1) The Northeast China consists of Heilongjiang 黑龍江省, Jilin吉林省 and Liaoning遼寧省, the three provinces historically known as Guandong 關東or Manchuria滿洲, situated adjacent to Russia and North Korea. We only covered the first two provinces, leaving Liaoning for another trip. The indigenous people were the Donghu 東胡, Mohe靺鞨 ,Xianbei 鮮卑 Jurchens 女真, etc, etc; all of their descendants are still living in China and form part of the minority tribes of China. The Northeast had been used as a Penal Colony for isolated political prisoners since the Han and Tang dynasties, but it was during the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912) that a large number of criminals, political dissidents, and intellectuals were exiled there, transforming the region's demographics and blending Han and native cultures. The harsh climate, remote location, and its status as the Qing's ancestral homeland, made it both a punitive and strategic choice. The many exiled scholars contributed to local culture by establishing schools, documenting geography, and forming literary societies like the Bingtian Poetry Society 冰天社詩, the first literary society in the history of Northeast China. Today, the Hans in the Northeast are predominantly descended from immigrants from Shandong and Hebei, a result of the late 19th century "Venturing into the East of the Pass" 闯关东 rush, akin to the American Wild West rush. The Pass refers to Shanhaiguan (山海关) which divided the Han-majority China proper from the ancestral homeland of the Manchu people. Poverty, over-population, famine, natural disasters, war and instability, drove waves of desperate Shandong and Hebei peasants into the vast, fertile land of the Northeast. The Qing government had previously banned Han Chinese settlement in Manchuria, but with advancing Russian encroachment, Qing had to not only lift the ban but encourage Han settlement, under the policy of "using migrants to consolidate the borderlands."移民实边,. It is estimated that over 100 million people in Northeast China are descendants of these migrants, and it remains one of the most significant internal migrations in human history. 2). Harbin Airport. 3) 4) The Famous 8 Oddities of the Northeast noted by non- Northeasterners : The first Oddity ~ The windows are papered from the outside. The second Oddity ~ The young girl holding a big pipe. The third Oddity ~ Pickled cabbage in large and small jars. The fourth Oddity ~ Feed the kids and hang them up. The fifth Oddity ~ Auspicious and festive sticky rice dumplings. The sixth Oddity~Wear the fur coat inside out. The seventh Oddity~ Turf House and Fence Village. The eighth Oddity~ dog skin hat. 5) The banner says: Thank you for giving us a good appraisal on TikTok. Yes, China has her own TikTok, so whatever Trump's doing to the American TikTok would only hurt America. 6.) First meal in Harbin, in a typical Northeastern restaurant, guarded by robots. 7) Everything's roasted on skewer, even the steamed buns. The cuisine, like the Mandarin spoken here, is closely related to Hebei and Shandong, Culturally, the residents in all 3 provinces, identify more strongly with being "Northeasterners東北人", than with individual provinces. 8) Word of encouragement : Nothing on earth cannot be solved by a skewer, if there is, then try 2 skewers. 9-11 ) Our hotel the Crowne Plaza Harbin Songbei. It is generally good though a little away from downtown. 12-16) Harbin cityscape with hardly any people about, this is because Harbin only has a population of 9.8 million, contrast that with little Hong Kong with its 7 million! 17) The Songhua River 松花江that flows through Harbin.
1. 2).There were a few recycling shops on the street off our hotel. China launched a national mandatory garbage sorting policy in 2019 and invested heavily in different color-coded bins in residential communities, public streets, and commercial areas, In China this is complemented by a highly efficient bottom-up, informal network of waste collectors. These individuals collect valuable recyclables (especially cardboard, plastic bottles, and scrap metal) directly from households, businesses, and public bins, which are then sold to small-scale recycling shops for a profit. No matter if it's a black cat or white cat, the overall goal is to reduce landfill use and increase sustainability. Unfortunately the business depends on the global commodity markets , e.g. if the price for plastic drops, then it may not be economically viable to recycle it. 3) Public avenue and residential blocks, 4) Old bicycle mender waiting for customers on the curb. 5) Local kindergarten. 6) Local fire station. 7-11) I never get tired of all the car decorations, some are humorous, others practical, e.g : " If you can read this, you're too close! "12) I've a penchant for cute little cars. 13) Good to see an advertisement for Psychological counselling on the back of a bus. When I went for a medical meeting in a Guangdong university in the early 1990s, I was astonished to find the doctors there had no clue about psychiatric illnesses." What do you do when an emotionally disturbed patient comes to you?" " We just lock him in an empty room until he snaps out of it". China has come a long way indeed!! 14-15) Labubu car, well, actually a Tesla Model Y electric SUV. Labubu was a design by a Hong Kong born illustrator, Kasing Lung, whose net worth is estimated at £12.8 billion! 16-17) car accidents happen. 18) Signs on the car says :" New female driver" " Practicing", I assure you she had nothing to do with the crash.
1) Harbin Metro opened the first line in 2013. As a standard practice across the whole of China, before entering the station, all bags have to go through an X-ray scanner, similar to airport security. All station names, line maps, and directional signs are bilingual .Trains are new, well-maintained, and climate-controlled (a lifesaver in winter and summer). 2) Funeral Home. 3) Matchmaker agency, to address the demographic challenges, the stigma of "leftover women" (unmarried women over 27) , gender imbalances, and campaigns against high "bride prices". 4) Nonody's ever around in any Sex Shops in China, usually there's just a phone number, so browsing is out of the question. 5) Blood donation Center. 6) Heilongjiang Boshang Hospital 哈尔滨博尚医院, non-government-run secondary general hospital. While it doesn't claim to be a private hospital, most of its partner organizations are businesses, e.g.China Life 中国人寿, China Post中国邮政, Industrial Bank 兴业银行 and other Fortune 500 companies, as well as several universities, it offers the public an alternative high-quality, modern medical service with shorter waiting time. There're many such hospitals now in China. 7) Cosmetic Hospital. 8) Another non-government-run secondary general hospital. 9) HAERBIN AIER eye Hospital 哈尔滨爱尔眼科医院 is part of the **Aier Eye Hospital Group (founded in 2002), a leading chain of specialized eye care hospitals in China. It's a publicly listed (SZSE: 300015) network with over 600 hospitals globally, some branches cater to international patients, offering multilingual services (English/Russian/Korean, etc ). Pricing is affordable compared to Western countries, but costs vary by procedure. 10) Beijing Children's Hospital Heilongjiang District 北京儿童医院黑龙江区. Beijing Children's Hospital is one of China's top pediatric hospitals, located in Beijing, but there could be medical alliances or training partnerships with this hospital. 11) Jianwen Community Health Service Station 建文社區衛生服務站 People generally have to pay for services at Community Health Centers (CHCs) in China, but the cost is typically lower than at hospitals. Most Chinese citizens are covered by one of two public insurance programs , and there're various cost-sharing subsidies designed to reduce out-of-pocket expenses, especially for older adults and handicapped individuals. For example: outpatient visits at primary care facilities like CHCs might have a copayment of around CNY 5-10 (USD 0.7-1.4) per visit, and prescription drugs often have copayments ranging from 50% to 80% of the drug cost, depending on the region. Moreover, there's No Annual Cap on out-of-pocket Spending, and there's no payment for preventive services (e.g., immunizations, disease screenings) for children, the elderly, and other priority populations like the handicapped. Even then, reform efforts are ongoing to further strengthen primary care and expand insurance coverage to better protect the vulnerable in society. What can you say, this is socialism for you! 12) Harbin Big Data Center 哈尓濱市大數椐中心. 13) Harbin Children and Teenagers Activity Center 哈尔滨市儿童少年活动中心. The Harbin Children and Teenagers Activity Center, affiliated with the Harbin Women's Federation, is a Class II public welfare institution funded by the government and donations from the public. The center was completed on June 1, 1989. The center focuses on extracurricular education, offering 400 interest-based training courses year-round in over 70 disciplines across six categories, including robotics, calligraphy and painting, and science and technology, serving over 10,000 children annually. The center has provided charitable support to students for over 20 years, and has donated 50,000 times through diversified fundraising efforts. In November 2020, it was awarded the National Class A (Excellent) Children's Extracurricular Education Institution. 14) Harbin Municipal People's Government Recruitment Office 哈尔滨市人民政府征兵办公室. 15) Billboard : The foundation for promoting the comprehensive revitalization of Northeast China lies in the real economy, the key lies in scientific and technological innovation, and the direction is industrial upgrading. 推动东北全面振兴,根基在实体经济, 关键在科技创新,方向是产业升级. 16) College Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Workshop 大學生創新創業工場. This is highly timely, as there's been a horrendous brain drain from the Northeast in the past 10 years, evidenced by the net outflow of over 11 million people, consisting mainly of highly educated college students and skilled workers who are flowing to more economically developed eastern and southern provinces, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangdong. The reasons are because the three Northeastern Provinces were once important industrial bases in China, they've become too dependent on traditional industries, and let emerging industries (such as high technology and digital economy) lagged behind, resulting in limited employment opportunities. Also, compared with the south, Northeast China has fewer private enterprises and innovative enterprises, making it difficult to provide competitive salaries and development space. Furthermore, while scientific research institutions in Northeast China (such as Jilin University and Harbin Institute of Technology) have strong scientific research capabilities, the local industries are unable to effectively undertake their achievement, resulting in science researchers "taking technology south" ( Wow, that's almost Hong Kong 2.0 ! ). 17) Harbin University for the Elderly 哈尔滨老年人大学. Northeast China is one of the most seriously aging regions in the country, and the outflow of young labor has further exacerbated this trend. Harbin University for the Elderly was founded in 1984. It is a public welfare second-class bureau-level institution under the jurisdiction of the Harbin Municipal People's Government.The college is equipped with 34 classrooms of various types, including computer rooms, language rooms, electronic piano rooms, dance rooms, multi-purpose halls and fitness rooms. The school has more than 30 professional disciplines, including calligraphy, Chinese painting, vocal music, dance, literature, health care, massage, Tai Chi, Tai Chi sword, cooking, and "AI mobile phone smart life" courses, besides housing the Geriatric Education Research Center, the Research Center for Contributing to the Elderly, and the National Geriatric Education Service Center. The students are mainly retired cadres, department and bureau-level leaders, retired professional and technical personnel, civil servants, teachers, workers, etc. In terms of the age of the students, the minimum age for enrolled students is 50 for men and 45 for women. The oldest student is currently 90 years old. In terms of educational level, 80% of the students have a high school degree or above. The school adheres to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the school philosophy of "people-oriented, cultivating sentiment, teaching and learning, and serving the society 以人为本、陶冶情操、乐教善学、服务社会 ", the school purpose of "everything for the elderly, everything for the elderly 一切为了老年人、为了老年人的一切 ", the development strategy of "scale development and brand creation", the school goal is to educate and guide students to become "three-have elderlies who are capable, progressive, and happy“ 有作为、有进步、有快乐 ". The school has published over 600 research papers on geriatric education at national, provincial, and municipal conferences on geriatric education; and over 200 students have received national, provincial, and municipal awards.
1) Saint Sophia Cathedral 聖索菲亞教堂, of Byzantine architectural style ,was built in March 1907, after Russia's loss of the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905). It was part of a plan to restore the confidence of the Fourth Infantry Division of East Siberia of Tsarist Russia, by erecting an imposing spiritual symbol. In 1921, as Harbin had a population of 300,000, out of which 100,000 were Russians, so the church was expanded and renovated ( 1923- 1932). The resulting St. Sophia Church was hailed as a monumental work of art and the largest Orthodox church in the Far East. In 1949 the CCP ended all religious activities, the cathedral was thus closed from the period of the Great Leap Forward (1958–61) through the Cultural Revolution (1966–76). The Cathedral structure was sturdy enough to withstand the intended damage during the Cultural Revolution, and for a time became a warehouse for a nearby state-run department store, its windows were bricked up and saplings grew from the roof. Concrete high-rises boxed the church in on all four sides, coming within yards of its walls, making the cathedral inaccessible and invisible from the street. In 1996 the Beijing government designated the cathedral a national cultural heritage site, as part of a nationwide campaign to protect historical sites. After a newspaper article about the "hidden" cathedral prompted donations from locals to restore the church, a total of 12,000,000 yuan (approximately $1.5 million US) were gathered and the cathedral regained its visibility in 1997, as the surrounding buildings were torn down. As of 1997 the cathedral was turned into the Municipal Architecture and Art Museum (Harbin Architectural Art Gallery). 2-7) Dressing up is the new trend. All girls, except for a very brave old gentleman. 8-9) Mock railway station. 10) Cafe and tourist office. 11-13) Russian souvenior shop. 14-15) street scenes. 16-17) Harbin at night.
1-2) Flood Control Monument (Fang Hong Ji Nian Ta), was built in 1958 to commemorates the Great Flood of 1932 which was by far the deadliest and most destructive flood in Harbin's history. The cause was an unprecedented amounts of rain across the entire Songhua River basin for the entire month of July. For nearly a month, over 90% of Harbin was submerged underwater, with some areas having water depths of 3-5 meters , and the water level at the Harbin hydrological station reached a record 119.72 meters above sea level (a record that stood for 85 years). As this occurred during the era of the Japanese-puppet state of Manchukuo, the response was chaotic and insufficient, Many sources cite a figure of around 20,000 to 30,000 deaths in Harbin alone, with many more perishing in the wider province. The death toll was exacerbated by subsequent famine and disease (such as cholera and typhoid) that broke out in the aftermath. Other Significant 20th Century Floods were in 1956,1957, and the Great China Flood of 1998, which was a massive, nationwide disaster. Damages and casulties from the latter floods were much less because of the immense investment China made in flood control infrastructure in the latter half of the 20th century, which includes construction of large upstream reservoirs (like the Fengman Dam, later replaced by the Baishan Dam) to regulate water flow ; reinforcement and raising of the dike system around Harbin; and mproved weather forecasting and emergency response systems. 3) Long live CCP. 4-12) Stalin Park (斯大林公园) was originally called Riverside Park 江畔公园, and before the 1950s, served as a railway line and a shipping dock. In 1953 it's re-invented with Russian-style buildings, five-color grasses flowerbeds, and sixteen groups of sculptures and voila, we've the Stalin Park ! It stands as evidence of the friendship between China and Soviet Union which ended in the 1960s. Across the Songhua River from the Park is the Sun Island scenic area. 13) Press Plaza has nothing to do with the press, it's actually a high end hotel. 14) Sino-Soviet Friendship Palace 中國中蘇友誼宮 Funny story about the street name where the Palace is . In 1900, this street was called Police Street, because Tsarist Russia established its first police station there in 1899. In 1955, the street was renamed Friendship Road after the Sino-Soviet Friendship Palace was built there. In 1968, when China and Russia fell out, Friendship Road was renamed Anti-Revisionism Road. In 1973, when Sino-Soviet relationship thawed, it was restored to its previous name, which remains in use to this day. The Friendship Palace is one of Harbin's landmark buildings, the architectural style merges Chinese and Western elements. It was built in 1954 to commemorate the friendship between China and the Soviet Union, and served as the state guesthouse of Harbin and the International Conference Center of Heilongjiang Province.Today it's a 4 star hotel. 15) bus stop. 16) 坚持以人民为中心, 不断实现人民对美好生活的向往. Adhere to the people-centered approach, Continuously realize people's yearning for a better life 17) 身在最北方,心向党中央. Although I am in the far north, my heart is with the Party Central Committee.
