Harbin is most closely associated with its spectacular winters: the Ice Lantern Festival, Ice and Snow Festival, the Yabuli Ski Resort and other glacial events. Whist it is certainly true that Harbin is extremely good at snowy pursuits, they are by no means the only attraction for tourists.

Harbin's unique mix of cultures – mainly Russian, European and Chinese – has resulted in parts of the city like Zhongyang Street (Central Street/Kitaiskaia St) serving as museums of architecture. The exhibits here include Baroque housing, Byzantine shops, traditionally constructed Jewish Mosques and Russian Bakeries. The Russian Orthodox St. Sophia Cathedral (Daoli) is a fine example of Russian architecture, complete with an onion dome. Another religious structure of interest is one of the largest Buddhist temples in northeast China: the Jile Temple and the nearby Futu Pagoda. Interesting architecture in Harbin didn't end with the 20th Century.

In 2000, the Heilongjiang Broadcast and TV Tower (known locally as Dragon Tower) was finished, immediately ranking as the tallest standing all-steel tower in Asia and the second-highest highest in the world. It became a popular landmark and an instant symbol of Harbin. 

The Sun Island Scenic Area is a very popular place to pass both summer and winter days. In summer, visitors are drawn by the shady foliage and wide variety of animals. In winter, the area is the scene of the annual Harbin Ice and Snow World. Another popular area for animal lovers is the Siberia Tiger Park. The progressive breeding program here is dedicated to increasing the numbers of these beautiful endangered tigers in the wild. For those more interested in decreasing animal numbers, the Yuquan Hunting Ground can provide an interesting trip, whilst the Yabuli Ski Resort (which hosted the 1996 Asian Winter Games) is one of the most comprehensive resorts in China and can satisfy an interest in most winter sports.

The city of Harbin has been witness to many difficult events in the last century & those visitors interested in finding out more should start with a trip to the Flood Control Monument in Stalin Park. This monument was erected to commemorate the bravery of the city in dealing with a catastrophic flood in the 1950s. Little did they realize they would have to add another section to the monument when 30 years later the city was struck by flood again. The Japanese Germ Warfare Experimental Base is technically a museum, but in reality stands as a monument to the thousands of POWs who were subjected to brutal experimentation and murder during the Japanese occupation of Manchuria.

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