Harbin

:This article discusses the city of Harbin in Manchuria. For other meanings of "Harbin", see Harbin.

Architecture

Called the Oriental St. Petersburg, Harbin is one of China's most beautiful cities. The city is well-known for its unique, Russian and European-influenced architecture.

Related Topics:
St. Petersburg - China - Architecture

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Zhong Yang Street (Central Street, a.k.a. Kitaiskaia St.), one of the main business streets in Harbin, is a perfect remnant of the bustling international business activities at the turn of the 20th century. The 1.4km long street is a veritable museum of European architectural styles, including Baroque and Byzantine façades, Jewish architectural wonders, little Russian bakeries, French fashion houses, American snack food outlets, Japanese restaurants. The Russian Orthodox church: St. Sophia Cathedral is also located in this central district of Daoli.

Related Topics:
European - Baroque - Byzantine - Russia - French - American - Japanese restaurant - Russian Orthodox - Church

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St. Sophia took nine years to build and was completed in 1932. It has now been made into a museum as a showcase of the multi-cultural architecture of Harbin.

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Many citizens believe that the Orthodox church damaged the local feng shui, so they donated money to build a Chinese monastery in 1921, the Ji Le Temple. There were more than 15 Russian Orthodox churches and two cemeteries in Harbin until 1949. Mao's Communist Revolution, and the subsequent Cultural Revolution, saw many of them destroyed. Now, about 10 churches remain, while only in one services are held.

Related Topics:
Feng shui - Ji Le Temple - Communist Revolution - Cultural Revolution

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