Christmas in Harbin

No matter which direction you walk in downtown, somehow miraculously you will find yourself come right back to the St. Sopha Square. A little square lying right off Songhuajiang River named after the biggest orthodox church in the Far East.

St. sophic was originally a small church built for army congregations. With an increase in believers of the Eastern Orthodox Church, the St Sophia Church was rebuilt in 1923. The construction took 9 years.

Most architectural remains in Russian style are religious. Tent roofs, Greek cross and a multitude of domes dominates the skyline of old town Harbin. Along the East Avenue (Dong Zhijie) and West Avenue (Xi Zhijie), many churches and buildings in Russian flair throw you back the nostalgic pre-revolution Russia.

Russian Park

Gugeli Avenue is one of the oldest streets in Harbin. It was briefly named 鈥淩evolution Avenue鈥during Cultural Revolution time and got its original Russian name back in 90鈥檚, more suitable for its exotic flavor.

The street was built overriding Majiagou River creating a small charming street park in the middle of downtown, with water or ice view, with bards and coffee houses lining along, it is like another small town inside of a town. Here is a great place to take a break from your walk.