After the construction of the Chinese Eastern Railway, different styled buildings emerged on both sides of the railway line—Daoli道里is dominated by Russian-style architecture, while Daowai道外 is dominated by Chinese-style commercial markets, forming the "Nangang (Russian)南岗（俄）, Daoli (European)道里（欧）, Daowai (Chinese) 道外（中）" pattern. We visited the Daowai District, so called because of its location east of the railway ("outside the railway"). This is Harbin's old city district, and home to China's largest collection of Chinese Baroque architecture. The buildings were mostly built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when Harbin, as a hub on the Chinese Eastern Railway, attracted a large number of foreign immigrants (particularly Russians) and Chinese merchants. Local wealthy merchants combined Western architectural styles with traditional aesthetics, creating a unique "Chinese Baroque" style. Initially, most buildings were mixed commercial and residential, with shops (such as pharmacies, tea houses, and banks) on the first floor and residences on the second floor and above, reflecting the commercial prosperity of the time. Today the District is still rich in traditional street culture, with a concentration of delicious food. 1) MaDonald's in a historical building. 2) Western Restaurant. 3, 6) Western Baroque style building, the exteriors of these buildings feature ornate Baroque ornamentation, such as curved pediments, reliefs, arched windows, and Corinthian columns. 4) 百年餐飲老街 Centennial Dining Street and the famous Harbin Roulian Red Sausage. Roulian stands for "Meat Joint Processing Plant," a long-established, nationally renowned meat processing company, founded in 1913. The correct name is actually "Harbin Meat Union Red Sausage", a time-honored brand, and a guarantee of quality and authentic flavor. The red sausage in fact originated in Lithuania and later introduced to Russia. It was then introduced to Harbin, in the early 20th century with the construction of the Chinese Eastern Railway. "Harbin Roulian" is thus the birthplace of China's first red sausage, boasting over a century of traditional craftsmanship.The sausage's red color is due to the use of red yeast rice as a natural pigment during production, and the sausage ingredients are high-quality pork and beef, seasoned with garlic, black pepper, salt, and other spices, giving it a rich smoky and garlicky aroma, with a firm, springy texture. It's a must-buy Harbin specialty. 5) Chinese Baroque-style Buildings arch 中华巴洛克式建筑 7) Traditional Chinese elements reflected in roofs featuring Chinese-style sloping roofs or horse-head walls. Facade decorations incorporate auspicious motifs such as bats (Fu), copper coins, and ruyi (Ruyi). 8,9) Russian souvenier shops. 10) Zhang Baopu 张包铺 was founded in 1902 (during the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty 清光绪年间) by a businessman named Zhang. "Zhang Baopu" literally translates to "Zhang's Baozi Shop,张家的包子铺" deriving its name from the founder's surname, Zhang, and the fact that baozi were its main product. Its signature dish, the Pork Rib Buns 排骨包子(small pieces of pork ribs wrapped in dough), has become a Harbin culinary landmark. They embody the ruggedness and creativity of Northeastern cuisine, epitomizing Harbin's history as an immigrant city (fusing Shandong noodle culture with local ingredients). Other specialties are tofu steamed buns豆腐包子and sweet and sour pork 锅包肉 (a classic Northeastern dish). The building housing Zhang Bao Pu is a typical "front shop, back residence" layout. The street-facing facade features Baroque-style reliefs, arched windows, and ornate decorations, while the interior retains the layout of a traditional Chinese courtyard house. This arrangement enables Chinese merchants to absorb Western architectural styles while retaining traditional living habits.The building is designated a part of the city's architectural heritage, it's not only a living architectural fossil but a symbol of urban memory, of special cultural significance. 11) Russian bread shop. Leba, Russian "Хлеб", Chinese "列巴", in China it refers specifically to a traditional Russian whole-grain flatbread adapted for Chinese taste, and popular in Northeast China. In fact black bread's roots in China are primarily in Harbin. They're generally large, hard-crusted, slightly sour, and rich in wheat flavor. This is due to the use of hops in the fermentation process, which creates a unique, tart and fragrant flavor. Due to its low moisture content and firm texture, black bread has very long self life and suitable for long-term storage in cold regions. They go really well with red sausage! 12) Unique charm of "Western-style houses with Chinese courtyards" 13) Manhole cover bearing the city insignia. 14) Shop specializing in Siberian tiger toys (also known as the Amur tiger) 東北虎, another symbol of the Northeast. 15) Zhengyang Street正陽大街, now renamed Jingyu Street 靖宇街. The banner reads : I was born in 1870, and the names of the heroes of 1948 have been integrated into my blood. So, with a heavy history, I have a burning faith!~. I am Jingyu Street. 我生于1870年，1948年英雄的名字融入了我的血液，于是曆史厚重的我有了滾燙的信仰!~。我是靖宇街. General Yang Jingyu 杨靖宇将军 (1905-1940) was a renowned Chinese anti-Japanese hero and one of the main founders and leaders of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army. He waged guerrilla warfare in Jilin, Liaoning, and other areas, inflicting heavy losses on the Japanese troops. On February 23, 1940, at Sandaowaizi 三道崴子, Mengjiang County 濛江县 (now Jingyu County靖宇县), Jilin Province吉林, Yang Jingyu died heroically after running out of ammunition and food, fighting alone for five days and nights. He was only 35 years old. A Japanese autopsy of his body revealed only grass roots, tree bark, and cotton wool in his stomach, without a single grain of food. Mao Zedong called him "a model of unflinching hardship and struggle, fighting the enemy in icy conditions for over seven years." In 2009, he was posthumously honored as one of the "100 Heroes and Model Figures Who Made Outstanding Contributions to the Founding of the People's Republic of China", his spirit is regarded as a symbol of the Chinese nation's indomitable spirit. 16) 不到城非好漢，不吃黑及肘子真遺憾. If you haven't been to the Great Wall, you are not a true man. If you haven't eaten black pork elbow, it's a pity. "Black Skin Pork Knuckle" is a Northeastern delicacy. The roasted or deep-fried skin turns it dark red and crispy, the high-temperature draws out some of the fat underneath the skin, resulting in a rich yet non-greasy dish, it is then stewed or braised for 2 hours or more. The pre-roasting not only helps absorb flavors more easily during stewing, but also retains crispness of the skin, while the gelatin melts thoroughly, and the lean meat inside is juicy, and so tender, it falls-off-the-bone easily. Its greatest appeal lies in its striking contrast of textures, with the crispy exterior and tender interior, coupled with a rich, complex fragrant aroma. It's often served hot as a main dish with rice, or with scallions, cucumbers and chili sauce, wrapped in a bun. 17-19) Chinese Baroque-style Buildings on South Second and Third Streets, this area contains 25 courtyards and 65 immovable cultural relics
Now we're on the subject of food, Harbin cuisine blends traditional Northeastern flavors (in particular Shandong cuisine), Russian and Jewish culinary culture ......... and because the populace of Habrin is a mixture of Han 漢族 , Korean 朝鮮族 , Manchu滿族 , Hui 回族 , Mongolian 蒙古族 , Xibe 錫伯族 , Daur 達斡爾族, etc, each group exerts its subtle influence, and combined with the local mountain delicacies like river fish, soybeans, etc, results in a unique "jianghu 江湖 " style. There's good use of soy sauce, scallions, ginger, and garlic for seasoning, with large pot stews being the primary focus. Harbin dishes are ample in portion, high in calories and fat, which is well suited to cold wintry climate, and pickled vegetables (sauerkraut and pickles) are common. Unfortunately, being a Chinese group from HK, we only got the Asian flavored foods . 1-2) Dumpling shop where we were served 8 different types of dumpling. The history of Chinese dumplings ( jiaozi 饺子), spans over 1,800 years. The legend had it during the Eastern Han Dynasty (c.150-220 AD) Zhang Zhongjing (张仲景), a renowned physician, noticed the poor suffered frostbites on the ears, so he devised a remedy. He cooked mutton, black pepper, and some warming medicinal herbs in a pot. He then chopped them up, wrapped them in small scraps of dough, and folded them to resemble ears. He boiled these little dough parcels and distributed them to the poor along with the warm soup.This dish was called "jiao'er" (娇耳), meaning "tender ears." Over time, people began making jiao'er for themselves, and the name gradually evolved into jiaozi. The oldest actual archaeological evidence of jiaozi comes from a Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD) tomb in Xinjiang (Turpan). The arid climate perfectly preserved a bowl of dumplings that looked almost identical to modern ones, proving they were a common food over 1,300 years ago. The name jiaozi (饺子) became standardized during the Song Dynasty (960–1279 AD). The tradition of eating jiaozi at midnight on Chinese New Year's Eve became solidified during the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1912) dynasties. The reason is threefold: the shape of jiaozi resmbles traditional gold or silver ingot (sycee) ; the word jiao (饺) sounds like the word for "exchange" or "replace" (jiao 交), so eating them at the turn of the year (zi shi 子时) represents the "exchange of the year and the day" (geng sui jiao zi 更岁交子); Families often hide a coin, candy, or peanut in one dumpling. Whoever finds it is believed to have extra luck in the new year. Now jiaozi could be boiled (Shuijiao 水饺), most common in Northern China; pan-fried (Guotie 锅贴 or Jianjiao 煎饺). while steamed (Zhengjiao 蒸饺) is popular in Southern China. 3.4) Manchus Hot pot. 东北满族酸菜白肉火锅 ( Northeastern sauerkraut and pork hotpot ) The Jurchen ancestors of the Manchu Zhou clan were nomads. And as early as the Jin Dynasty, while hunting in the wild, they had a custom of cooking deer and dog meat slices in chicken broth over a fire in a clay pot. The Manchus originally called it "Yeyi Hot Pot 野意火锅". Over time, the clay pot is replaced with copper pot, and pork, lamb, chicken, fish, and occasionally pheasant, roe deer, and venison were added, as well as a variety of wild mushrooms, such as hazel mushrooms 榛菇 , shiitake mushrooms元蘑 , 草蘑 grass mushrooms, and Hailar mushrooms 海拉尔蘑 . The main differences between Manchu and Han hot pots are: Traditional cooking pot is a charcoal-fired copper pot with a chimney in the center (commonly known as "sauerkraut pot"). Han Chinese mostly uses modern gas pots, induction cooktops, or compartmentalized pots (such as a shuangyang hotpot) and fuels are more modern (gas, electricity), and pots are made of a variety of materials (stainless steel, ceramic, etc.). The soup base of Manchu Hot Pot is usually clear broth with pork bones, chicken bones, or seafood, plus a generous amount of fermented sauerkraut, hence the broth is sour and refreshing. Manchu hot pot uses sliced pork belly, venisen, blood Sausage (Manchu specialty sausage, stuffed with pig blood), and frozen tofu and vermicelli to absorb the broth, also crabs, oysters, and other seafood if available, for a fresher flavor. The dipping Sauces for Manchu hot pot are Chive Flower Sauce韭菜花酱 , Fermented Bean Curd Sauce腐乳汁, Mashed Garlic and Sesame Oil 蒜泥麻油. While Manchurian hotpot is less common outside of Northeast China, "Sour Cabbage and White Pork Hotpot" has become a signature Northeastern dish. 5) "Three Sets 三套碗" originates from the banquet custom of Manchu nobles or wealthy families, emphasizing pomp and etiquette, the "Three sets" symbolizes the richness of the dishes and also shows respect for the guests.The world-renowned Manchu-Han Banquet was 满汉全席 evolved from it. The banquet is named "Three Sets" because the main dishes are served in three sets of bowls: a "cup bowl," a "middle bowl," and a "seating bowl". The "First Set": larger bowls or plates for main dishes (such as stews and meats)."Second Set": medium-sized bowls for cold dishes or side dishes. "Third Set": small bowls or delicate vessels for soups, desserts, or snacks.The banquet consists of eight cold dishes (such as braised pork, pork jelly, and wild vegetables), three large dishes, and twelve stir-fried and stewed dishes, typically Manchu-style dishes such as stewed chicken, fish, and braised pork; Ginseng Chicken Soup, Pickled Cabbage and Pork Soup, and staple Dishes such as rice, Bobo (Manchu pastry),etc, totaling over twenty dishes. It is primarily popular in Northeast China, particularly in the Manchu-populated areas of Jilin Province. 7-9) Lao Chu Jia老厨家.烹饪世家, 百年道台府 The story of "Lao Chu Jia" is a story of four generations of a family committed to craftsmanship and flavor, and it also epitomizes the development of Harbin's modern culinary culture. In 1907, the pionier Zheng Xingwen郑兴文 went to Harbin to serve as Chief Chef of Binjiang Customs, and in 1910 created famous dishes such as sweet and sour pork and smoked braised duck. In 1922: Zheng Xingwen and his son opened the first "Lao Chu Jia" in Harbin, which was closed due to oppression by the Japanese puppet regime in 1938. It was finally closed in 1956, In 2000, however, the fourth-generation successor Zheng Shuguo revived the "Lao Chu Jia" brand. We had the Guō Bāo Ròu 鍋包肉, the name literally means pot-wrap meat. This is Lao Chu Jiap's most celebrated creation. It consists of crispy, deep-fried battered pork slices, and in order to accomodate the taste of international guests, especially the Russians, a sweet and sour sauce is added. It's Usually plated with carrot, ginger, and scallion shreds for garnish, and eaten as a main dish with steamed rice or other Chinese staples. 10,11) Lǎo Tài Tai Jīn Bǐng老太太筋饼 is a type of traditional gluten Chinese pancake, particularly popular in Northeastern China. The name translates to Old Lady's Chewy Pancake, highlighting its texture and possibly its association with homemade, rustic cooking. Made from wheat flour, water, and sometimes a bit of salt or oil. The dough is rolled thin and pan-fried until lightly browned, and is commonly eaten with stir-fried dishes (e.g., shredded potatoes, eggs, or meat) or rolled with fillings like scallions, cilantro, or braised pork. 12-17) Harbin Laochang Spring Pancakes 哈尔滨老昌春饼 is a renowned Harbin specialty restaurant, specializing in traditional Northeastern spring pancakes and home-style dishes. The spring Pancake is eaten wrapped with Beijing duck, sweet and savory shredded pork, stir-fried mixed vegetables, bean sprouts, leeks, and eggs, shredded Potatoes, and Sauerkraut Vermicelli. 18,19) Simple rustic meal in the countryside, in a sort of workers' canteen, guess what, this was the meal I liked the most!
While Harbin is a Tier 2 city, Jilin City, though the second-largest city in Jilin Province and has historical significance, is in the 3rd tier because of its economic development and infrastructure. Jilin City is a prefecture-level city, and the only city with the same name as the Jilin province. Its history dates back to the Stone Age, with its founding in the early Western Han Dynasty, more than 2,200 years ago. It is called the "River City of the North" because of the Songhua Lake, the largest artificial lake in Jilin Province and one of Jilin City's most famous scenic spots. Because the Songhua River never freezes even in winter, and the water vapor condenses into rime, so Jilin City is also known as the "Rime Capital". Songhua Lake was formed in 1937 by damming the Songhua River to build the Fengman Hydropower Station, the heat generated is the reason the lake never freezes. Jilin city is also called the "Shipyard" because of a shipyard the Ming government established here to build warships. Jilin has undergone a lot of transformations, from the ancient capital of Fuyu to a major military center during the Qing Dynasty, and then to a modern industrial city. Today it faces much the same economic and demographic challenges as Harbin; the Northeast has one of China's lowest birth rates and highest outmigration rates. In the past 10 years, Jilin's population dropped by 3.38 million (12.3%), while Harbin lost 6.3 million people (over 10%), for much the same reasons. The economy has lagged behind coastal and southern China due to both internal ( resources depletion, corruption, rigid government policies ) and external factors ( strong innovative competitors). Furthermore, Jilin City was once a key cross-border trade partner with Russia, but since the 2022 sanctions, trade has declined. In a bid for self-help, Jilin is investing in battery production (e.g., CATL suppliers) and emerging industries such as carbon fiber. And hopefully there's potential growth in cross border trades with Russia and North Korea, if geopolitics stabilize. 1-10) Jilin City at night, 11) Jilin Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China 中國共产党吉林市委員會. 12-14) Ne Zha, Robodog and the SWAT team were all on duty, how much more safe could we be? 15-20) Night market. Did you know most parts of the lotus are edible, including the petals, seeds, leaves, and roots?
