 arrived shortly. Bus 119 took me to Sheng Bolan Zhongxin bus stop on Xidazhi Street. I took me a few steps to get to Guozhan Zhengda Gouwu Guangchang and I went to Carrefour to buy things such as bottled drinking water, bread, cheese etc. preparation for tonight’s meal and tomorrow’s breakfast.
The initial plan was to go to Harbin Tower located on Changjiang Road (长江路) but how I wish I could stay here longer – the time was too limited but at least I know that I need to take Bus 112 or Bus 71 at a bus stop at Haicheng Street (海城街) near to Fanrong Street (繁荣街). This bus stop was located within walking distance from Guozhan Zhengda Gouwu Guangchang.
I also explored Heguo Street(河沟街) and JiansheStreet (建设街) to look for Muslim Restaurants and I found Ruyizhai Restaurant on Jianshe Street or Muslim food court on Heguo Street that was located near Guozhan Zhengda Gouwu Guangchang.
I walked to Shengbolan Zhongxin Cemen bus stop (省博览中心侧门) located along Beijing Street and waited for either Bus 16 or 118 to get to Fanghong Jinian Ta. I got on Bus 118.
ZHONGYANG STREET AND ST. SOPHIA CATHEDRAL
I finally arrived at Fanghong Jinian Ta bus stop. Harbin was a city of fun because the atmosphere was lively. The street was quite crowded and congested, at certain hours the congestion often occurs. The heavy caused the traffic congested for hours. I walked along Zhongyang Street. I entered a McD along this street but couldn’t find a seat. The next quest was St. Sophia Cathedral. At last found it, only if I knew it was actually located behind Haerbin New 100(哈尔滨新一百Haerbin Xin Yibai Gouwu Guangchang) that I past this building earlier, I would got off at Hayibai bus stop (哈一百) near this shopping complex (The time was running short, long time taken to travel due to Harbin congested traffic). Harbin New 100 Shopping Complex was located along Shangzhi Street (尚志大街). A building Mykal Supermarket (麦凯乐超市Maikaile Chaoshi) was also located along Shangzhi Street that I entered the building to get some warmth.
Anyway, when I arrived at St. Sophia Cathedral, it was closing time. I was so cold almost unbearable especially for people who were not used to a climate of below zero temperature. I went to nearby Liansheng Fuzhuang Guangchang (联升服装广场) to have coffee at McD. I walked around this cathedral and watched visitors feeding the pigeons.
Central Street. the whole street extends for 1,450 meters, so walking along the whole street need some strength. Recommended visiting hours: 3 hours. Located Daoli District, Harbin. No entrance Fee. To get there take bus No 16 and 118 get off at Hayibai Bus Stop.
Central Street was built in 1898, called China Avenue at that time. It has got its present name “Central Street” since 1925. Now, it is the most prosperous street in Harbin. The north end of this street is Flood Control Monument and south end is Jingwei Street. It stretches for 1,450 meters, fascinating people for its special European buildings, exquisite department stores, numerous shopping malls and colorful cultures.
Stones paved on the street are unique. European style buildings like Baroque style, eclecticism style and Art Nouveau style buildings are the highlights of this street and essence of Western architecture art. Central Street can be called Art Gallery.
Zhongyang Street, East Moscow. This morning the temperature in Harbin is -20°C. This morning we took a walk in the city of Harbin Ice is also nicknamed the "Moscow in the East" (Oriental Moscow). This is due to the influence of Russia, which is very significant in Harbin. Harbin is located in northern China and is bordered by Russia.
We went to the morning Daoli District. There is a market square Byzantine architecture. In the square we can see an Orthodox church that really architecture of buildings in Russia. On top of the roof there is a dome shape, cone and cross. This is the name of the church of Saint Sophia Cathedral. It was completed in 1932.
I saw squares around the church floor was made of stone squares that looks very antique. The floor may be built in the style of Russian art because it looks a bit different from Chinese architecture.
The atmosphere is still cold and the streets were full of snow. The roof of the church was also covered with snow. We only see from the outside only and take pictures. The church was no longer used as a church but is now used to exhibit art and architecture Harbin. To your knowledge, many churches have been destroyed by the Chinese government at one time, so that this one left.
I can see the tame pigeons fly over the roof of the church and sometimes fly down to peck the food. When it's church take pictures. We agreed to meet in a building plagued by his church.
