A look around Harbin
Print Edition
SAINT Sophia Cathedral
Built in 1907, Saint Sophia Cathedral is the largest Orthodox church in the Far East. Before being shut down in 1958, the cathedral went through two restorations, making it, according to Japanese architectural historian Yasuhiko Nishizawa, almost as magnificent as Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow.
During the “cultural revolution,” the cathedral was severely damaged, and all the holy relics went missing. The site was used as a rehearsal room for the Harbin Drama Troupe and a storeroom for a local department store. Surrounded by residential complexes, few people knew that a once grand cathedral was hidden in the neighborhood.
In 1986, the cathedral was modified into an architectural art gallery. All the neighboring buildings were dismantled and a square was built around it.
The building is under restoration this year.
Central Avenue
Central Avenue is the longest pedestrian street in China and looks like somewhere out of Europe at first sight.
The street was called Chinese Avenue when it was first built in 1898. At the time, Harbin was “on loan” to tsarist Russia by the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) to build a railway, and the street housed Chinese workers.
The current avenue was designed by a Russian architect in 1924, and four years later it was renamed Central Avenue.
The street is home to 71 buildings in Baroque, Renaissance and other eclectic styles. It has the appearance of the Bund area in Shanghai.
Today it is the most popular commercial zone in Harbin. Several landmarks, including Modern Hotel and Education Bookstore, are recommended in every guide book.
Visitors will find authentic Harbin specialties here and can sample Russian cuisine in several restaurants.
The Flood Control Monument
The Harbin People Flood Control Success Memorial Tower is located near Stalin Park.
In 1957, threatened with mass flooding by the Songhua River, the city residents built dikes to protect the city. The Harbin government erected the monument to commemorate the heroic efforts at flood control.
The monument was designed by both Chinese and former Soviet architects. On a Roman-style column, 24 figures portray how Harbin people, including some Russians, fought the flood.
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