Before we left Harbin, we wandered around the city sight-seeing. Though it was mostly 30 mins outside looking around, before our bodies couldn’t take it anymore and we had to run indoors for warmth. It was a lot of fun poking around though – so many local things to see and hole-in-the-wall places to check out. What we realised about Harbin is that it’s a lot like Japan – a lot of small, non-descript doors that you think won’t lead to much, but actually leads to HUGE places and also underground places. It’s like there’s a whole city behind these small doors, and also underground. Very interesting!
It was an excellent trip. The cold is biting and painful – that’s true – but it’s worth braving the weather to step into a totally different world. A truly memorable holiday 🙂
Some little standalone shop, cute!
A tiny, nondescript door that we found, that led to a L-O-N-G row of
shops selling all sorts of weird and wonderful foods!
The famous Dumpling King!
Yummy food, washed down with Harbin Beer
Outside the famous Sophia Cathedral, gorgeous Russian architecture!
Tres impressive
I went into shock when I saw this – it is DOG *speechless*
A myriad of candies
Standing on the river that’s completely frozen solid
Pretty horses
Dogs – they looked cold 🙁
Freakin’ cold but so much fun!
Having a hot coffee to warm up… brrrr…
Ice creams and internet-surfing whilst waiting for our flight back to Shanghai
36 Comments
starbucksweetie – posted on February 6, 2010 at 1:46 am
So cool to see Russian architecure next to Chinese signage.
beverly – posted on February 6, 2010 at 2:02 am
Yeah, quite surreal, lol
irene82 – posted on February 6, 2010 at 1:54 am
Dog meat is supposedly very good for keeping the body warm in blistering cold weather. It’s SO cruel!
beverly – posted on February 6, 2010 at 2:06 am
Yeowch.. i didn’t know that. it was scary to see it all laid out like that!
opalline – posted on February 6, 2010 at 5:25 am
From a critical POV, I feel that dog meat is on the same level as cow/pig/chicken/etc. I don’t think it’s fair to consider certain animals okay to eat and not others (unless the meat is undesirable or harmful in some way). I’m not vegetarian.
On a personal level, I LOVE dogs and am totally horrified by that pic!!!!
beverly – posted on February 6, 2010 at 5:41 am
Fully agree! That’s why I don’t really go bonkers about NOT killing cute animals etc.. I feel I don’t really have the right to.
But then again, I think people that go on and on about it with their holier-than-thou attitude are stupid and antagonistic anyway 😉
cenedrah – posted on February 6, 2010 at 7:59 am
Agreed. I too would be horrified with seeing dog meat but that’s because I wasn’t raised to see dogs as a form of food. Regardless, meat is meat and I don’t see how it’s any more cruel than eating a steak.
I think those who do think that way need to consider cultural differences.
Anyway, I love how you can have such different, wonderful experiences in every corner of China. Such a vast, beautiful country 🙂 Thanks for all the updates!
beverly – posted on February 6, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Very good point – i’ts not fair and a bit close-minded to go “eww” at people eating whatever it is they’re eating. To each their own I guess!
China is SO different once you step a few hours out of wherever you are.. that’s what I love about it 🙂
starbucksweetie – posted on February 6, 2010 at 1:46 am
So cool to see Russian architecure next to Chinese signage.
beverly – posted on February 6, 2010 at 2:02 am
Yeah, quite surreal, lol
irene82 – posted on February 6, 2010 at 1:54 am
Dog meat is supposedly very good for keeping the body warm in blistering cold weather. It’s SO cruel!
beverly – posted on February 6, 2010 at 2:06 am
Yeowch.. i didn’t know that. it was scary to see it all laid out like that!
opalline – posted on February 6, 2010 at 5:25 am
From a critical POV, I feel that dog meat is on the same level as cow/pig/chicken/etc. I don’t think it’s fair to consider certain animals okay to eat and not others (unless the meat is undesirable or harmful in some way). I’m not vegetarian.
On a personal level, I LOVE dogs and am totally horrified by that pic!!!!
beverly – posted on February 6, 2010 at 5:41 am
Fully agree! That’s why I don’t really go bonkers about NOT killing cute animals etc.. I feel I don’t really have the right to.