Many people feeding pigeons outside the church of Saint Sophia. After being out with cold temperatures, I felt my fingers almost numb and swollen. I quickly went into the nearest building there. Inside the building there are restaurants McDonald. I then bought a cup of coffee and sit in it to warm up already there, sitting, drinking.
As the temperature is too cold, I kept trying to get rid of the water course. So I find that there are toilets in the building, which also is a Mall. While looking through my toilet stores in the Mall. There also sell clothes, shoes, bread and much more. I found a shoe boot here is very cheap.
Once again my hot body and walk to Zhongyang Street or Central Street or in Russianya Kitaiskaya. The church not far from Zhongyang Street earlier mentioned.
Zhongyang Street there are many buildings with western architecture. Square and building architecture Russia. It was built since 1898. There are Byzantine-style building, Baroque and Art Nouveau. Historically, Russia has authority here. Many Russians moved here, open a business, build buildings and railways. But after China took over the province in 1925, was renamed the road Zhongyang. Roads and buildings here now considered a "museum of European architecture" and this is stated on the signboard in a building that is at the base of the road.
When we walk in Zhongyang Street we can see the ice sculptures on display at the roadside. So anyone who does not want to Ice and Snow World and the Sun Island can come here to see the ice sculptures and snow because here we do not require to pay for entrance. Uniqueness of Zhongyang Street is the way it is built with rectangular stone, designed by engineer Russia in 1924. He shaped bread Russia. This architecture is rare in China.
Sidewalks in Zhongyang Street made of stone architecture in Russia. Zhongyang Street is a popular pedestrian paths and thus focus the public. There are a variety of shops, restaurants, supermarkets and hotels. We stopped at a few shops to buy souvenirs. Most souvenirs can be found were fridge magnet picturing Russia, Russian dolls, jewelry Russia and many more. I just bought three pieces shaped fridge magnet bottle opener and grapes and it is carved with artistry Russia. This image fridge magnet I'll show you. Most here shaped fridge magnet Russian Orthodox church and the image of communism Russia, so I do not buy it because it is contrary to my beliefs.
Central Avenue is known for its Russian-style buildings, buildings on both sides of the road are very unique. Harbin 's history can be traced back to a century ago, when there was just a small fishing village, and later, because the Russians have chosen this Songhua River on the edge of a small village as the starting point of the railway, makes it a more prosperous, and finally became a stronghold in the North. Is not an exaggeration to say, Harbin is half of the Russian people to help build up, this is the reason why City littered with lots of Russian architecture. Stroll on the century-old street at Central Avenue, marching, because of its age and begin the rugged granite-paved stone way, looking along the street was filled with romantic classic Russian-style buildings, makes you feel a sense of exoticism, Harbin and East of Moscow, said.
Zhongyang Street this is purely commercial street architecture influence of Europe, Russia and China. So while sightseeing in this building, our eyes Russian merchandise sold here and appreciate the art of ice and snow sculptures are exhibited along the street. So that morning we had gained a new knowledge.
There is a place recommended by a Chinese person to buy souvenirs. I came about to know about Zhong'e Minmaoda Market located on Jianshe Street while reading some Weibo blog - actually it was written in chinese.
Zhōngwài Mínmàodà Shìchǎng 中外民贸大市场 address: 29 Jianshe Street Nangang, Harbin. If you come to Harbin and want to bring back souvenirs for friends can come here. Telescope, doll like a small souvenir are cheaper than Zhongyang Street. 如果来哈尔滨想捎纪念品的朋友可以来这里。望远镜、套娃之类的小纪念品比中央大街便宜。Rúguǒ lái Hā'ěrbīn xiǎng shāo jìniànpǐn de péngyǒu kěyǐ lái zhèlǐ. Wàngyuǎnjìng, tào wá zhī lèi de xiǎo jìniànpǐn bǐ zhōngyāng dàjiē piányí.
Zhong'e Minmaoda Market
Famous tourist attractions and landmarks around this area: Hongbo underground shopping mall, Qiulin company, Train Station, Heilongjiang International Expo Center, Jianshe Street Pedestrian Lane (Russia souvenir market).周边知名旅游景点和标志性地点：红博地下购物广场、秋林公司、火车站、黑龙江国际博览中心、建设街步行街（俄罗斯纪念品市场)。Zhōubiān zhīmíng lǚyóu jǐngdiǎn hé biāozhì xìng dìdiǎn: Hongbo Dixia Gouwu Guangchang, Qiulin Gongsi, Huoche Zhan, Heilongjiang Guoji Bolan Zhongxin, Jianshe Jie Buxingjie (Eluosi Jinianpin Shichang).
