scenes from harbin, part II
The nice thing about short trips is that it's pretty easy to look through and compile photos.
The Russians arrived in Harbin in the early 20th century to establish a trade route to Northeast Asia, and with them came trams, stately villas, and Russian Orthodox churches. It's a fascinating bit of Chinese history and that alone makes Harbin quite an interesting stop, particularly given the historical context (the Cultural Revolution saw many of these landmarks destroyed) and the current wave of change China is going through - it's like a microcosm of modern Chinese history.
Most of the pictures here were taken around the old quarter near the historic Zhongyang Dajie (Central Street), and something about the place reminds me of the old quarter in Hanoi, or the "hutongs" of Beijing.
The snap of a river is at the Sun Island Wetlands, a surprisingly idyllic marshland that the government envisions as a "green lung" for the city. It won't impress anyone from say, Florida, but it is an unusual sight in a place so urbanised.
The Russian Orthodox church is the St Sophia Cathedral, which was completed in 1923. It's a gem of a building and the peeling interior speaks volumes about its shaky fate during the Cultural Revolution. It's no longer a church, and functions as an "architectural museum" with exhibits of photos showing Harbin in the 1920s.
The last two pictures were taken at Volga Manor, a resort built by a rich Chinese businessman that recreated some of the now-gone Russian buildings in a resort - a Russian-themed Disneyland, if you will. I didn't love the actual buildings but the landscaping was so, so beautiful.
China is a country that everyone has an opinion about; it polarises and never fails to spark off lively conversation (at least in my experience). Visits to the country fascinate me because while I have cultural ties to China as a Chinese, it's ultimately a foreign place. I understand it and don't understand it at the same time.
Happy weekend to everyone!
The Russians arrived in Harbin in the early 20th century to establish a trade route to Northeast Asia, and with them came trams, stately villas, and Russian Orthodox churches. It's a fascinating bit of Chinese history and that alone makes Harbin quite an interesting stop, particularly given the historical context (the Cultural Revolution saw many of these landmarks destroyed) and the current wave of change China is going through - it's like a microcosm of modern Chinese history.
Most of the pictures here were taken around the old quarter near the historic Zhongyang Dajie (Central Street), and something about the place reminds me of the old quarter in Hanoi, or the "hutongs" of Beijing.
The snap of a river is at the Sun Island Wetlands, a surprisingly idyllic marshland that the government envisions as a "green lung" for the city. It won't impress anyone from say, Florida, but it is an unusual sight in a place so urbanised.
The Russian Orthodox church is the St Sophia Cathedral, which was completed in 1923. It's a gem of a building and the peeling interior speaks volumes about its shaky fate during the Cultural Revolution. It's no longer a church, and functions as an "architectural museum" with exhibits of photos showing Harbin in the 1920s.
The last two pictures were taken at Volga Manor, a resort built by a rich Chinese businessman that recreated some of the now-gone Russian buildings in a resort - a Russian-themed Disneyland, if you will. I didn't love the actual buildings but the landscaping was so, so beautiful.
China is a country that everyone has an opinion about; it polarises and never fails to spark off lively conversation (at least in my experience). Visits to the country fascinate me because while I have cultural ties to China as a Chinese, it's ultimately a foreign place. I understand it and don't understand it at the same time.
Happy weekend to everyone!
Comments
I popped over after I was linked over from the Les Anti-Modernes blog and am glad I found this blog.
I identify with the fashion woes , especially about the humid and extremely hot weather here! Also, I can easily access the item you reccommend so that is good for me too.
Look forward to reading more of your posts!
Ammu: Thanks!
springfiry: Thanks! I know little about other Singapore blogs actually, but what little I've seen ties in with your experience!
Yes, humidity occupies my thoughts a lot, as you can tell from the endless mentions on this blog...
Lindsay K: Thanks!
x
Hannah: It was strangely beautiful, the peeling walls, and very surprising considering how much the Chinese love doing up old stuff to look like new (like sections of the Great Wall).
I say go forth and be surprised - the country is changing so quickly and some things will definitely vanish in time..
I've read so much about Harbin but this is the first time I've actually seen pictures of the city. How fascinating. More diverse that I would ever imagine.
I'd always associated Harbin with those ice sculptures but it is really so much more.