1) Our hotel in Jilin City. Shimao Markham Hotel世茂萬錦酒店 with a river view. 2.8 ) Jilin bridge and the Songhua River. The old Jilin Bridge, originally named the "Xingya Bridge," started construction in 1940, during the puppet Manchukuo regime. At the time, the Japanese invaders were frantically plundering supplies, leaving little time for construction, and the bridge project was halted several times. The Japanese puppet authorities forced Jilin gentry and merchants to "share" the cost. Led by wealthy Jilin gentry Wang Baichuan, almost all businesses in the city "donated" funds. The bridge was finally completed and opened to traffic on September 15, 1943. In 2014, a new two-way bridge was built, and in 2020, the old bridge was largely demolished. In June 2023, after repairs and reinforcement, the preserved northern section of the old bridge was opened to the public as a commemoration of history. 3) Jilin Catholic Church was built in 1926. In 1999, the church was designated a Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Unit by the Provincial Government. In March 2013, it was elevated to be a National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit . 4) 大東山水迎天下 Dadong Landscape Welcomes the World. 5)The "Wind Banner" sculpture, originally constructed in June 1999 and renovated in July 2023, features a windmill-shaped upper portion and red columns with water patterns at the lower portion. The sculpture represents a vibrant dragon, flowing day and night, symbolizing the Jilin Province, riding the wind and waves, and forging ahead courageously. 6) The Three Kingdoms of Buyeo夫余三国 (2nd century BC - 494 AD) were the earliest ethnic regimes established in Northeast China. Its early capital was located in the Longtan龙潭山, Maoer帽儿山, and Dongtuan Mountains東团山 of Jilin City吉林市. Dongming东明 was the founding monarch of Buyeo. This is his story. 7) Bank of the Songhua River. 9-10) Under the bridge life goes on. Every morning these ladies gather here, first to do a little exercise, then practice their music. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19dDETc38t/ Retired life in China's never dull. 11) Taibai Island Wetland Park太白島湿地公园 was restored through the Jilin City Songhua River Hundred Mile Ecological Corridor Restoration Project. This project aims to restore the wetland ecosystem, and ultimately create an "ecologically livable city." 12) Ruddy Shelducks, a migratory bird who bonds for life, resides by the river that never freezes.13) View of the Wetland Park. 14) Magic folk remedies for warts and skin lesions big and small.15) Sculpture named "Life, Soaring" 生命.翱翔. The design inspiration came from the migrating birds from Changbai Island, while incorporating elements of Songhua River's flowing water. The swirling, ascending birds represent the strong following their convictions. They brave the bitter cold and harsh winds, forging ahead together in solidarity, and takes flight across the mighty Songhua River, soaring into the skies. The courageous journey of the birds should inspire us to grasp the promise of harmonious coexistence and the boundless beauty of life.~ designed by Wu Xiangzhong 吴祥忠. 16) Before the clean up, the river was heavily polluted and the banks were piled high with rubbish. As in most provincial municipal public project in socialist China, the implementation is a communal effort. First the community is invited to vote online as what they prefer done, the top 10 suggestions are then listed online. Yongqing County then launched volunteer service activities永吉县园河长制定愿服务活动, including local students : The River Chief System Enters Campus initiative 河长制进校园 : targeted river chief system activities have been carried out in primary and secondary schools across the county. The aim was to enrich students' awareness of river and lake management, and in turn increase public awareness of the system for improving the water environment and promoting ecological river and lake conservation. This is the "schools lead students, students lead families, and families lead society" model of knowledge dissemination in practice. 17) Children's playground within the Park. 18) Changbai Island Waterbird Conservation Station长白岛水鸟保护站; Wildlife Epidemic Source and Disease Monitoring Station 野生动物疫源疫病监测站. 19) The river water is now clean enough for swimming, though the practice is discouraged as there's no lifeguards, and the water flow can be swift. 20) Local residents enjoying the evening breeze. The bare-chested middle-aged man comfortably lying on the bench is proof that to some locals, the park is home away from home!
1) Beishan Snow Cave北山雪洞 is an ice and snow attraction located within Beishan Park in Jilin City. 2.) This doubles as theJilin Beishan Four Seasons Ski Resort 吉林北山四季滑雪场 for amateur skiiers 8) https://youtu.be/7z2agz-Ipck?si=KBSbTtAgfHH5K3Hahttps://youtu.be/7z2agz-Ipck?si=KBSbTtAgfHH5K3Ha; the training of skiing athletes in China on the other hand, is primarily conducted in specialized facilities designed to meet the highest standards of sports training. 4.7) there're a lot of inspirational banners for the amateur skiiers to achieve higher goals, they read: National Cross-Country Skiing Base 国家级越野滑雪基地; A strong youth means a strong China, and a strong sports means a strong China 少年强则中国强,体育强则中国強. 3,5) Encouragement for the competing team: 越是艰险越向前 把短板不得再扎实一些把基础打得再牢靠一些 我们不惧风雨,也不畏险阻 只争朝夕,不负韶华 The more difficult and dangerous it is, the more we move forward. We must make our shortcomings more solid and lay a more reliable foundation. We are not afraid of wind and rain, nor of danger and obstacles. We must seize the day and make the most of our youth. 6) This image appears to be a display or banner related to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, featuring the official mascots Bing Dwen Dwen (Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics) and Shuey Rhon Rhon ( mascot for the Winter Paralympics), along with the Olympic rings. The Chinese text on the right side of the banner translates to: "Enhance sense of mission, responsibility, and honor, build a national team that is capable of winning and has an excellent style 增强使命感、责任感、荣誉感,打造能征善战、作风优良的国家队." The smaller banner refers to athletes from Jilin province, "吉林运动员风采" and translates to "Jilin Athletes' Style" or showcasing profiles of athletes, from Jilin Province, known for winter sports in China. 9, 10) A few ice sculptures outside of the Rime Laboratory workshop. 11-15,17) Inside are make-believe wintry scenes to be used as background for people to take pictures of themselves. 16) There's a low snow slide on car tires for people thus inclined.
Now that we're in Jilin, it'd be hard not to say something about the Manchus. According to the 2020 census, the Manchu population is approximately 10.42 million, making them China's sixth largest ethnic group, after the Han, Zhuang, Hui, Uyghur, and Miao. They're primarily distributed in Northeast China, in Liaoning, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Inner Mongolia, but are also found in Beijing, Xinjiang, Gansu, Ningxia, Shandong, Hubei, Guizhou, and other provinces. Within Jilin, the Manchu minority group is the largest, with a population of around 1.1 million; while this is less than Liaoning, which has an absolute number of over 5 million, but Jilin has always been considered one of the core heartlands of traditional Manchu culture. Many towns and villages here are historically Manchu, who are the indigenous people who have lived here for over two thousand years. Descended from the Jurchens of the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234), the Manchu identity was formally consolidated by Nurhaci in the early 17th century, with Jilin the absolute nucleus of the rising Manchu state. Jilin City (Girin Ula in Manchu, meaning River City) was founded in 1651, as a shipbuilding and strategic military base for the Qing forces. During the Qing Dynasty (1616-1912), much of Jilin (along with the rest of Manchuria, the "Manchu Homeland" ) was closed to Han Chinese settlement by the Willow Palisade, a system of ditches and embankments planted with willows. This was intended to preserve the Manchu way of life and maintain the region as a base for Qing military forces. This policy lasted until the 19th century when widespread Han migration was allowed. The Manchu influence on Jilin's culture is profound, deep-rooted, and visible in almost every aspect of life, from language and food to festivals, even the very place names of the province. Countless cities, towns, rivers, and mountains in Jilin have names of Manchu origin,e.g Jilin's from the Manchu "Girin Ula" (吉林乌拉), meaning "along the river"; Changchun's from the Manchu word for "cumaican" (a type of wine vessel); and Harbin meaning a place for "drying fishing nets", etc. Northeastern Mandarin is peppered with loanwords from Manchu, such as "邋遢 (lāta)" for "dirty" or "slovenly," which comes from "lekde." The Manchu inscriptions on the plaques of the Forbidden City in Beijing remain important historical witnesses. As to food, Manchu culinary traditions are a cornerstone of Northeastern Chinese (Dongbei) cuisine. The traditional Manchu diet was based on meat and starches. This is reflected in Jilin's love for dumplings (jiaozi), buns (baozi), and hearty stews. Specific Dishes: "Bairou xuechang" (白肉血肠), which is boiled pork and blood sausage, is a classic Manchu dish that remains a local specialty in Jilin. Given the cold climate, techniques like pickling (e.g., suān cài - pickled napa cabbage大白菜) are central. This is the key ingredient in the iconic Suan Cai Hot Pot 酸菜火煱. Sashimi 薩其瑪 and tofu pudding 豆腐花 are now everyday treats all over China.The heated brick bed, Kang (炕) which is a defining feature of traditional homes in Jilin and all of Northeast China, was a Manchu invention essential for surviving the harsh winters. Among the arts and cultural heritage that have been embraced by the Han population are the Errenzhuan (二人转), the popular folk song-and-dance tradition of Northeast China, originated from Manchu shamanistic rituals and folk songs; and Manchu Paper-Cutting, depicting traditional Manchu patterns and life on the hunt. Manchu shamanistic practices were a central part of their spiritual life and have influenced Han customs and folklore, e.g. the marital customs of bride kidnapping 搶親 and worshipping heaven and earth拜天地. How do the modern Manchus see themselves? A survey showed many Manchus consciously separate their ethnic identity from Qing political rule. On the merit front, Manchu scholars pointed out the Eight Banners system Qing Dynasty implemented, served not only as a military organization but also a social institution, and though Manchu remains the core element, the banners later incorporated Mongol and Han troops, reflecting the Qing's recognition and acceptance of it's multi-ethnic empire. It was the forerunner of the "Five-Colored Flag" adopted by the Republic of China (1912–1928), symbolizing ethnic harmony among the five major races under a unified republic. (五族共和): Red represents Han Chinese; Yellow the Manchus; Blue the Mongols; White the Muslims (Hui, encompassing all Chinese Muslims at the time) and Black the Tibetans. The manchu scholars also highlight Qing innovations like the "Lifanyuan" (Court of Colonial Affairs) 理藩院（殖民法院）for governing multi-ethnic territories—contrasting it with the Ming policy of isolationism and Sinolisation of non-Hans. There's also much argument that the over 1.5 million km² land (larger than Iran or Peru) that was lost by the Qing court to Russia over the past few hundred years, was in fact territorial concessions occurred under Western/Japanese coercion, and not Manchu intent, and therefore not entirely their fault. It appears the Manchu identity navigate between "historical disassociation" (from late Qing failures) and "strategic pride" (in imperial multiracial governance as well as their ancient pre-Qing traditions), nonetheless nowadays there's definite ethnic cultural revival among the Manchu general public . Some families publicly reclaim Manchu surnames to assert non-Han origins, and there's a surge of language revival. Manchu is a phonetic script adapted from the Mongolian alphabet, and was created by the order of Nurhaci in the late 16th century. Currently, fewer than 100 people worldwide can speak Manchu fluently, primarily in villages in Heilongjiang . To remedy the situation, China has established Manchu language research institutions (such as the Manchu Language Research Institute at Heilongjiang University), some universities offer Manchu language courses, and there are also online learning communities among the public. Some primary and secondary schools also have optional Manchu classes. Manchu ethnic townships have been established by the government to try preserve and promote traditional culture, language, and crafts. Abroad, institutions such as Indiana University in the United States and Tokyo University of Foreign Studies in Japan have Manchu studies programs. Certainly there's much for Manchus to be proud of : the oral epi "Nishan Shaman" is hailed as the Manchu equivalent of Homer. In 2019's Golden Award Festival 族慶日 for minority tribes, Manchu was formally put into the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List. Hopefully it's not going to be too little too late, as there appears to be a great deal of generational divide among the Manchus themselves : the older generation tends to prioritize cultural preservation; while the young often embraces hybrid identities. During the Qing Dynasty, intermarriage between Bannermen and other ethnic groups, such as Han Chinese, was subjected to restrictions. Today Manchu-Han intermarriage rates exceed 90%. Genetic studies show Manchus share ancestry with Yellow River farmers and ancient Amur River populations, but centuries of mixing with Han Chinese have diluted distinct Tungusic traits . In short, despite the challenges of modernization and cultural fusion, Manchu culture, as an integral part of the diverse Chinese culture, deserves every effort of preservation. **********************************************************************
1) Manchu Tale 滿族說部 [Ode to the Gods of Wuleben Hot Pot 乌勒本火锅神赋】While peacefully inhabiting the Baishan and Heishui Rivers for thousands of years, the Jurchens had a tradition of boiling wild game. Then generations of war forced the Wanyans to move down the river, cultivating their culinary skills and expertise on the way. Harvesting the delicacies of the Changbai Mountain , fish from the Songshui River and cooked with shrimp bones, the clear broth of the traditional recipes soothes the heart and spleen . It was praised by emperors and generals, and revered by mountain dwellers. When the common people experienced a minor ailment, the soup warmed the body, promoted circulation and healed them, so it was given the name "divine pot." Today, the Wanyan descendants carry on the family tradition, creating a new era of one-pot stewing technique to welcome guests. When you enter the Wuleben Hall, the hall is lively, the copper pot gurgles, the red charcoal reflects, the broth is fresh, the meat is delicious, the rice is fragrant, and the vegetables are fresh. The Gods of heaven and earth are moved by the feast, harmony and peace bring good health, and the diner is nourished body and soul. ~The God of Cooking is Mahlerben. There're so many Manchu legends: 2) Chimoni Mother (Snow Mountain Goddess) 奇莫尼妈妈(雪山神母) In winter, the merciful Chimoni Mother descended from heaven, bestowing upon the earth a thick, white, cotton-padded garment, to save all the people and animals from plagues and destitution. Even the vegetation vied for shelter under her care, until the evil was driven away. The hot springs that flowed from Mother's benevolent, fiery energies, enabled all creatures to mate and reproduce, so the world could flourish as it does today. The love Mother had accumulated over the winter brought forth the spring peach blossoms, the summer nectar came from Mother's breasts. The five-flower fairy of autumn was her splendid attire, a special reward for Mother's creatures. All fruits of the farmers' labor must be collected quickly, so if new home was built for a son's wedding, the new wife could indulge in intimacy without even a moment's distraction. This was why the offerings to Mother must be freshly shed blood meal, in order to sustain auspiciousness and continuous properity. 2,5} Manthu art. 4) Boedeyinmu (First Mother of Shamans)博额德音姆(萨满始母) When the sky shimmers with rosy clouds and the waves of the Sakyan Ula River dance, the lowest reaches of the river journey westwards, until it reaches the Nine-Forked God's belly. Atop a prancing divine deer, sits the Great Shaman Boedeyinmu. No one knows how many centuries old she is, as she remains youthful and radiant. Despite her silver hair, her face remains rosy. She's blessed with an extraordinary longevity by the gods of heaven, a voice of song by the birds, and divine skills by the eagle god. Her aquatic abilities and riding skills are inherited from the fish god and the beasts. Her myriad skills ward off all evil and cure all mortal ailments. She can communicate with anyone who's seeking help, and predict any disaster. She crafts a musical instrument from the bones of a nine-forked carp,which sound conveys the will of the gods. Her compassion for all beings is as profound as the eastern sun, illuminating the earth. If she would descend upon any altar, if she would possess any shaman, that shaman, no matter how clueless, would burst into song and dance, and stay awake all night long. The music of wooden and stone hammers, mingling with her song like the cries of a crow, captivates a herd of pigs, who crowd together to create a black carpeted stage upon which the shaman could sing and dance freely. Where did a family's ancestors live? Where did their people and livestock end up? Even who was buried in each ancestral grave..... She could reveal all when she possesses the shaman. It's she, through generations of shamans, passes down the world's stories to future generations through oral tradition: what the world was like in its earliest days, and what caused its vicissitudes. It's she who speaks of the first gods, and reveals when humans first appeared, and when evil first began in the world. But ultimately, charity is the foundation of human survival.~ Jiangbei Jiang.江北江. 7) Mother Foduo (Goddess of Blessing and Childbirth)佛朵妈妈(祈福送子女神).The once pure and beautiful world in which our ancestors lived was completely submerged and destroyed by a sudden flood. Only a little boy survived by clinging to a willow branch, and drifting with the currents, he eventually washed up on a deserted island. The boy cried in despair and was heard by some benevolent spirit, and a willow leaf suddenly transformed into a little girl, who comforted him. After countless years,the little boy grew into a handsome, strong, intelligent, and hardworking man, and the little girl grew into a beautiful, gentle, and kind woman. They made a good home, but they didn't know how to dress, as they were accustomed to being naked with each other. ( Hello, Adam and Eve! ) But nakedness was disrespectful when offering sacrifices to the Gods, so the rituals were conducted in the dark and was called "back lantern", to avoid the spectacle of nakedness. No one knew when the couple married, nor when the girl began bearing children. She gave birth to and raised countless children ( no one, not even the girl, knew the exct number) , a fecundity unmatched by any human.The children all called her "Foduo Mama 佛朵妈妈". Foduo mother tied a strip of cloth to each child like a willow branch, marking them. They were the "soli" strips 索利条子that flowed directly from the mother's pocket and connected each child to a memorial tablet in the Ancestral Hall. This is why Manchu descendants who wish for a large family offer a willow branch to a new born child. The Manchu admire, worship and plant willow trees,the Qing emperors even more so. To show reverence, the mother was given the title "Foli Foduo Naqiang 佛立佛多那强." 6) 吉林原浆 (Jílín Yuánjiāng) refers to a type of unprocessed, raw baijiu (Chinese liquor) produced in Jilin Province. The term "原浆" (yuánjiāng) means "original pulp" or "unprocessed liquor," indicating that it has not been diluted, blended, or filtered after distillation, preserving its strong, authentic flavor. The key features are : High Alcohol Content – Typically around 50–60%; Strong Aroma & Flavor; Traditional Production – Made from fermented grains (sorghum, rice, wheat, or corn) using traditional solid-state fermentation (固态发酵). It's a Regional Specialty, usually drank straight in small shots. 二锅头 (Èrguōtóu) on the other hand originated in Beijing, and named after the distillation process ("second cut" or "second pot head"), where only the purest middle portion of the distilled liquid is collected for a smoother taste. It also has a high alcohol content, typically 52–65%, and is a staple at Chinese banquets and street-side meals. It's sometimes called "Chinese vodka" for its potency, but its flavor is uniquely baijiu (fermented grains). 8) Eight banner Manchu Hot Pot. 9) Wu jing 吴京, is a renowned actor, director, screenwriter, and producer in mainland China. He's most famous for his "Wolf Warrior战狼" Series of movies, his tough-guy persona and action film style has made him one of the most influential actors in Chinese cinema. His films have grossed over 30 billion yuan, making him the first Chinese actor to achieve this feat. What is lesser known is he's a Manchu Plain White Banner 满族正白旗. 10) Manchu paper cutting art, which differs from the Han variety by mostly featuring scenes of hunting and fishing.
