Harbin, capital of China’s northernmost province Heilongjiang, with its old Russian architecture is an interesting city all year round. However, it is in winter that it really comes alive. As the mercury dips to minus thirty, the tourists arrive. They come to see a city transformed into a winter wonderland. If you read one of the major guidebooks you would only see the least impressive site, so let us guide you to the best.

8:30am: Start with the buffet breakfast at the Modern Hotel. Like most breakfasts in the north this is filling and contains a lot of kim chi like food. Whilst the hotel has seen better days it can’t be beaten for history. Built in 1906 it was the place to stay in Harbin, boasting unrivalled European style and luxury. In the early 1900s there were more foreigners living in the city than Chinese and Harbin was known as the Paris of the East.

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