Harbin like love at first sight. Finished checking in at the hotel, we decided to take a break. However, in the course of fatigue overnight makes us fall asleep until past noon. I was surprise the kids to get ready for lunch and sightseeing.
We dine with dumplings Harbin famous Dongfang Restaurant Jiaozi Wang. However, it feels good to be true.
We proceeded to the banks of the Songhua River's famous Harbin. The sculptor took an ice cube ice sculpture of this river that they completely frozen during winter.
In winter, Harbin starts getting dark as early as 4.40pm. Once up on the banks of the river, some ticket sellers approached and persuaded us sightseeing horse-drawn carriage ride around the river. We charge RMB80 for three (later I was informed payment unreasonable). We were taken around the 100 meter square for 10 minutes and see only the ice without other things. I was also asked to pay tips to the coachman. I felt cheated. I do not suggest you ride the horse.
Exploring the scenery along the Songhua River very common, but there is a crossing. Temperatures very cool will cause our toes and fingers numb and throbbing. After an hour, we walked back to hotel with step crippled due to fatigue and chills. We stop by for a relaxing dinner and warm spirit that almost froze.
On the fourth day, we wander, try local delicacies and buy souvenirs. Extremely cold temperatures inhibit we were out longer, moreover roads very slippery. I even dropped a few times!
Harbin cold makes me very cautious with endurance. However, this is a worthwhile adventure, especially can visit the Snow and Ice Festival. We very interesting though activities appropriate to their age very limited. From her smile, fully enjoy this vacation.
Went to the reception counter told her I will check out at 5 am. Checked out from hotel and the girl at the reception counter returned the balance 60元, the difference of the deposit I have paid and the actual total room price. She asked me to leave the hotel key card inside the room.
A COLLECTIVE PERCEPTIONS ABOUT THE PEOPLE (YOU MAY AGREE / DISAGREE WITH THIS)
I read from a travel blog on the internet, there was one occasion that the writer took a taxi in Harbin during early morning heading to Harbin West Railway Station, beautiful scenery along the way to the station, so the driver slowed down the taxi so that they could take pictures. He was really friendly but it normal that the people have loud voice almost like screaming... as if speaking to a deaf person.
About the personality of Chinese people that I've often heard of - Don't expect to get a little help from people on the streets since they will ignore when we approached to ask for location of a given address. - Don't expect friendly service in restaurant and hotel. - Will ignore people they don't know/have anything to do with them. Well, I found it totally the opposite; Harbin people were actually helpful and very friendly. Even when I was on the train I could see that they were caring people, the common “how are you?” may be answered very long. I remember a group of people that were returning from attending a wedding ceremony, they were cheerful and keep on talking for hours - and they spoke really loud.
DAY 6, Friday 06-February-2015
After spending six days holiday in Harbin, it’s time for me to return home. The Harbin Xi Train Station at 9.40 pm, laden with fruit arms purchased at the Centre. Before leaving feedback, we had added a purchase. Holidays to Harbin indeed fun and we hope to come back on summer anyway. Indeed Harbin well worth a visit, especially expatriates in China. What is certain, I will return.
HARBIN XI TO TAKE TRAIN D1302 TO GET TO DALIAN BEI
I arrived at the train station Harbin Xi (Harbin West) at 7.00 in the morning. Security checks at the train station Harbin. After going through the inspection of goods at the security to get into the train station, we were seated in a chair. The situation in this West Harbin railway station is wide and clean. Had various facilities: shops, hot water, clean toilets.
Ice City Harbin (Harbin), the most northern city once and coldest in China. This is the first time in our lives feel the cold winter extreme. We packed our bags and left our hotel early in the morning take a taxi because we do not want to get caught in traffic jams. This is caused when the party season snow and ice so many tourists no matter local or taking the opportunity to be in Harbin. When this is the same taxi drivers and traders took the opportunity to 'slaughter' tourists.
Harbin Xi (West) Railway Station extensive and sophisticated.
Harbin is also among the cities which have an important transportation hub in China. Harbin Xi railway station was spacious and clean.