1) Welcome to Jilin. 2) large-leaf tobacco大葉煙. It refers to tobacco varieties characterized by their broad, large leaves, historically used in the production of cigars, pipe tobacco, due to their robust flavor and texture. In rural areas, large-leaf tobacco might be air-cured or sun-cured for personal use or local trade. 3) Jilin Province has a notable tobacco industry. The China Tobacco Jilin Industrial Co., Ltd is a key player, manufacturing several well-known cigarette brands, including Changbai Shan (长白山) and Yanbian (延边). Like elsewhere, the tobacco industry contributes to local tax revenue and employment, the exact production figures are not publicly disclosed, due to China's state-controlled tobacco monopoly. According to China's national smoking census (2023) , about 50% of men and 2% of women are smokers, the number is higher in Korean Autonomous Prefecture (where most ethnic Koreans settled), due to regional and cultural factors. China has been tightening tobacco controls, including public smoking bans and health campaigns, but enforcement varies. 4) Changbai Mountain Ginseng Cigarettes 長白山人參煙 does contain traces of ginseng extract, but the inclusion of ginseng is just a marketing gimmick to make the product seem "premium" or "medicinal", claiming benefits like "reduced harm". The Chinese government and health authorities (like the WHO) asserts that "all cigarettes, including herbal or ginseng varieties, cause cancer, heart disease, and lung damage". Burning ginseng with tobacco does not neutralize the toxic effects of smoking, and is not a safe alternative to regular cigarettes. 5) Ginseng is a powerful herb for replenishing the vital energy "qi", treating symptoms of spleen and lung qi deficiency, and strengthening the body by promoting fluid production and nourishing the blood, it calms the mind, and improves intelligence. 6) Glacier Beer (冰川啤酒), a Chinese beer produced by the Lanzhou Yellow River Brewery Co., Ltd (兰州黄河啤酒有限公司) in Gansu Province. Notable Korean beers are Hite海特, Cass卡斯, and OB Lager奧比拉格. Jilin has beer production since 1952, popular brands nowadays are : Baoli Beer (葆力啤酒 1980s) and Xueshan Beer (雪山啤酒) from Changchun Beer Factory, Jin Shibai (金士百) from Siping; Xin Meihe Craft Beer (新梅河精酿) and Paulaner Brauhaus (保拉纳现酿啤酒坊) – A German-style craft brewery in Changchun, producing fresh beer on-site. 7) Fruit wines and fruit juices. 8) Supplements made from deer tendons, penis and heart. Deer tendons are supposed to help arthritis, deer penis in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is to boost virility, treat impotence, and improve male fertility, but none of which is supported by science. Deer heart, however, like all animal hearts, is a nutrient-dense meat. It's an excellent Source of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a powerful antioxidant; it's high in heme Iron, the most easily absorbed form of iron, and rich in Vitamins B2 and B12. The meat is high quality protein, and provides all essential amino acids. On top, it also contains Selenium and Zinc, both important minerals for immune function and metabolism. In TCM, the concept of "like supports like" (以形补形) is common. Therefore, eating an animal's heart is traditionally believed to nourish and strengthen the human heart and spirit (神 Shén). It is used to calm the spirit, improve sleep, and alleviate palpitations. A word of caution, these are not miracle cures and there's no magic bullet in the world. 9) Ginseng cosmetics. Wild Ginseng has been used in traditional medicine and skincare for centuries. The ginsenosides in ginseng are antioxidants which can combat free radicals, reducing oxidative stress and slow signs of aging; some studies suggest it also stimulate collagen production, thus improve skin elasticity and reduce wrinkles. Ginseng may help reduce hyperpigmentation and promote a more radiant complexion. Some formulations help retain moisture and strengthen the skin barrier, and its anti-inflammatory effects also promote skin health. Improvements would only be noted after consistent use over weeks or months, and the effectiveness of different creams vary depending on the concentration of wild ginseng extract in the product, as well as the inclusion of complementary ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, or peptides. 10) Buckthorn, cranberry , Ginseng and blueberry candies. preserved plums are also popular. 11) Purejoy Hot Spring Hotel 璞悅溫泉酒店. Officially opened in 2020, it's the flagship hotel and a central component of a massive, government-supported tourism complex called the Chagan Lake Ecological Town 查干湖生态小镇. Chagan Lake is most famous for its ancient tradition of winter ice fishing (especially of the bighead carp), which has been declared a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. The ambitious project to create an entire ecological tourism town began around 2018, in order to promote year-round tourism from merely seasonal. The Purejoy Hot Spring Hotel, the highest-class accommodation option within the complex, serve as a gateway and service center for Chagan Lake, providing accommodation, dining, and entertainment to extend visitors' stays. Its defining feature is the natural hot spring water piped into the hotel, which is a rarity in the region, and provides a major draw regardless of the season. 12,13) A display of Korean costumes and decorations in the hotel lobby. There's also a 24 hour self-service mini-market. 14) Korean breakfast. 15,16) A miniscule blueberry farm next to the hotel. Blueberries originated in North America, there're over 400 species. Wild blueberries in China are primarily grown in the forest areas of Changbai Mountain and the Greater Khingan Mountains大兴安岭. Research on cultivation of blueberries in China only began in the early 1980s, with the Small Berry Research Institute小浆果研究所 of Jilin Agricultural University吉林农业大学 pioneering the field and establishing the first industrialized blueberry production base. In the last decade the production regions has expanded dramatically, from Shandong and Liaoning in the north, to Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Anhui in the south, ensuring year round supply. China is now the world's largest producer of blueberries, and the sale of China-grown blueberries, both domestical and abroad, is a remarkable success story and a testament to the rapid modernization of Chinese agriculture.The domestic market is the primary driver of China's blueberry industry's growth, the explosive growth in sales can be attibuted to rising disposable income, increased health consciousness and digital commerce. Key export markets are Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia; SAR regions like Hong Kong and Macau, Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Sales to Europe and North America are usually during the off-season (especially from Yunnan), problems range from competitions from domesticblueberry industries, phytosanitary regulations, tariffs and logistics, to bias on quality of the product. Chinese companies are overcoming these obstacles by forming global partnerships with international giant companies, to access best practices in marketing and supply chain management. Now I understand why my guide in South America said to me woefully " China is taking over the blueberry market" Chile and Peru, the traditional supplier of blueberries to the world, are under pressure. 17) Play area for kids, 18) Cute bunny escaped from a miniscule rabbit farm next to the hotel. 18) Hot spring pools at night.
1) Entrance of Changbaishan (North) Scenic Area长白山北景区 2) Queuing for the electric buses to the scenic site.3) Wall painting of the Siberian tiger 中國東北虎. 5.) Painting of Changbai Mountain's autumn leaves 4.6) long lines climbing up the Changbai Mountain slpoe. Changbai Mountain is a dormant volcano, but even though the last reuption recorded was in 1903, the underground magma system remains active, so in 1999, China established the Changbai Mountain Volcano Monitoring Station, to continuously assess potential eruption risks. 7.) Crowds at the viewpoint of Tianchi 天池.8.10) The Big Tianchi Lake is a volcanic lake, located within a massive composite crater and is surrounded by 16 peaks, of which the highest within China is Baiyun Peak 白云峰, 2690 meters above sea level. It's the highest crater lake and the deepest lake in China. In 2013, the China Earthquake Administration and the DPRK state Seismological Administration jointly conducted a survey of the waters of the Tianchi Lake, and the 2018 report confirmed the water level of Tianchi to be 2189.1 meters, and the maximum water depth to be 373.2 meters. There is no water entrance into the lake, only a water outlet by the Croucher river 乘槎河, which later gives rise to the Changbai Waterfall长白瀑布 and the Songhua River松花江 .The Tianchi Lake is also the primary source of Tumen River图们江 and Yaku River鸭绿江. But surprisingly, inspite of the massive daily outflow of water, the water level never changes. At present, there is no consensus on the source of Tanchi water, though there're several hypothesis : a) atmospheric precipitation ~ the weather in Changbaishan is foggy almost all year round with few clear days (it's a matter of luck whether one catches a glimpse of the Lake), the lake acts as a funnel to catch all the rainfall; also water loss through evaporation is low because of high altitude. b) Underground spring water; c) Tieten plateau glacier melt water; d) connection with other high altitude underground water networks, e,g. Qinghal-Tibet Plateau; e) underground volcanic structure could provide additional water, as the pyroclastic rocks are loosely bound, the volcanic ash layer allow water to flow out of the cracks. 9) Sign reads " Fortify and protect the border. 11) Wonderful view of the meandering mountain roads. 12-14) Cooking eggs and corn on the cob in the hot springs. 15) Pounding dough to make sweet snack. 16) Julong Thermal Spring Group 聚龙温泉群 is a high-temperature volcanic self-flowing hot spring, with 47 springs covering an area of over 1,000 square meters. The water temperature averages 70°C, and reaches a peak of 82°C. The spring water contains hydrogen sulfide gas, and minerals such as iron, magnesium, and manganese, and as the water evaporates, a mineralized layer of red-brown, green, purple, and gold is left on the rock surface. The hot springs aren't just pretty, the hot spring index is actually an important indicator for monitoring volcanic activity in the Changbai Mountain. 17) Changbai Waterfall长白瀑布 is formed after the Chengcha River乘槎河 plunges down a 68 meter cliff. The great feature here is the water flows throughout the year. This is very rare in high altitude area (> 2100 meters above sea level). During the winter season, the surface of Tianchi Lake freezes over, but the water continuously flows out from under the ice into the Chengcha River. Chengcha River has a large river bed slope and rapid water flow, so does not freeze easily,this is why the Waterfall flows even in the harsh winter months.
1) One of the 47 Julong Thermal Springs. 2) Mountain stream in the Changbaishan World Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO). 3.4) Miniature Tianchi lake (Xiaotianchi Lake 小天池) is another crater lake. Although there is a stone tablet engraved with "Silver lake銀環湖" on the east side of the pond, and a cliff engraved with "Silver Lake" on the west side of the pond, people still call it "Utile Tianchi". The lake is quite pretty with its turquoise water, surrounded by a birch forest.The Xiaotianchi Lake is only 10 meters deep, it only has a water inlet, no outlet, yet even after long heavy rains it does not overflow, and during a draught it doesn't dry up. The water level is basically unchanged, another mystery nobody has an answer to. 5) The Temple of the Medicine King. 6) A huge statue of the Goddess of Mercy on a pedestal, opposite the bus stop. 7) The sign reads : 貫彻落實宗教事务條例,依法規范管理宗教事务. Implement the Regulations on Religious Affairs and manage religious affairs in accordance with the law There you are! There is religious freedom in China, but no freedom in joing cults! 8.9) Loyuan Pool 绿渊潭녹연담 is located at an altitude of 1,750 meters in the landscape zone of Betula Ermanii Forest, named after the color of the pool. The water is turquoise in color because of the clear water with few Impurities, as it refracts light well, it makes the water surface look turquoise. Golden trout and rainbow trout also live in the water. There're also a double-stranded waterfalls 26-meter-high. 10.11) Changbai Mountain Mammoth Park.長白山猛獁象主場公園 An educational exhibition hall focuses on mammoths and other prehistoric fauna.12) Changchun Jingyue Northeast Tiger長春淨月東北虎囝 According to 2025 data, the number of wild Amur tigers has increased to approximately 70, up from the single-digit figure in the 2000s. It was even once predicted that they could become extinct within 30 years. In 1993, China banned the use of tiger bones in medicine and stepped up efforts to combat poaching, laying the foundation for population recovery. In 2017, the Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park (spanning Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces) was established, a lot of efforts were done to restore habitat, develop ecological corridor, and reduce human-tiger conflicts by the "Clear Mountain and Clear Traps清山清套" campaign, and wildlife damage insurance; Technological tracking of tiger movement; captive breeding to preserve the gene pool ; and cross-border conservation cooperation (such as with Russia's "Leopard Country National Park"), the result has been encouraging. 13) The railway that used to be the lifeline for the Jilin economy, but since the rail's been extended to Changchun, a lot of businesses have moved there. 14) 牢固树立休戚与共,荣辱与共、 生死与共、命运与共的共同体理念 애락을 함께 하고 영욕을 함께 하고 생사를 함께 하고 운명을 함께 하는 공동체리념을 확고히 수립할 Firmly establish the concept of a community that shares both joy and woe, honor and disgrace, life and death, and a shared destiny. 民族团结是我国各族人民的生命线 UC 민족단길은 우리 나라 여러 민족 민담의 니다 National unity is the lifeline of our people of all ethnic groups. 15.17.) Jilin is also an ethnic Korean stronghold, so all signs are bilingual, and street arts have taken on a strong Korean flavor. 16) Koreans are excellent farmers, in particular rice, and Yilin is famous for its rice,e.g.Yanbian rice, ginseng (80% of China's production), and apple pears, etc. 18) Jilin borders North Korea, over the mountains is Korth Korea on the other side.