But then again, I think people that go on and on about it with their holier-than-thou attitude are stupid and antagonistic anyway 😉
oldron – posted on February 6, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Boy that looks like really cold there.
beverly – posted on February 6, 2010 at 2:49 pm
Yeah.. argh… it was insanely cold!
cenedrah – posted on February 6, 2010 at 7:59 am
Agreed. I too would be horrified with seeing dog meat but that’s because I wasn’t raised to see dogs as a form of food. Regardless, meat is meat and I don’t see how it’s any more cruel than eating a steak.
I think those who do think that way need to consider cultural differences.
Anyway, I love how you can have such different, wonderful experiences in every corner of China. Such a vast, beautiful country 🙂 Thanks for all the updates!
beverly – posted on February 6, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Very good point – i’ts not fair and a bit close-minded to go “eww” at people eating whatever it is they’re eating. To each their own I guess!
China is SO different once you step a few hours out of wherever you are.. that’s what I love about it 🙂
oldron – posted on February 6, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Boy that looks like really cold there.
beverly – posted on February 6, 2010 at 2:49 pm
Yeah.. argh… it was insanely cold!
drshree – posted on February 7, 2010 at 4:02 am
Dog meat? :(. I mean I’ve heard of it, but……and I know, I’m not a vegetarian or anything, but dog meat?? 🙁
I had a Chow chow (mixed)…and heard that its bread in part of China for its meat!!
beverly – posted on February 7, 2010 at 2:01 pm
WOW i didn’t know that about the chow chow.. fortunately not in Shanghai, or at least as far as I know!
drshree – posted on February 7, 2010 at 4:02 am
Dog meat? :(. I mean I’ve heard of it, but……and I know, I’m not a vegetarian or anything, but dog meat?? 🙁
I had a Chow chow (mixed)…and heard that its bread in part of China for its meat!!
beverly – posted on February 7, 2010 at 2:01 pm
WOW i didn’t know that about the chow chow.. fortunately not in Shanghai, or at least as far as I know!
nakedpetals – posted on February 7, 2010 at 12:18 pm
OMG! Sick seeing the dog meat since I have dogs.
I hear about them all the time, but I chose not to believe it! And I just thought like farm/village people sell dog meat to make money cos they don’t have cows or any other farm animals to sell! But thats an actual shop!!!?!
eek 🙁
beverly – posted on February 7, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Ya it was surprising to see dog meat there in full view! But I guess it must be common in Harbin? I never see it in Shanghai though..
peachietree – posted on February 7, 2010 at 12:36 pm
That first picture is hilarious; you guys are all covered head to toe and face! The trip looked absolutely gorgeous and a mix of what’s amazing and also painful about living in China. I want to go but am having a hard time getting over the thought of -30C weather ahh!
beverly – posted on February 7, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Heh yeah, EVERY bit had to be covered or the air just *bites*, so painful! It makes Shanghai’s weather seem lovely in comparison 😉
nakedpetals – posted on February 7, 2010 at 12:18 pm
OMG! Sick seeing the dog meat since I have dogs.
I hear about them all the time, but I chose not to believe it! And I just thought like farm/village people sell dog meat to make money cos they don’t have cows or any other farm animals to sell! But thats an actual shop!!!?!
eek 🙁
beverly – posted on February 7, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Ya it was surprising to see dog meat there in full view! But I guess it must be common in Harbin? I never see it in Shanghai though..
peachietree – posted on February 7, 2010 at 12:36 pm
That first picture is hilarious; you guys are all covered head to toe and face! The trip looked absolutely gorgeous and a mix of what’s amazing and also painful about living in China. I want to go but am having a hard time getting over the thought of -30C weather ahh!
beverly – posted on February 7, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Heh yeah, EVERY bit had to be covered or the air just *bites*, so painful! It makes Shanghai’s weather seem lovely in comparison 😉
blacklamb66 – posted on February 8, 2010 at 9:16 pm
OMG
DOG! I don’t believe it. I can’t focus on nothing else besides this one photo.
beverly – posted on February 9, 2010 at 3:00 am
Re: OMG
it was even more scary in real life! I think just seeing body parts/head instead of just the meat is a lot more confronting..
blacklamb66 – posted on February 8, 2010 at 9:16 pm
OMG
DOG! I don’t believe it. I can’t focus on nothing else besides this one photo.
beverly – posted on February 9, 2010 at 3:00 am
Re: OMG
it was even more scary in real life! I think just seeing body parts/head instead of just the meat is a lot more confronting..