Got on Train D1302 Harbin West 7.05 am - Dalian North at 12.31 pm
The toilet is cleaned regularly. Digital signboard on the arrivals and departures of trains. Signboard on the facilities available at the train station Harbin. In the High-Speed Train from Harbin to Dalian.
In the high-speed railway coach. My seat number: 1A Seating in our coach. Outside temperature: - 21°C, the temperature in the 24°C. When the train arrived and we called in and we have to take their places.
Trains depart on time of 7.05 am going down south so as to return to Dalian. The situation is very cozy and comfortable trains. The screen displayed the train speed of 196 km per hour, while the temperature inside is 24°C and -21°C outside.
Beautiful scenery along the way from Harbin to Dalian. On the way to Dalian again I can see the beauty of the earth Harbin beautiful white snow-capped. Because Harbin has abundant land, it has good economic in agriculture. So I can see farms, rivers and mountains.
Snow fields progressively thinner and progressively increasing the temperature. This indicates that we progressively southwards. This becomes a frozen river ice skating. House in the mountains on the edge of a frozen river. Began to thin snow-covered fields
DOWN IN DALIAN
We arrived in Dalian just in time ie at 5.30 pm which is an 8 hour drive. Temperatures in Dalian when it was 4°C. Before I say this temperature is too cold. Which is now not as cold as I've been through a temperature much lower than this. I have also learned a lot of new knowledge, especially struggling in extreme cold temperatures. Thanks!
Since my flight back was at noon, I had to wake up at 3:30 AM, took a 5 hours drive back to Dalian and arrive in time at 9 AM. checked in and prepare myself for the 9 hours flight back.
The airport was very impressive all around. Huge and not too crowded. I flew back home and concluded my 6 days trip around Harbin.
This long journey I finish with the view outside the train window. Very beautiful. Snow covers the surface of the earth. I can see the white snow blanketing villages, farms, factories and rooftops. First snow it looks thin but it eventually grew thicker. The farther we travel the more dense snowfall blanketed the universe. This shows that our trip further north. And of course the temperature gets colder. The rivers are frozen. I was very touched by the beauty of this rugged northern China. Praise be upon God. I feel very fortunate to be able to see the beauty that I had never encountered this.
In the train, there was always a seller pushing a trolley containing beverages and snacks for purchase. Ticket inspectors also examine the tickets come only once. This train stops at several stations.
I avoided to engage the taxi touts, they will try to be friendly with you. Reject them firmly. Otherwise they will kept bothering you until you give up.
I waited by the roadside and not grow weary waving for a taxi to get to airport. Finally we got one idea, we'll take a taxi up to Zhongyang Road. Then from Zhongyang we will take another taxi to the hotel. Many taxi which we hold, but did not stop. I prayed to Allah to protect us throughout the journey, lighten the journey for us and make its distance easy for us. Soon stopped a taxi.
The taxi driver asked me to put my luggage into the car boot, “Ba ni de xingli fang ru houbei xiang li”. (把你的行李放入后备箱里。)
DALIAN ZHOUSHUIZI AIRPORT TO TAKE FLIGHT MF831 TO RETURN TO KUALA LUMPUR
Got on Flight Xiamen Airlines MF831 Departure from Dalian Zhoushuizi Airport 2 pm and made 1 Stop at Xiamen. The flight was supposed to depart at 6 pm but delayed at Xiamen Gaoqi International for more than 1 hour because of control tower dispute. The plane was scheduled to arrive in Kuala Lumpur Airport at 9.55 pm but the delay had caused us to arrive in KLIA late, nearly 1 o’clock morning.
Anyway, I never imagine that I could ever reach Harbin that I previously seen only on TV. The experience of being in the ice city was very meaningful to me. It has added some knowledge in the diaries of my life and given me a better understanding and be amazed by the creation of the Almighty. With this experience would bring me Harbin can I visit again, but perhaps with family.
Zai Jian Harbin! Goodbye The City of Ice! Goodbye the frozen rivers! I've ran out of words to tell the beauty of this ice, but those who have been here will definitely understand more. Words can't do it justice to the beauty of Harbin during winter. The fact of being right here and seeing it with your own eyes definitely will convey more of the feelings than words ever could.
Harbin charm has carved sweet memories in my mind just like the uniquely carved ice sculptures themselves that never ever melted in the Ice City. I returned home with feeling of joy and full of wonderful memories. This City of Ice has definitely left me with a thousand memories that I will cherish for years and years to come.
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