1) It's customary for a lot of workplaces in China to start the day by gathering all the staff together for a short session of briefing and exhortation. 2) Jingpo Lake 鏡泊湖 was formed 10,000 years ago when volcanic lava from the Mount Daguangding 大光頂山 eruption blocked the Mudan River牡丹江, forming a natural dam. It's the largest volcanic barrier lake in China and the second largest in the world (after Lake Baikal in terms of water storage among volcanic lakes). 3) 中國海事 China Maritime. 4.5)毛公山 Chairman Mao Mountain is formed by two overlapping mountain ridges, so called because the silhouette seen from certain angles, resembles Mao Zedong lying on his back in the Beijing Memorial Hall after his death, with clear facial features and proper body proportions 6.7) The 2 electric power stations built during the Japanese occupation. 10) We went on a little boat trip, but only saw a tiny fraction of the lake. 8.9,11.12) Enthusiastic fishermen camping out on the banks of the lake.13) 聚心亭 Juxin Pavilion next to the Diaoshuilou Waterfall. 14) Jingpo Scenic Spot 鏡泊勝景, the penmanship was by Deng Xiaoping 鄧小平 15) 東京城麗杰舞蹈隊 I was fortunate to run into the Tokyo City Lijie Dance Troupe, who graciously agreed for a photo. There're literally thousands of these community-based performance groups all over China. 16-19) Diaoshuilou Waterfall 吊水楼瀑布 is located at the northern end of Jingpo Lake, and unlike most waterfalls formed by rivers, this one was created when lava from volcanic eruptions blocked a river, forming the Jingpo Lake, the waterfall was created when the excess water cascades over the hardened lava. The waterfall spans 300 meters (984 feet) in width during the flood season, with a drop of about 20 meters (65 feet) into the Black Dragon Pool. 20) A local daredevil tradition involves professional performers diving from the top of the waterfall, the Cliff Diving Performances are scheduled daily from 10:00-15:00. Diving video
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1,2.3) Jingpo Lake Hotel 鏡泊湖賓館, located on the shores of Jingpo Lake, is divided into Qingxin Garden清心園 and Yishen Garden逸神園. Qingxin Garden where we stayed, is composed of 5 four-star standard villas. Comrade Deng Xiaoping had stayed here and inscripted its named. Vishen Garden is the main building of Jingpohu Hotel, which is a five-star standard building, composed of two fashionable villas. It had received party and national leaders such as Mao Zedong毛泽东, Zhou Enlai周恩来, Hu Jintao胡锦涛 ,Jiang Zenin江澤民, Li Peng,李鵬 Li Ruihuan,李瑞環 and Qiao Shi喬石 etc. as well as celebrities at home and abroad. This makes the Jingpo Lake Hotel a site of special significance in Chinese political history. The Jingpo Lake Hotel is a state-owned hotel, funded and built by the state, so it meets the requiremwnts of high-level government receptions.These types of hotels are known in China as "state guesthouses国宾馆" or "guesthouses招待所" and they serve important political functions. Since the 1950s, the Jingpo Lake has been a key summer location for national leaders to work and rest, the cool summers and beautiful scenery, the relative seclusion with excellent security, all make it an ideal place for private meetings, recuperation and relaxation. 4) A shady path leads to the dining hall. 5.6.8) The exquisite dining hall. 9) Inscriptions by various national leaders who had stayed in the hotel. 7) 1961年原国家领导人刘少奇视察镜泊湖-北岸柞树冠下的江松人工造林 Former state leader Liu Shaoqi inspected the artificial pine forest beneath the oak canopy on the north shore of Jingpo Lake in 1961. Liu Shaoqi (1898-1969) has to be one of the most tragic figues among the prominent CCP leaders. He was once a key leader of the Chinese Communist Party and served as President of the People's Republic of China. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, he was for a time the second-most powerful figure in the Party, second only to Mao Zedong. He was even considered Mao's successor, but his differences with Mao over the path of development grew wider. During the Cultural Revolution, Liu Shaoqi was heavily politically criticized and labeled a "capitalist roader." He was illegally detained and eventually died in prison in 1969. His body was secretly cremated under a fake name Liu Weihuang 劉衛黃. 10) 1961年7月30日原国家领导人刘少奇与夫人王光美来镜泊湖观光考察时留影 Former state leader Liu Shaoqi and his wife Wang Guangmei posed for a photo during a sightseeing visit to Jingpo Lake on July 30, 1961. 11) Deng Xiaoping receive Li Desheng and his wife at Jingpo Lake Hotel. Deng Xiaoping (1904 – 1997) was a Chinese statesman, revolutionary, and political theorist who served as the paramount leader of the People's Republic of China from 1978 to 1989. He is widely regarded as the "Architect of Modern China" for his contributions to Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and the Deng Xiaoping Theory. Li (1916-2011) was a general in the PLA. 12) 1978年8月10日毛岸青与夫人在鏡泊湖留影 Mao Anqing and his wife posed for a photo at Jingpo Lake on August 10, 1978. Mao Anqing (1924 – 2007) was the last surviving son of Mao Zedong . He had a mental illness, possibly schizophrenia. He worked as a translator and never became active in politics. 13) Deng Xiaoping and entourage at Jingpo Lake Hotel. 14) 1983年8月10鄧小平在鏡泊湖吊水樓瀑布前 Deng Xiaoping at the Diaoshuilou Waterfall on Jingpo Lake on August 10, 1983. 15) 1983 Deng Xiaoping and his wife at the Jingpo Lake Hotel. 16) 1986年朱德夫人康克清来鏡泊湖旅游观光时下榻于鏡泊湖賓館 Zhu De's wife Kang Keqing stayed at the Jingpo Lake Hotel during a sightseeing visit to Jingpo Lake in 1986. Zhu De 朱德（1886—197）was a General and former Vice President of the People's Republic of China. 16) 1990年原全国政协主席李瑞环來镜泊湖观光考察时下榻于镜滴湖宾馆 Former Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Li Ruihuan stayed at the Jingdi Lake Hotel during a sightseeing visit to Jingpo Lake in 1990. Li Ruihuan was a former Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He was in Hong Kong in November, 2000, at the invitation of Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa, for a 5 day visit. 17) 1995年6月21日原中共中央总书记、国家主席、中央军委主席江泽民与夫人王冶平来镜泊湖观光考察时下榻于镜泊湖宾馆 Former General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the People's Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission Jiang Zemin and his wife Wang Yeping stayed at the Jingpo Lake Hotel during a sightseeing visit to Jingpo Lake on June 21, 1995. Jiang Zemin (1926 – 2022) was the general secretary of the CCP from 1989 to 2002, chairman of the Central Military Commission from 1989 to 2004, and president of China from 1993 to 2003. Fun fact, both Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping were big fans of Panda Cigarette, a premier brand of cigarette in China.
1.2) 琵岩山温泉古村 The Piyanshan Hot Spring Ancient Village is the pilot project for a national forest health and wellness base, it is constructed by Jilin Zhongbai Cultural Tourism Investment Co., Ltd. with a total cost of 300 million yuan. 3,4,5) Hotel lobby. 6.8) Entrance to the hotel. 7) We were lucky to catch a Korean dance show at the hotel, put together by the local villagers for a film crew to advertise the local culture. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1GAVtLxdAv/ ; https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CjJ7WYwKg/. It's a pity they didn't do my favourite Korean song, "Arirang (아리랑)", this North Korean 北朝鮮版アリラン version is the best I've heard so far https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXQgyvLzKPs. 9) One of the restaurants. 10-18) There're indoor and outdoor hot spring pools, and these are some of the outdoor hot spring pools. Each pool has a different herb put in, which gives different health benefit, and some even have fruits and vegetables, like lemon, red chilli, and bell pepper. But what is particularly special about the water is the high fluoride content, which is supposed to promote the utilization and deposition of calcium and phosphorus in bones, accelerate bone formation and increase bone strength. It's said to be good for arthritis, hypertension, rheumatism, and hemiplegia. It also has antibacterial and disinfectant properties, and nourishes the body's yin, soothes the mind and relieves fatigue. This is why it's known as the "Sapphire臻稀蓝宝石" of hot springs.
1) Map of the Piyanshan Hot Spring Ancient Village. 2-13) Korean style buildings on the hotel ground.14) Park near the hotel. 15) Police station. 民族团结手牵手 ethnic groups unite hand in hand. 16) 各族民跟党走,同心絵就新藍图 People of all ethnic groups follow the Party and work together to create a new blueprint 17) Socialist core Values 社会主义核心价值观 : Citizens~ Patriotic, dedicated, honest, and friendly 公民~ 爱国敬业诚信友善; Society~ Freedom, equality, justice, and the rule of law 社会~ 自由平等 公正法治. Country~ Prosperous, strong, democratic, civilized, and harmonious 国家~ 富强民主文明和谐. People have faith人民有信仰. The country has strength 国家有力量. The nation has hope民族有希望
The Korean ethnic minority in China numbers around 1.9 million, with the majority residing in Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in Jilin中国吉林省延边朝鲜族自治州. Koreans began settling in this region in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, fleeing famine, Japanese colonization, and political unrest in Korea. In 1952, Yanbian was designated a Korean Autonomous Region, in 1955 it was upgraded to Autonomous Prefecture under China's constitution. At present 35.3% of the population is Korean, the rest are made up by Han Chinese, Manchu, Hui and Mongolians. Korean is widely spoken; all public signs are bilingual (Chinese and Korean) as are most of the residents. The community is a vibrant blend of traditional heritage and modern influences, traditional "hanbok" is worn during festivals and celebrations include baby's first birthday, 60th birthday (Huajia Festival), and 60th wedding anniversary (Huihun Festival). Traditional Korean festivals such as the Korean Farmer's Day and Chuseok (Mid-Autumn Festival), are celebrated with a variety of activities, and folk dances like the "farmer's dance", "fan dance", and "drum dance" are often performed. Popular dishes include kimchi, cold noodles, rice cakes, and dog meat soup (though less common now). The younger generations, however, embrace South Korean pop culture, fashion, coffee culture, and business trends. The Yanbian landscape is dominated by mountains (54.8%), with some plains and valleys—often described as "eight parts mountain, one part water, half grassland, half farmland". The traditional economic activities are farming (rice, ginseng, fruits), forestry (Yanbian has 80% forest coverage, supplying timber and medicinal herbs), and mining (coal, gold, iron, and limestone), but now as almost 80% of the population are urbanized, there is an economic transition from agriculture/manufacturing to tourism and tech. To attract tourists there're Korean Villages like Bailong Village to showcase traditional Korean houses, cultural performances and food experiences; Korean Folk Museum and Korean Culture Park also highlight Korean ethnic history and customs. Yanbian's stunning natural scenery is also a big draw, and a healthy growth in the tourism industry can be expected. Yanbian is bordered by Russia and North Korea, and remains a key region for cross-border trade and cultural exchanges. Yanbian is also famous for soccer, producing many national players. Intermarriage between Chinese (Han) and ethnic Koreans (Chaoxianzu) in Yanbian is not uncommon, Yanbian's Chaoxianzu have historically aligned with China, especially through their participation in the CCP's anti-Japanese efforts and the Korean War. This loyalty has fostered a sense of Chinese identity, reducing tensions around intermarriage compared to other minority regions like Xinjiang or Tibet. Interestingly, marriages between Han men and ethnic Korean women is often viewed favorably in Yanbian, but marriages between Han women and Chaoxianzu men are less common and often stigmatized. This could be tied to the broader issues of economic stagnation and gender roles in Yanbian.
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1) 有一種生活叫廷吉 There's a style of living called Yanji. Yanji 延吉is the capital of Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, The city population is 60% Korean, and has a vibrant Korean culture. Generally considered a tier 4 or 5 city, it's connected by the Yanji Chaoyangchuan International Airport, the High-speed Rail, as well as highways to major cities in China. 2) To stay united is ever more important here. Although many young people leave for work in South Korea because of better wages, a survey found 77% reported systemic discrimination in South Korea, both in employment and services. They face barriers in hiring, promotions, lower wages and exclusion from certain jobs . Many are confined to low-skilled, manual labor sectors like construction, manufacturing, service jobs .They also face discrimination in public services (e.g., banks, government offices) and commercial transactions. Despite sharing ethnic roots, they are often seen as culturally "different" due to their upbringing in China. Their Korean language accents and customs mark them as outsiders, leading to microaggressions and exclusion. South Korea's ethnocentric national identity and weak legal safeguards (anti-discrimination law is blocked by political and public resistance) perpetuate these issues. Hopefully as Yanbian's economy catches up, these young people will finally realize, like Dorothy in Wizard of Oz: there's no place like home! 3.4) 延边大学 Yanbian University is a key comprehensive university in China and part of the "Double First-Class" initiative (a national project to develop world-class universities and disciplines). It specializes in Korean studies (language, culture, history), ethnic medicine, agriculture, and regional economics, Chinese-Korean relations, and minority cultures in China. As many programs are taught in both Chinese and Korean, this attracts students from South Korea and North Korea. As a "Double First-Class" university, it receives strong government support, which offers scholarships for international students, including the Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) and local Jilin Province scholarships. In research and International Exchange programs, it collaborates with universities in South Korea, Japan, and Russia. The fallbacks are: though a good regional university, it's not as well known or prestigious as top-tier schools in major cities, and there are limited English-taught programs. 5) 铸牢中华民族共同体意识 Strengthen the sense of community among the Chinese nation打造民族团结进步升级版 Build an upgraded version of national unity and progress 构筑中华民族共有精神家园 Build a shared spiritual home for the Chinese nation 促进各民族交往交流交融 Promote exchanges and integration among all ethnic groups. 6-9) University Students' Union Shop. 10) Commercial complex on Yanji high street. 11) 服务大楼延吉冷面 Yanji Cold Noodles Service Building, this is the best cold noodle shop in the whole of Janji ! 廷古林老字号Janji Time-Honored Brand,中国十大名面 China's Top Ten Famous Noodles. 12) 廷吉冷面第一家 The first cold noodle shop in Janji, since 1958. 13) The noodle shop is non-smoking. I can vouch for that, as I reported a man trying to smoke sneakily to a waitress, he left after the waitress spoke to him. 14) 冷面是朝鲜族传统食品,是用荞麦面或小麦面制成。朝鲜族有正月初四中午或过生日时吃冷面的传统,居民间传说,这一天吃了纤细绵长的冷面就会预兆多福多寿, 长命百岁,故冷面又名:長寿面 Cold noodles are a traditional Korean food made from buckwheat or wheat noodles. Koreans have a tradition of eating cold noodles at noon on the fourth day of the first lunar month or on birthdays. According to local legend, eating thin, long cold noodles on this day is a sign of good fortune and longevity, hence the name "longevity noodles." 15) This is a wrong picture of cold noodles. the second picture is the right one. Haha, just to check that you're paying attention! Naengmyeon (Cold noodles) is a traditional Korean dish, though it's an essential dish at court banquets, from the Joseon Dynasty onwards, it is a dish loved by everyone from the king to the common people. When people think of cold noodles, they often think of Pyongyang平壤 and Hamheung咸興. Those who have left North Korea for other parts of the world often express their homesickness through the cold noodles. Naengmyeon is a source of pride for the North Korean people. Kim Il-sung 金日成 even directed that the flavor of Pyongyang平壤's Okryugwan 玉流館 be preserved, revealing his deep pride in Pyongyang's premier delicacy. Cold noodles are made with buckwheat, which first appears in the written records of the Tang Dynasty. Widespread cultivation began during the Song Dynasty, and it's speculated that it was the the time it was introduced to Korea. Buckwheat thrives in cool, dry environments, so it's more suitable for cultivation in North Korea, where the soil is poorer and the weather is colder, or in the flat plateaus like Pyeongchang平昌, compared to the southern regions of Korea, this way it can grow slower and attain its full potential. The buckwheat noodles were also found to have medicinal properties, the Donguibogam recorded that it dispels dampness and heat from the spleen and stomach, and help to eliminate intestinal stagnation and eliminate gastric bloatedness; it's also used as a hangover soup after binge drinking. While cold noodles are eaten in the summer today, the traditional way is to eat it is in the snowy winter, with pieces of ice added! 16) Korean massage. Korean massage often uses intense pressure, knuckle presses, and stretching to release deep muscle tension. Though both Korean and Chinese massage work along meridians (energy lines similar to acupuncture points) but Korea uses a more vigorous approach. Some Korean spas use heated stones, herbal packs (e.g., Chim, a Korean herbal compress), or moxibustion (burning herbs near the skin). So Korean massage is better for deep muscle pain and stretching, while Chinese Tui Na推拿 is better for energy balance and TCM healing. 17) Toy tanks and military helicopters, Can't believe kids still playing with these!.18) Toy grenades! The Americans should be very very afraid! 19) 延吉市朝阳小学校연길시조양 Yanji Chaoyang Primary School 為党育人,為国育才 Educating people for the Party and cultivating talents for the country. Am I the only one surprised by the size of the primary school building in China? ***********************************************************************
It makes me mad when the West makes up stories about China mistreating her minority tribes, or committing culural genocide etc. Honest to God, can you name one Western country that's treated their minority people better than China?
