Inside Harbin, the Chinese city that was designed 150 years ago to look like a 'little Russia'

Marielle DescalsotaMar 11, 2022, 13:31 IST

Night view of the Saint Sofia Cathedral, a former Russian Orthodox church, located in the central district of Daoli, Harbin City, Heilongjiang province of China.Feng Wei Photography/Getty Images

Harbin, a city in northeast China, was founded by Russian settlers in the 1900s.
The city is nicknamed "Little Moscow" for its Orthodox-style architecture.

This is Harbin, a city in China that was built by the Russians. The city is nicknamed "Little Moscow."

Aerial photo taken on Jan. 9, 2022 shows a huge snowman on the riverbank of Songhua River in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.Wang Jianwei/Xinhua/Getty Images

Harbin is located in northeastern China.

A partial map of Asia showing where Harbin is located in China.Google Maps

Harbin was developed as a shortcut on the Trans-Siberian railway in 1898, per The Calvert Journal.

Harbin Railway Station, 1898.Austrian Archives/Imagno/Getty Images

Among Harbin's Russian-influence landmarks is a park named after infamous Russian leader Joseph Stalin (pictured below), and a tourist town replicating a Russian town.

The Flood Control Monument is located in Stalin park beside Songhua river.Zhang Peng/LightRocket/Getty Images

Harbin's economic ties with Russia remain strong — in 2018, its main trade partners were located in Russia, according to state-owned outlet China Daily.

A child is seen at the Central Street in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Dec. 22, 2021.Xie Jianfei/Xinhua/Getty Images

While most Russian immigrants left Harbin in the 1950s, their influence can clearly still be seen in the city's architecture.

Saint Sophia Cathedral in the morning, located in the central district of Daoli, Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province, China.iStock Editorial/Getty Images Plus

Today, Harbin might best be known on an international scale for its snow festival, which spans over 600,000 square meters, making it one of the biggest ice festivals in the world.

Aerial photo taken on December 24, 2020 shows tourists visiting the World of ice and snow in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China.-Costfoto/Future Publishing/Getty Images

Today, Harbin might best be known on an international scale for its snow festival, which spans over 600,000 square meters, making it one of the biggest ice festivals in the world.

Harbin's food, too, continues to be influenced by Russian cuisine.

A citizen selects food at a shopping mall in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Dec. 22, 2021.Wang Jianwei/Xinhua/Getty Images

Today, Harbin is trying to balance its Russian history and its Chinese identity.

Harbin flood control memorial tower, located in Stalin Park.DuKai Photographer/Getty Images

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Inside Harbin, the Chinese city that was designed 150 years ago to look like a 'little Russia'

This is Harbin, a city in China that was built by the Russians. The city is nicknamed "Little Moscow."

Harbin is located in northeastern China.

Harbin was developed as a shortcut on the Trans-Siberian railway in 1898, per The Calvert Journal.

Among Harbin's Russian-influence landmarks is a park named after infamous Russian leader Joseph Stalin (pictured below), and a tourist town replicating a Russian town.

Harbin's economic ties with Russia remain strong — in 2018, its main trade partners were located in Russia, according to state-owned outlet China Daily.

While most Russian immigrants left Harbin in the 1950s, their influence can clearly still be seen in the city's architecture.

Today, Harbin might best be known on an international scale for its snow festival, which spans over 600,000 square meters, making it one of the biggest ice festivals in the world.

Harbin's food, too, continues to be influenced by Russian cuisine.

Today, Harbin is trying to balance its Russian history and its Chinese identity.