Travel Itinerary

Harbin (哈尔滨 ), ChinaNick Xie

Travel Date: 02/13/2009Powerpoint Date: 02/22/2009

Research

Baidu (Google not useful in China)Ctrip, Yododo, HKCities (forum), BecodChinese blogs (sina, etc)Ability to read Chinese a must

Well, get someone who can read Chinese

Harbin Itinerary Overview

Best come in Dec – Jan, and no later than mid Feb Friday Overnight Train from Beijing (Z or T train)

Leave @ 9pm, sleep, and arrive @ 7-8am Harbin City

Ice-Lantern Festival (Zhaolin Park) Church of Hagia Sophia Zhongshan Street

Sun Island Walk across Song Jiang River on ice (fun) Eat Song Jiang Fish on Wood Stove (must eat) Snow Sculptures Siberian Tiger Park (must see) Ice and Snow World (must see)

Other attractions not recommended by Chinese (who know better!!)

Route to/from Harbin

Take train at Beijing Train Station 420 RMB one-way for soft-bed One-night sleep Often difficult to buy return ticket, fly back if you can’t get tickets (Honestly) one train experience is good enough, I like my bed more

than train’s Take bus from Harbin Train Station

Bus 103, 1 RMB, about 3 stops Walk straight and turn right after a couple blocks to Zhongshan Street

Stay at HomeInns near Zhongshan Street (2 blocks off) HomeInn is decent Chinese economy stays (e.g. think HolidayInn) 200 RMB per night, decent, clean, well managed

Fly back from Harbin Airport Expect 120 RMB taxi to airport from city

Harbin Routes (do-able in 1 day)

Start from Church of Sophia Walk to Zhongshan Street (10 min) Walk down Zhongshan street

Russian-style buildings Shopping

Arrive Anti-Flood Park Walk Across SongJiang River on Ice See Snow Carving Festival Take a private taxi

Eat SongJiang Fish for lunch See Siberian Tiger Park (2 hr) To Ice and Snow world (~4:30pm)

Taxi/bus back to Zhaolin park Ice sculpture

Check out Zhongshan Street at night Ice sculptures with lights

Leave Harbin (10pm flight)

Song Jiang Fish Restaurants

Church of Hagia Sophia

Russian Style Only remaining authentic

church 15 RMB to get inside

not worth it nothing original inside

Nice to walk around in the plaza

Anti-Flood Park

Nice view of the lake Walk across river or take the cart (30-40 RMB)

Recommend walking across (10 min and hear the cracking noise = fun)

Snow Carving Festival

Best viewed in Dec to Jan, no later than mid Feb Everything made in snow (man-made)

Natural snow don’t get to this tall

Song Jiang Fish (Must Eat)

Fatty fish from under the river (look at the size of that fish head) Very tasty (expect 400-500 RMB per fish) You will see Hong Kong or Taiwan food connoisseurs coming to eat

Only eat at places with wood stoves (traditional cooking)

Siberian Tiger Park (must see)

> 600 tigers (they release some back to wild every year) Biggest Tiger Park in the world Watch shows where they feed on cows You will pay more for taxi because they wait for you there

Siberian Tiger Park (cont.)

Many tigers napping Next to each other for warmth (too cold?) Lazy afternoon

Siberian Tiger Park (cont.)

Extremely rare white tiger Extremely rare Liger (1000-1 chance) – mix of male lion and female tiger

Ice and Snow World (must see)

Ice all taken from the Song Jiang River Magnificent buildings built from ice Represent famous buildings from around-the-world

Ice and Snow World (cont.)

Ice and Snow World (cont.)

Ice and Snow World (cont.)

Ice-Lantern Festival (optional)

Smaller version of the Ice Snow World Have ice sculpture contests with teams from around the world More for kids, in the city

Ice-Lantern Festival (cont.)

Ice-Lantern Festival (cont.)

Zhongshan Street at Night

Best viewed at night Walk around, see the ice sculptures

Backup Slides

MissionBackpacking Explained

Mission

Share photos, stories and experiencesWhat to seeWhere to stayHow to have fun (not go with Chinese tours)

Inspire enthusiasm about our globeGain a world viewAppreciate cultural differencesTake initiatives (one day) to see the world

Backpacking Explained

How Backpack on your shoulder Money/credit card/passport in your pockets Use credit card whenever you can (cash is king!!) Stay in highly rated hostels

What to bring 1 credit card Cash Camera Netbook or iTouch/iPhone (if you like to surf internet) Battery-powered alarm clock Travel-sized daily necessities (toothbrush, etc) Medicine (cold, cough, anti-itching creams, etc) Bath towels 1/3 to ½ of cloth needed for trip (throw-away socks)