In Northeast China, the primary types of rice cultivated are japonica rice varieties粳稻, particularly known for their high quality, due to the region's fertile black soil and unique climate conditions. Black soil is fertile soil rich in organic matter, it requires warm, humid summers, cold, dry winters, and a long-term humus process that allows plant debris to accumulate, and takes tens of thousands of years to form; the Northeast China Plain is one of only four major black soil regions in the world. The balck soil is one of China's most important agricultural resources. 1) Xiangshui rice 响水大米 is a highly prized type of rice grown in Ning'an City宁安市, Heilongjiang Province, China. It's designated a nationally protected geographical indication product, and has been an "Imperial Tribute Rice" (贡米) since the Tang Dynasty. It's grown in mineral-rich volcanic soil from Mount Changbai, which provides abundant nutrients, and irrigated by the clean, mineralized water of Jingpo Lake and underground springs. The region's long, cold winters and significant temperature differences between day and night, enhance the rice's texture and flavor. The rice is late-maturing, full-bodied, fragrant, slightly sweet, glossy and smooth, and has a springy yet chewy texture. It's called 响水(sounding water or echoing water) because the rice fields are located near the Xiangshui Waterfall (响水瀑布) , where the rushing water makes a loud, echoing sound as it flows over the volcanic rocks.The porous lava rocks in the area amplify the sound of flowing water, creating a distinctive "ringing" or "echoing" effect, hence the name. There is a designated "state-special-supply" (特供) rice field reserved exclusively for producing Xiangshui Rice for high-level government meetings, particularly for events like the National People's Congress (NPC), the **Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and state banquets. While ordinary Xiangshui rice is sold commercially, the "highest-grade batches" from the state-reserved fields are not available on the open market. This practice reflects the tradition of reserving the best agricultural products for state use, a custom with historical roots in imperial tribute systems. 2) 舒兰大米 Shulan Rice is generally considered high-quality rice from Jilin.The favorable growing conditions like fertile black soil, clean water sources and cold climate which makess the rice grow slower and accumulate more nutrients, all contribute to the high-quality grain production. Shulan rice is typically fragrant, soft, with natural sweetness. It's slightly sticky when cooked, making it suitable for steamed rice. Shulan rice has been recognized as a National Geographic Indication Product" (国家地理标志产品), meaning it meets specific quality standards tied to its origin.Many Chinese consumers consider it a good balance of quality and price, making it a great choice for daily meals. The brand 惠银禾 (Hui Yinhe) in the picture is however not well known, it's probably better to stick to established brands like 舒兰大米 (Shulan Rice), an officially recognized GI product, or 吉粮舒兰 (Jiliang Shulan), a reputable state-affiliated brand. 3) 延边大米Yanbian rice is a premium rice produced in Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, Jilin. Yanbian primarily grows high-quality Northeastern japonica rice varieties, such as Daohuaxiang稻花香 and "Changlixiang 长粒香, resulting in plump, translucent grains. Some rice fields utilize traditional farming methods combined with modern technology to ensure consistent quality. After steaming, Yanbian rice is glossy and fragrant, with a soft and glutinous texture and resists reversion after cooling.Due to its long growth cycle, it contains high levels of starch and trace elements, resulting in excellent nutritional value.Yanbian Rice is also a National Geographical Indication Product, and some brands (such as Huanchun Rice珲春大米and Helong Rice和龙大米) have received green or organic certification, and enjoy high market recognition. It is not only popular in Northeast China but also in South Korea and Japan. It is particularly suitable for dishes that require high-quality rice, such as sushi and bibimbap. 5) There're a lot of these small rice farms dotted all over the place. 4) Xiangshui black fungus 响水木耳. Mudanjiang牡丹江 is the capital of China's black fungus industry. The abundant, clear water from the Mudanjiang 牡丹江, Muling穆棱河, and Suifenhe 绥芬河 rivers, coupled with the hard oak wood substrate, provides an ideal environment for the growth of black fungus. Each piece of black fungus undergoes a 280-day growth period, accumulating nutrients amidst a 12°C temperature swing between day and night, and the dark, thick, high-quality, and nutritious black fungus is the result. It has been called the Black Diamond of the East. 6.) Jingpo Lake fresh water organic fish 镜泊湖有机鱼 Jingpo Lake is home to over 60 species of fish, including carp鲤, croaker 即, and redtail 红尾. The fishes thrive in favorable conditions, have a long growth period, and are known for their delicious meat. During the Tang Dynasty, lake fishes were sent to the imperial court as tribute, with the "Three Flowers, Five Luo, and Eighteen Seeds三花五罗十八子" being renowned far and wide. 7) 全鱼宴 Whole fish banquet has been recommented to be one of the "must do" experiences of touring Jingpo Lake. Through different cooking techniques such as frying, stir-frying, deep-frying, steaming, braising, and stewing different parts of different fishes, over 120 dishes are available. 8) Farmers selling fruits grown from their own little plot of land. 9) Ginseng toiletries and Changbai Mountain honey. 10) 花河啤酒 Huahe Beer is from Heilongjiang, not Jilin. 11) 开車不喝酒,喝酒不開車. Drive don't drink, drink don't drive. The Northeasterners are hearty drinkers. 12) 中华民族一家亲,同心共筑中國梦 The Chinese nation is one family, working together to build the Chinese dream. Slogan in front of a residential complex. 13) 民族团结的國家最強大,相亲相愛的人民最幸福 A country with national unity is the most powerful, and a people who love each other are the happiest. 14) 緊持以人民為中心,不断實現人民对美好生活的向往 Adhere to the people-centered approach and continuously realize people's yearning for a better life. 15) Myriads of seeds, but one fruit. The pomegranate has always been a symbol of tribal unity in China. 16) 人民公园인민공원. People's park in Chinese and Korean. 17) 碧水青山就是金山銀山, 冰天雪地也是金山銀山 Green mountains and clear waters are gold and silver mountains, and ice and snow are also gold and silver mountains.
1) Jilin West Market (Yanji West Market) is a large-scale comprehensive market located in Yanji City . It is also one of the largest and most Korean-style markets in Yanbian Prefecture. Originally built in the 1980s, it was rebuilt in 2015 because of fire safety and earthquate concerns, and reopened in 2019. 2) Tadtional Kimchi shop. 3) hanbok dresses. 4) shoes. 5) Korean pots. Very heavy! 6) Casual wear. 7) shoes again. 8) Spices to rival the Middle East spice markets. 9) Cigarettes. 10.11) Cosmetic surgeons to keep you beautiful for life. 12) Rice cakes, pickles, rice sausages. 13) Colorful windshields 14) Cellphone covers and Yanbian snacks. 15,16.18) Everything you need for a Korean wedding. 17) Rice wine (Makgeolli) is a traditional Korean fermented liquor with a sweet and sour taste. Suasages, dried beancurd and dog meat. Ethnic Koreans in China (particularly in Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture) have historically consumed dog meat as part of culinary traditions, and the practice is entrenched. However, in 2020, China reclassified dogs as "companion animals" rather than livestock, signaling a shift away from endorsing dog meat consumption, but it did not outright ban eating dogs nationwide. The legality of eating dog meat varies by region and at present operates in a gray area shaped by local regulations and shifting societal attitudes. But once a ban is in place in any region, there is no legal carve-out for cultural practices involving dog meat.
1) Before the construction of the Chinese Eastern Railway in 1897, the Hengdaohezi 熿道河子on the eastern slopes of the Zhangguangcai张广才岭 Mountains, was sparsely populated. Hengdaohezi is located exactly halfway between Harbin and Suifenhe绥芬河, the vital route connecting Russia with eastern China. The construction faced several challenges, one of which was the Zhangguangcai 张广才岭 Mountains, this was overcome with a detour of over 30 kilometers of winding mountain rail. Because the railway had to cross a small river below, this place earned the name Hengdaohezi.横道河子. As construction of the Chinese Eastern Railway began, a large number of Russian engineers and technicians flocked there, along with thousands of Chinese laborers recruited from the interior. Due to its a strategic location, after the railway opened, Hengdaohezi became a major second-class station on the Chinese Eastern Railway. The Chinese Eastern Railway architectural complex was built by the Russians, and consisted of six groups of buildings: the Church of Our Lady Entering the Church, the Hengdaohezi locomotive depot, the railway security station in the Dabailou building 大白楼铁路治安项驻地, the Russian-style wooden houses, and the former site of the Hailin海林Station. Other buildings were railway company dormitories, officers' quarters, operations management department, a police station, and barracks garrisoned by about 300 Cossacks. After the railway opened in 1903, Hengdaohezi began to prosper. Russians, Chinese, Koreans, Japanese, and Czechs lived side by side in the small town, and houses with exotic styles emerged one after another. The town was distinctly Western, fashionable, and elegant, rising above the average Chinese town. Many businesses opened, even a brewery was built. The abundant wild berries from the surrounding mountains were used to produce fruit wine, a favorite among Westerners. Later, beer lwas launched locally, alongside Harbin Beer and Suifenhe Hepai Beer绥芬河和. After the Oct. Revolution,1917, White Russian aristocrats, Czechs and Poles came, and an exotic European-style mountain town of considerable size was born. Every weekend, the park hosted open-air dances and symphony concerts, featuring Westerners. Because of Hengdaohezi's long and snowy winter, ski resorts were built on its slopes. and skiing, snowboarders滑雪板 were popular. In 1945,the Japanese invaders, upon their surrender, attempted to burn down this charming town, fortunately only a few houses were damaged. To this day, 104 Russian-style buildings still remain. 2) Blend of the East and the West. 3) This hundred year old house's on sale. The condition is while you can renovate the interior however you like, by law the exterior cannot be changed. 4) BBQ and brewery. 5) Russian souvenior shop. 6) Central square. 7) Coffee shop. 8) Malik Bakery馬列克面包房 Loudaohezi Russian Old Street楼道河子俄罗斯老街 Russian Black bread. 9) Way to the Russian Orthodox Church. 10) Street art. 11) Path up to the church. 12.14.17.20) The Church of Our Lady of the Approach is the only surviving all-wooden Eastern Orthodox church along the Chinese Eastern Railway. It was built in 1902 and is a National Key Cultural Relic Protection Site The main structure is a log-shaped log structure with a Greek cross plan. The shape, structure, craftsmanship, and decoration all reflect the authentic early Russian architectural style. After the Soviets withdrew in 1955, the church ceased operations. Subsequently it served as a workshop for the Hengdao Fruit Wine Factory 横道果酒厂, and in 1993 was used by the Hailin City 海林市Cultural Relics Protection Agency. Since 2008, it's been the Middle Eastern Railway Memory Museum, exhibitiong photographs of historical buildings of the Middle East Railway, as well as historical materials and artifact. 13) I spotted a few elderly people with a red hankerchief round their necks, the standard uniform of Chinese students in bygone days. They're probably in the same group tour, and it's sweet, like they're back to the days of their youth again.15) Russian Old street. In 2015, the Russian Old Street was designated an AAAA-level scenic spot. 16) Loudaohezi high street. 18) Old train on display. The whole town is considered to be an open-air museum of the Middle East Railway. 19) Hengdao Jiangzi Youth Hostel 橫道江子青年旅舍, while the building was built in 1903, it was probably just a guesthouse then, and not a backpacker's hoetel, as such concept came late to China, only starting in the late 2oth century. This youth hostel houses 4-8 people to a room, it has communal kitchen, common lounge, free hot showers and free Wi-Fi, and also left luggage storage facilities.
1) Loggo of the Middle East Railway Museum. The museum consists of external and internal exhibitions. The external exhibition area mainly consists of the locomotive depot building, a brick and wood locomotive depot building; a locomotive turntable, steam locomotive, and Wang Luobin 王洛宾 Memorial Hall. The indoor exhibition is mainly divided into two parts. The first part is the real objects such as locomotives, carriages, locomotive models and locomotive accessories from different eras; the second part is the historical exhibition of the Middle East Railway. 2.6 ) The Hengdaohezi locomotive shed, along with the locomotive depot operation room and locomotive apartments, formed a turnaround section, providing support for locomotive attachment for trains traveling to and from the Gaolingzi section. The building itself is designated a Key Protection Zone. 3) With our loud impetuous Northeastern guide. 4) 前进型6924号蒸汽机车, 全长29180毫米,构造速度每小时80公里,模数牵引力 324千牛,轴式 1-5-11 1981年大同机车厂生产,机车编号:QJ6924,配属单位为松源大唐热电厂,1999 年退役。The Qianjin type steam locomotive No. 6924, with a total length of 29,180 mm, a designed speed of 80 km/h, a modular tractive force of 324 kN, and an axle type of 1-5-11, was produced by Datong Locomotive Works in 1981. The locomotive number is QJ6924 and it is assigned to Songyuan Datang Thermal Power Plant. It was retired in 1999. 5) T shaped Eastern Railway was built by Tsarist Russia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; the intention was to seize Northeast China's resources and dominate the Far East. 7) Middle East Railway Park. 9) The history of the Middle East Railway is a twisted story of greed, exploitation, oppression, intrigue, false alliances, humiliation, brutality, treachery and betrayal. **********************************************************************
At the end of the 19th century, the Qing Dynasty was impoverished and weak, and after a bad defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, The Qing government was coerced to join alliance with Russia to resist Japan. In 1896, Li Hongzhang 李鸿章 and his 45-member delegation traveled to Russia, ostensibly to attend the coronation ceremony of Nicholas II, but the real mission was to sign a secret treaty with Russia, in which Russia offered China aid to help fight Japan, on the condition that Qing agreed to "borrowing of land for road construction," thus securing the right to build the Chinese Eastern Railway in Northeast China as well as seizing the rights of passage of Siberian Railway over Northeast China. Construction of the railway began in 1897, and the entire line was completed in 1903, taking 6 years and costed 375 million Rouble. In 1898, Qing Dynasty, again represented by Li Hongzhang 李鸿章, signed a second treaty, which leased the coastal areas of Port Arthur and Dalian Bay to Russia for 25 years for use as a military port. This treaty is now preserved at the National Palace Museum in Waishuangxi 外双溪国立故宫博物院, Taipei. In 1904, the Russo-Japanese War broke out, and Tsarist Russia was defeated. In 1905, disregarding China's objections and territorial sovereignty, Russia and Japan signed the Treaty of Portsmouth, which ceded the Changchun-Lüda section (southern portion ) of the Chinese Eastern Railway to Japan, renaming it the South Manchuria Railway. However, through various illegal means, Tsarist Russia maintained administrative power, the right to station troops and guard the Chinese Eastern Railway, the right to establish police, judicial power, and tariff autonomy, establishing a complete colonial system along the route. After the September 18th Incident of 1931, Japan occupied all of Northeast China. In 1935, the Soviet Union, ignoring China's objection and the Chinese sovereignty of the Chinese Eastern Railway, sold it to Japan for 140 million yen. The Manchukuo government unilaterally renamed the Chinese Eastern Railway the "North Manchuria Railway." *********************************************************************
During its 14-year occupation of Northeast China, the Japanese systematically plundered China's resources and other valuables. South Manchuria Railways served as Japan's primary transporting means. According to incomplete statistics ( many archives destroyed by retreating Japanese), just between 1907 and 1911 alone, the Manchurian Railway transported over 770,000 tons of materials via the Changda Line and the Anfeng (now Dandong-Shenyang) Line to Japan. According to existing data from Chinese/Allied investigations, between 1932 and 1944, Japan looted 223 million tons of coal, over 10 million tons of pig iron, and 5.8 million tons of steel from Northeast China. Bauxite, copper, and manganese mines were stripped; large-scale logging in Changbai Mountainsp- timber shipped for construction and industrial projects in Japan, leaving environmental damage and permanent scars on the land. On top 2–4 million tonnes of soybeans, wheat, and mille were forcibly seized from Northeast China's farms annually; 100,000s head of cattle and sheep were confisticated annually, causing a drop of herds by 30–40%; mandatory quotas (80–90% of total output) of animal products like wool, leather, and dairy products at fixed prices were imposed. All these policies caused wide spread starvation, the conservative estimate is 2 million famine deaths in Manchuria from 1940 to1944. Millions of Chinese workers were enslaved in mines/factories where the mortality rates was 25%, due to brutal conditions. In total, resources valued at > $50 billion (modern equivalent) were extracted, crippling Northeast China's postwar recovery. It's ironic, but without China's riches Japan could never be able to wage the Pacific War or commit all its war crimes. Unit 731 — Japan's Hidden Horror the World Tried to Forget https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI3sCrxGIho ; Harbin China - Unit 731 Museum Full Experience *Warning - Disturbing Content Harbin China - Unit 731 Museum Full Experience *Warning - Disturbing Content. Unit 731 not only experimented on humans within the lab, it also experimented with biological warfare in real life, by spreading plague-infected fleas and contaminating water supplies, causing epidemics in Chinese villages. An estimated 200,000–300,000 died from these attacks. Now you understand why Japan supports Israel, and China supports Palestine. Palestine today was China yesterday. In 1945 the Russian army entered Northeast China, and over 26,000 Japanese officers and soldiers surrendered. The same year, the Soviet and the Kuomintang government signed the Sino-Soviet Agreement on the Changchun Railway, merging the Chinese Eastern Railway and the South Manchuria Railway into the Changchun Railway, which was jointly owned by China and the Soviet Union. In 1950, Zhou Enlai and Vyshinsky, representing the Chinese and Soviet governments, signed the Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship, and in 1952, the railway was returned to China in full. *********************************************************************
To China's credit, inspite of the inhuman atrocities and war crimes committed in China, you would never find a single word of hate against the Japanese civilian population anywhere in China. The incrimination is entirely against the Japanese Government, who to this day refuses to admit their horrific deeds, refuses to apologise ( China doesn't even ask for war compensation), and continues to honor Class A war criminals in Yasukuni Shrine. They even change their history books to fool their own people! The Japanese government IS Israel!
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10) 中東鉄路印象館 Middle East Railway Impression Museum. The museum covers materials on the railway as well as the development of Harbin. Harbin was originally a "Fishing Net Drying Field", it became an Intemational metropolis and an Eurasian transport and trading hub, mainly due to its status as the chief port of the Chinese Eastem Rallway. 8) Harbin is a multicultural city, at one point, Harbin housed 21 consulates from 19 countries and nearly 200,000 expatriates from over 33 nations.They brought their own customs and lifestyles with them, and music, beer, fashion, film, beauty pageants, sailing, yachting, horse racing, and European, American, and Japanese fashions quickly became the city's defining characteristics. This long-standing "mixed Chinese and foreign" environment led to Harbin's uniquely diverse culinary scene. In 1938 Harbin had over 610 Chinese restaurants and over 260 Western restaurants. 11) Talents of Western art, mainly Russian. 12) Chinese and foreign education flourished in Harbin, with over 100 schools of all levels and types run by foreigners alone. These included the Sino-Russian Industrial School (the predecessor of Harbin Institute of Technology), medical schools, business schools, and music schools. 13) Being an "Eurasian Continental Bridge, the rapid spread of Western medicine in Harbin played a prominent role in the advancement of medical and health care, leading the nation in development. By 1930, Harbin had a total of 134 Chinese and Western pharmacies. Among them, there were 62 Chinese-owned pharmacies, 44 Russian-owned pharmacies, 7 Japanese-owned pharmacies, and 21 pharmacies operated by other foreigners. !4) Well known doctors in Harbin. 15.16) The pioneer of Infectious Disease control in China. In 1910-1911, pneumonic plague struck Harbin. It was then a relatively new disease, so Dr. Wu Lien-teh conducted research to a) Identifying the Pathogen and its source. b) the patterns of transmission and spread. c) Develop appropriate and feasible response strategies. Firstly, Dr Wu found the culprit to be a rodent. In August 1911, Wu Lien-teh presented his paper, "An Investigation into the Relationship between the Mongolian Marmot and Plague" in an international medical conference in London. It was published in the same month's issue of the Lancet (1913, 185, 529), demonstrating the significance of his discovery. Secondly, he found this type of plague is primarily spread through droplets between humans, so Dr Wu invented a new mask, the "Wu Mask" ( the forerunner of today's N95 mask ), which effectively enhanced personal protection and decreasd spread among close contacts. Thirdly, to prevent the spread of disease to other regions, he advocated stoppage of trains and cars on open roads, so as to prevent transmission along transportation routes; and if there were any sign of spread, quarantine hospitals and camps would be immediately established to strictly control the spread. Does all that sound familiar to anyone? Dr Wu's method achieved amazing results, in just 4 months, the plague epidemic was gone., The same method adopted by China during the Covid pandemic, though heavily criticised by the West, proved itself by the low Covid mortality in China.
Dr. Wu Lien Teh ( 伍连德) was born in Penang in 1879 ( 4 days before Eistein) . In 1896, at the age of 17, Dr. Wu was awarded the Queen's Scholarship by Queen Victoria to study at the University of Cambridge. Wu was the first medical student of Chinese descent to study there. He was also the first Malayan nominated for the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, in 1935. His undergraduate clinical years were spent at St Mary's Hospital, London he then continued his studies at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, the Hygiene Institute at the University of Halle in Germany, and the Pasteur Institute in France. Dr. Wu pursued his studies abroad for seven years, earning a total of five degrees from the University of Cambridge: Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Surgery, Master of Arts, and Doctor of Medicine. He obtained his doctorate at the young age of 24. He was the first Chinese person in the world to be awarded a doctorate from the University of Cambridge In 1907, Dr. Wu was invited by Yuan Shikai to return to China and serve as the Vice President of the Tianjin Military Medical School. In 1910. After the outbreak of the Great Manchurian Plague, Dr. Wu was appointed to the critical position of Chief Medical Officer. In less than four months, he managed to bring this deadly infectious disease, which had left both the Russians and Japanese helpless and claimed over 60,000 lives in Manchuria, to a complete halt. Dr. Wu Lien-teh, who led this epidemic prevention effort, became renowned worldwide. At the time it was generally believed that plaguecould only be transmitted from rats to humans, and Dr Wu's theory that it could be transmitted from human-to-human was considered ludicrous. After he was proven right, an International Plague Conference, attended by representatives from Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, Russia, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Mexico, and China, was held in Shenyang. This was the first international academic conference ever held in Chinese history. Dr. Wu Lien-teh wrote "A Treatise on Pneumonic Plague" (Geneva: League of Nations, Health Organization, 1926), and laid the foundation for the classification of various types of plague, including bubonic plague, pneumonic plague, and septicemic plague. The Northeast Anti-epidemic Bureau, established by Dr. Wu, became the world's premier institution for researching epidemics. The institute made outstanding contributions to the prevention, control, and treatment of cholera, also holding a world-leading position in this field, as the death rate from cholera was much lower in China compared to countries like England, America, France, and Japan at the time. Dr. Wu was ofteh referred to as the "Triple Scholar" as he was the first Chinese to obtain a doctorate from the University of Cambridge, an imperial medical licentiate personally conferred by the emperor, and a plague fighter honored by the League of Nations Health Organization. Though he was summoned by three successive heads of state: the Prince Regent of the Qing Dynasty, Yuan Shikai, and Chiang Kai-shek, to serve as Minister of Health, Dr. Wu declined. He opted instead for the position of Director-General of National Ports Quarantine, because he had discovered many epidemics, including cholera and plague, were entering through the customs. In the 1930s he became the first director of the National Quarantine Service, and personally drafted the" Port Quarantine Regulations". In just seven years, he elevated China's quarantine standards to an international level, making it a first-class quarantine institution in Southeast Asia. Other accomplishments are : collaboratioh with the Rockefeller Foundation to establish Peking Union Medical College ; the creation of the China Medical Association ; publication of the Chinese Medical Journal and became its first editor-in-chief.; spearheaded the establishment of Beijing Central Hospital, which is now known as Peking University People's Hospital, where he served as the first hospital director for four years. On his literary contributions : Dr. Wu, together with Wang Ji-min, co-authored a book in English titled "History of Chinese Medicine". As a pioneering work, it has had a significant impact on the international history of medicine and is still considered a reference book in the field. Due to this contribution, Dr. Wu was appointed a Corresponding Fellow of the International Academy of the History of Science; to this day, there are fewer than ten Chinese individuals who hold this title in the International Academy of the History of Science. Before Dr. Wu Lien-teh passed away, he wrote his autobiography in English, titled "Plague Fighter: The Autobiography of a Modern Chinese Physician." It was published by Cambridge University Press and gained worldwide renown. Wu was a mandarin of the second rank in the Qing Dynasty, yet sat on the advisory committees for the League of Nations. He was given awards by the Czar of Russia and the President of France, was awarded honorary degrees by Johns Hopkins University, Peking University, University of Hong Kong, and the University of Tokyo. Over the course of 30 years, from the age of 28 to 58, he devoted the best years of his life to China. Around 1939, Wu moved back to Malaya and continued to work as a general practitioner in Ipoh. Wu collected donations to start the Perak Library (Now the Tun Razak Library) in Ipoh, a free-lending public library, and donated to Shanghai City Library, and the University of Hong Kong. Wu practised medicine until his death at the age of 80. He had bought a new house in Penang for his retirement and had just completed his 667-page autobiography, Plague Fighter, the Autobiography of a Modern Chinese Physician. On 21 January 1960, he died of a stroke while in his home in Penang. A road named after Wu can be found in Ipoh Garden South, a middle-class residential area in Ipoh. In Penang, a residential area named Taman Wu Lien Teh is located near the Penang Free School. In that school, his alma mater, a house has been named after him. There's a Dr. Wu Lien-teh Society in Penang. The Wu Lien-teh Collection, which comprises 20,000 books, was given by Wu to the Nanyang University, which later became part of the National University of Singapore. The Art Museum of the University of Malaya has a collection of Wu's paintings. In 1995, Wu's daughter, Dr. Yu-lin Wu, published a book about her father, "Memories of Dr. Wu Lien-teh, Plague Fighter".In 2015, the Wu Lien-Teh Institute opened at Harbin Medical University. In 2019, The Lancet launched an annual Wakley-Wu Lien Teh Prize in honour of Wu and the publication's founding editor, Thomas Wakley. Dr. Wu Lien-teh is regarded as the first person to modernise China's medical services and medical education. In Harbin Medical University, there is a bronze statues of him to commemorate his contributions to public health, preventive medicine, and medical education.
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Amazingly, for such a remarkable person, Dr Wu is not well know even within China. I'd never have known about him if I didn't come to Harbin. This is the main reason why I travel! I learn something new in each and every trip I take, and each new information not just add stock, it's often an epiphany and inspiration , each a piece of the puzzle that coming together will one day make sense and give meaning to my universe.
Harbin's "Four Seasons Amusement Park " I. An indoor temperature-controlled exhibition room, with a range of ice sculptures illuminated by colored lights. You probably could do the whole thing in 10 minutes, I did it in 7. I never liked theme parks, and this one is as tedious as the last,
"Four Seasons Amusement Park" II. There're a few shops at the exit, but no buyers. Guess people are in a rush to get out! 3) Ugly Mona lisa ice sculpture. 11) "Dreamland Ice Vase" is said to symbolize a bottled fantasy, this ice sculpture is crafted by the artists of the Ice and Snow World's Master Studio, blending carving techniques with ice-dyeing artistry to showcase the marvel of frozen artistry. Good craftsmanship, but the outside is better, because that's where the real life is! Why would anyone want to stay on in a refrigerator? 3-9 ) shopping mall.
It was the weekend, and the mall was bustling with community activities. 1) Local art boutique 2) Women's group on an outing. 3.4) Children's KungFu Club gearing up for a performance. 5) A raised platform in the center of the plaza. 6) speech performance by a 6 year old. 7) A singing duet by a father and son. Both bad, but it's still a breakthrough, fathers of an earlier generation would rather die than get on the stage! 8) Harbin has a growing fashion and modeling industry. There're many agencies with training programs in catwalk fashion shows, print and promotional commercial modeling. Here's a modeling company participating in a local cultural event. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17KZWk2dQC/ ; https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CPS244KsU/. 9) Penguin House, 10) Seaworld. 11) Bad mother! The toilet's just a few steps away! 12.13) The Chinese are comfortable using public space as their own home, particularly in small towns. 14. 17.18) Public Arts 14) Old people Hostel 15) Community Elderly Care Center Home Care Service Station~ Bingcheng Pension, Tongjiang Subdistrict, Daoli District. There're several types of aged home, one is directly supported by the government, the second is run by NGO, under government supervision, third is private chain stores.
1-5) Harbin Sun Island Scenic Area (太阳岛风景区) is a large, scenic park by the river. The name has a Manchu origin. In the Manchu language, the area was originally called "taiyang" (太阳), which means "sun." The story goes that the island was filled with flocks of swans, and the Manchu people called it a place where the "sun shines on the swans," which was eventually shortened to "Sun Island." In the 1980s, the Sun Island was made famous within China by the song "On the Sun Island" by Zheng Xulan. In the summer one can visit lush gardens, meadows, woodlands, a deer park, and a squirrel island. In winter, from late December through February, the Island holds the International Snow Sculpture Art Expo, which is one of the cornerstones of the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival. The island can be reached by car, cable car, or simply walking over the bridge. 7,8) 浴日台 Yuri Terrace is a viewing platform in the Sun Island. The name translates to "Sunbathing Terrace," symbolizing a place where visitors can enjoy sunlight and panoramic views.The terrace features Sun God Altars, Sun Bird sculptures, and totem poles, these are all ancient Chinese cosmological symbolism. 6) Sun Bird sculptures. 9) granite-carved tripod cauldrons (天鼎), decorated with sun, cloud, and thunder patterns, inspired by Shang-Zhou dynasty bronze culture. 10) The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Harbin. 12-16) Afternoom tea at the top floor tea room.17) Aerial view of Harbin City. 11) 馬迪尔冰棒 Madi'er Binggun is a classic, time-honored popsicle brand. Founded in Harbin in 1906 by a Russian-Jew, Joseph Kasper, the name "Ｍｄｅｒ" comes from the Russian word "ｍｏｄｅｒｎ" (modern), meaning "modern." It was originally a high-end Western-style cold drink brand Along with Qiulin kvass and red sausage, it's considered one of Harbin's signature Russian-style foods and was a popular summertime favorite among the upper class during the Republican era. Made with a traditional recipe using fresh milk, eggs, and sugar, it contains no additives and therefore has a short shelf life; the wrapping is simple but nostalgic, with picture of old Harbin.There're many flavors, I tried the Original Flavor and it was very good. The price is also excellent, approximately 5-10 RMB per stick. 18) Homeless in Harbin. There're very few homeless people in Harbin, and I've not seen any beggars. There're plenty of government and charitable organizations that provide shelters, and Social Welfare Programs such as subsistence allowances (低保) and other support systems are available. Due to the extreme cold, authorities actively relocate homeless individuals to shelters to prevent cold-related injuries or deaths. Most of the homeless people who refuse housing have mental health issues or personal reasons, but these're very few. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1BFxi0TxdE .19) Collecting recyclables. Well, at least it;s an honest job. 20) A tinker attracts business by beating a drum.
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1) Harbin Institue of technology (哈工大, HIT) showroom in Central Street. Harbin Institute of Technology is renowned for its strong emphasis on science, engineering, and technology. Established in 1920, it is a member of the prestigious "C9 League" (China's equivalent of the Ivy League) and is known for its contributions to aerospace, robotics, and computer science. 2) 規格嚴格 功夫到家 School motto: Strict Standards, Thorough Competence. 3) For 20 years, HIT has worked on the research of core algorithms for large-scale genomic data analysis and established a "genome big data factory", making large-scale genome projects possible. China's 100,000 Genomes Project aims to comprehensively map the genomes of the entire population, so as to understand the patterns of genomic variation. 290 million genomic variants in the Chinese population have been identified, mapped with an accuracy of 1 in 10,000 (the highest accuracy in the world). The study of the distribution patterns of genomic variation, the relationships between genetic variation, phenotypes, and environmental exposures, in the Chinese population, lays a critical scientific foundation for the development of a "Healthy China".They are essential tools for achieving major frontier developments in biomedicine, such as precision medicine, personalized health, and new drug discovery. 4) HIT is home to China's leading State Key Laboratory of Robotics and Systems. It has developed advanced humanoid robots, space robots, and industrial automation systems, and has won multiple awards in international robotics competitions. 5) A series of micro motors developed by Harbin Institute of Technology have been successfully applied to several manned submersibles, including the Jiaolong and Deep Sea Warrior. The successful development of a 3,000-meter deep-water semi-submersible platform wind and wave test model has facilitated the development of the China National Offshore Oil Corporation's 981 deep-water semi-submersible drilling platform. The successful development of China's first anchored multi-functional ocean information floating platform and other marine sensing and unmanned equipment has formed a series of equipment, contributing to the construction of a strong maritime nation. HIT has successfully developed a new-system radar with all-day, all-weather, and long-range sea-surface detection capabilities. This has become a crucial coastal defense weapon for safeguarding national territorial sovereignty . HIT also developed the unmanned marine observation platforms, with smart ocean big data support sysrems. Taking the opportunity of jointly building the "National Shallow Sea Comprehensive Test Field" with the State Oceanic Administration, HIT and the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation have jointly developed and established a comprehensive three-dimensional observation network integrating air, shore, sea, and submarine observation, resulting in the development of a smart ocean that "sees everything, sees far, and sees clearly." 6) HIT contributed to China's high-performance supercomputing (HPC) and developed key algorithms and systems for big data and artificial intelligence. 7) HIT is a key player in China's space research, contributing significantly to satellite technology, deep-space exploration, manned spaceflight, and missile systems. HIT developed critical technologies for Chang'e-3, Chang'e-4 (first soft landing on the Moon's far side), and Chang'e-5 (lunar sample return). HIT's landing buffer mechanisms and lunar soil sampling devices were crucial for mission success. In Tianwen-1 Mars Mission, HIT contributed to Mars rover mobility systems and thermal control technology. HIT designed and launched Lilac series microsatellites for space experiments, and Tiantuo" satellites for Earth observation and space science; while BeiDou Navigation System provided key signal processing and satellite control algorithms for China's GPS rival. Other achievemrnts are Manned Space Program (Shenzhou and Space Station); Hypersonic and Missile Technology; Space Robotics and AI. Future projects are on Asteroid, Jupiter and Mars. 8) HIT is often called China's MIT for Space Tech, it's ranked among the top 200 universities globally, and has strong partnerships with global institutions like MIT, Stanford, and TUM. It's a key player in China's Double First-Class initiative for world-class universities. 中国最牛的七所大学！https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxl26bsKmrE 9) It's encouraging to see so many young people interested in the science demo video. 10-17) 中央书店 Central Bookstore is a prominent cultural landmark located in Central Street 中央大街. It started life on No116 Central Street in 1920s, as a Japanese-owned stationery store inside a two-story brick-and-wood building, which was later demolished. The site was developed into a retail space in 1994, the Central Mall (中央商城). The small bookshop cintunued on inside the mall. In 2014, it underwent a major renovation, transforming into Heilongjiang's first tourist-themed leisure bookstore, featuring sections like Heilongjiang Regional Culture and a Half-Acre Hall academic book zone. In 2000, the bookstore moved to its current location at No. 118 Central Street, becoming an independent retail store and expanding across multiple floors. Over the years, it evolved from a traditional bookstore into a cultural hub, incorporating coffee shops, event spaces, and a "City Night Study" program for late-night readers.The bookstore blends European-style architecture with modern amenities, making it a popular spot for both locals and tourists. It hosts literary events, book signings, and cultural exhibitions, earning recognition as one of Heilongjiang's Top Ten Reading Promotion Bases. A notable feature is its Harbin Impression photo wall, showcasing historical images of the city. Today, the Central Bookstore remains a key destination on Central Street, combining "literary heritage, architectural beauty, and modern cultural experiences".
1,2 )道里区Daoli District is located west of the Chinese Eastern Railway, with the railway as the boundary. It's one of Harbin's bustling centers, home to famous attractions such as Central Avenue and St. Sophia Cathedral. The Central Street was built in 1898 by Russian constructors when the city was at its semi-colonial period. It's a key commercial artery for trade between China, Russia, and Europe, and a gathering place for Russian exiles, Chinese merchants, and Western expats. Here, most of the buildings're Western in style, exuding an European charm. The Central Avenue is the longest pedestrian street in China, and when engineer Xiao Ke created his unique paving stone, inspired by bread, and arranged in a herringbone pattern ( financed in part by Jewish merchants), he likely never imagined that these weathered stones would become the symbol of Harbin's Daoli district, nor could he foresee that this old street would be revitalized in the new era. The Central Street is the only cobbled street in Harbin. 3) 哈尔滨俄侨纪念馆 Harbin Russian Overseas Chinese Memorial Hall is a museum dedicated to preserving the history and cultural heritage of the Russian diaspora (俄侨, éqiáo), who lived in the city during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Harbin was founded in 1898 as a central station for the Chinese Eastern Railway (CER), which led to a large influx of Russian engineers, merchants, artists, and refugees, particularly after the 1917 Russian Revolution. By the 1920s–1930s, Harbin had a thriving Russian community, with Orthodox churches, European-style architecture, and a unique blend of Sino-Russian culture. After World War II and the establishment of the PRC, many Russians left, but their cultural influence remained deeply embedded in Harbin's identity. The museum is housed in a historic Russian-style building, showcasing artifacts, photographs, documents, and personal items from the Russian émigré community. Exhibits highlight their contributions to Harbin's architecture, music, education, and commerce, as well as their role in shaping the city's multicultural character. It serves as a bridge for Sino-Russian cultural exchange, and Harbin's unique history is a treasure for tourists and scholars interested in diaspora studies and Eurasian history. 4.5.)道里秋林公司 Daoli Qiulin Company's former Site, right at the center of the commercial district of Harbin. The brick and wood structure mimics the Renaissance architectural style. The Daoli Qiulin Company is a well-known department store, founded in 1900 by a Russian merchant, Ivan Churin, making it one of the oldest retail brands in Northeast China. It's part of the historic Qiulin Group 秋林集团, which has a long-standing reputation in Harbin for its high-quality products, especially Russian-style foods (Qiulin Lidos Red Sausage, Dalieba, Russian chocolates) and traditional Chinese goods. Qiulin Lidos and Roulian Red Sausage are Harbin's two leading brands of red sausage, however, due to its longer history, Qiulin Lidos is often considered the more "authentic" Russian flavor. The store shopfloor still has a Soviet-era charm, with wooden shelves and old-fashioned counters. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Qiulin Company became state-owned, but its traditional craftsmanship's persevered and is now a signature Harbin food brand. 6) Typical Northeast street food. 7) Souvenir store 8) Making new friends. 9) Artists lined the street to make portrait of passerbys for a fee.10) Surely this is the most unlikely place to have a primary school! 11) Exhibition of paintings from bygone era. 12-15,18) Street scenes.The buildings are a mix of Baroque, Renaissance, Art nouveau , eclectic,and modern. 16 ) 中央大街邮电支局 The Central Street Post and Telecommunications Branch was built between the 1900s and 1920s. The building boasts a strong European influence, eclecticism or Art Nouveau . Its facade decoration, window design, and roofline reflect the architectural trends of the time. As a branch office, it served both local residents and expatriates. Over time, the building has undergone several functional changes, but it has always retained its postal or telecommunications-related uses. 17) Old site of The Far Eastern Bank 远东银行 (Russian: Дальневосточный банк, abbreviated as Дальбанк) which was a Soviet-established commercial bank in Northeast China in 1922. The bank was created primarily to manage the financial revenues and expenditures of the Chinese Eastern Railway and its affiliated enterprises, but also provided services to Sino-Soviet trades and Russian expatriates in Harbin. It was permanently closed in 1951. Its former building, the Rabinovich Building, was built in 1919. It is a three-story brick-concrete structure in the eclectic style, with domes at the corners and ionic pilasters on the second and third floors. Originally used for private commercial purposes, it was occupied by the Far Eastern Bank after 1923 and became one of its main offices in China. As part of the Harbin Jewish Activity Sites, it is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Site since 2013. **********************************************************************
By the 1920s, Harbin was home to 20,000-25,000 Jews, the largest Jewish community in the Far East. Most were Russian Jews, the early ones came to work for the Chinese Eastern Railway, the latter ones were refugees fleeing persecution in Russia, especially after the 1905 pogroms and the 1917 Russian Revolution. The Central Street was where many Jewish merchants, bankers, and entrepreneurs established businesses. The Jews thrived in tolerant China, there was no antisemitism, and the Jews were able to enjoy freedom of religion and to conduct their traditional cultural practices. They built Synagogues (Harbin Main Synagogue,1909, now the Harbin Jewish History and Culture Museum; the Old Jewish Synagogue,1907, now repurposed) ; there were Jewish Banks, kosher restaurants, schools, a Harbin Jewish Hospital (now part of a local medical university), community centers, theater, and cemeteries.There were over 20 Jewish newspapers and periodicals between 1918–1930, e.g.Yevreyskaya Zhizn (Jewish Life), the community was vibrant with many political movements, including Zionist youth movements like Betar, and Zionist conferences were held in the 1930s, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of the community. There were plentiful cultural events, and Jewish musicians and artists brought Western music and art, and performances by Jewish musicians and actors earned Harbin the nickname "City of Music". The Japanese occupation of Harbin in 1932 brought significant hardship, and led to the emigration of many Jews. During WWII, 20,000 to 30,000 Jews escaped to China from the Nazi, helped in part by Ho Feng Shan (China's consul-general in Vienna), and the relocation of the Mir Yeshiva, a prominent Jewish seminary, to Shanghai. Some of them came to Harbin. After the war and the rise of communism,, most of Harbin's Jewish community had left by the 1950s. The Jewish cemetery was moved to a new location during the 1960's and the last Jew in Harbin left in 1985. Jews were protected by China from the Russians, then the Germans, even as China herself was in dire straits. May I speak as a Chinese person to Jews everywhere: We don't want your "thank you", JUST PASS THE KINDNESS ON! STOP THE GENOCIDE IN PALESTINE !
1.2) The magnificent buildings of Daoli District 道里区. 3-6) Russian souvenir shop. 7,11,12 ) Street sculpture art. 8) 城市厕所开放联盟 City Toilet Open Alliance is a public service initiative aimed at improving urban sanitation convenience by encouraging businesses and institutions to open their restrooms to the public for free. The initiative was launched to address the shortage of public toilets in Harbin, especially during peak tourism seasons like the International Ice and Snow Festival. This is aligned with China's broader "Toilet Revolution" 厕所革命 of 2015 by Xi Jinping, to improve the sanitary conditions of public toilets in tourist sites. In 2 years, 68,000 public toilets were constructed in China, and an additional 64,000 public toilets have now installed. Instead of building new toilets, the Harbin initiative advocates increased usage of existing urban facilities, by inviting Government offices, hospitals, restaurants, shopping malls, gas stations, and other street-facing businesses to open their toilets to tourists. In return, the government provides annual subsidies (1,000–3,000 RMB) and free cleaning supplies. Over 1,000 units have joined as of 2025, and all members will have a special logo (a heart-shaped badge with an "S" symbol "哈尔滨 公厕联盟") displayed at their entrance. All member units can be found via a map in mobile phone (search "公厕联盟") , or look out for the red heart-shaped logo. 9) Modern mall. 10) Mother goose fairy tale. 13-15) 酥糖 Sutang (sutang) is a traditional Chinese pastry, a sort of crispy candy or dessert, characterized by its fluffy texture and sweet flavor. This is one of the oldest shops. The pastry has nothing to do with either the gorilla, or the polar bear.
1.2) This is the building of 万国洋行 Wang Guo Yanghang. it was built in 1922 and is a Class II protected building in Harbin. The architectural style is eclecticism, incorporating several elements of European classical architecture. It's a two-story brick-concrete structure with a recessed courtyard. The ground floor features floor-to-ceiling windows, classical railings on the eaves, and a French-style dome roof. The exterior wall decoration is simple and flowing. Formerly a fashionable foreign goods store, it became a clothing factory for the Northeast Democratic Alliance Army in 1947, and after 1957, a sales office for the Heilongjiang Mechanical and Electrical Equipment Company. In recent years, the building has undergone renovations and business upgrades. In collaboration with Coca-Cola, it has restored some of its historical features and introduced international specialty products, such as Czech trdlo bread and Dutch Anna cheese, making it a popular check-in spot on Central Street. 3) 煙囱面包 Chimney Bread Store, 4) Harbin, the City of Bread and Bread Culture. Harbin was one of the first Chinese cities to make bread a staple food, as half of its residents were once foreigners. In 1898, with the construction and opening of the Chinese Eastern Railway, a large number of Russian expatriates arrived in Harbin. To meet their dietary needs, Russian merchants opened shops in 1900, with bread being one of their main products. Bakeries run by foreigners also sprang up along Central Avenue. According to statistics, by 1930, Harbin had 16 bakeries run by foreigners and over 100 Chinese-run workshops. Not only were bakeries plentiful, but so were the varieties of bread. Breads like big bread, Seker bread, bread rings, and chimney bread were all very popular. In the 1950s, Harbin's annual bread production remained around 4,000 tons. By the 1970s, it had reached over 7,000 tons. After the reform and opening up, Harbin's annual bread production exceeded 10,000 tons, making bread an integral part of Harbin residents' diet. 5) Courtyard of Wang Guo Yanghang. 6.9,10) Chimney ice cream. Chimney bread, also known as Kürtőskalács (Hungarian) or Trdelník (Czech), is a sweet, cylindrical pastry made from yeast dough wrapped around a spit, baked until golden and crispy, and coated with sugar and cinnamon. Its hollow center resembles a chimney, hence the name. Chimney Bread Ice Cream takes the warm, freshly baked chimney cake and fills it with ice cream, along with creative toppings. The modern ice cream version was popularized in Prague around 2015. 7) The boy in the center is holding a chimney ice cream. The Chinese tradition of eating ice can be traced back to the Zhou Dynasty周朝 over 2,000 years ago. Works such as "The Book of Rites周礼" "The Book of Rites - Monthly Ordinances礼记·月令," and "The Book of Songs诗经" all contain records of "chopping ice in winter and storing it for the nobility to consume in summer. This ice-eating method spread to Italy via Marco Polo's "Travels in the East," and then to France through royal marriages. In 1560, French royal chefs, using the recipe Marco Polo brought from China, created ice cream almost identical to today's by mixing milk, eggs, and spices into a semi-solid mixture. 8) Dutch Anna cheese since 1903 in Harbin. Records indicate that the Dutch cheese industry began in the 16th century, initially serving the royal court. By the Middle Ages, cheese production had matured, and specialized factories emerged in cities like Haarlem. Furthermore, because Dutch cheese has a long shelf life, it is easy to transport, 11,12) Central street decorations. 13) we all already know Daoli Qiulin, but the devil is in the small print: 依法去严惩网络谣言 Severely punish online rumors according to law. 14) Kvass is a traditional fermented beverage in Eastern Europe, particularly popular in Slavic countries like Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. Its history dates back hundreds of years, and it's originally made from fermented rye bread and maltose, so typically has a short fermentation time. It has a slightly sour and sweet flavor and a very low alcohol content (typically less than 1.2%), making it a good refreshing summer drink. It's also used in cooking, such as making cold soups (like okroshka). The 3 peculiar Harbin dietary culture: 面包像个锅盖 Bread is as big as a pot cover; 喝酒像灌溉 Drinking beer like watering plants ; 冬天都吃大冰块 Eating large ice blocks in winter. It could be -20degrees, yet there's still a queue for ice cream in the street! 15) Last restaurant for the last meal in Harbin. The food was no good but the service was excellent! 16) Harbin is not a coastal city, so fresh king crabs are not locally caught. King crabs from Seafood markets are usually frozen, but this one's very much alive. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1ChCJBnDKq/ . Russian king crabs (from Vladivostok) are more common due to proximity. 17) Crab is served. 18) Our last hotel, the J W Marriott.
***********************************************************************Russia was only in Harbin for 37 years, but left so much legacy that it'd be inappropriate to end without sharing 2 of my favorite Russian songs : Moscow Nights https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtoUoms4Jo0 ; Kalinka https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCc7ySI9YMw. Enjoy!
