2. Get a Feel of the Paris in the Far East

Stop One: Guogeli Street (Gogol Street)

Add: Guogeli Street, Nangang District, Harbin

Traffic Routes: Take Bus No 7, 8, 17, 18, 63, 71, 87, 109 or 202 to Gexin Street

Highlights: Built in 1901, Guogeli Street now has a history of more than 100 years. With the construction of Middle East Railway and the implementation of New City Plan in the early 18th century, Guogeli Street has its rudiment around Lamatai Square near the city center. In 1902, Qiulin Food Company expanded its branch at Xiangfang to the cross of Dazhi Street and Guogeli Street, and built a storied building. Since then, many companies and pharmacies run by Russians emerged around Qiulin Food Company, and Guogeli Street started its expansion. The street was called Xin Shangwu Street, and then Guogeli Street, and was changed to Yizhou Street in 1925. It is located at the center of Nangang District, from Wenchang Street in the south to Yiman Street in the north, with a length of 2,642 meters. Its name was changed to Fendou Road, according to the epigraph of Chairman Mao during his visit to Harbin. And finally on September 28, 2003, it was named Guogeli Street. Key attractions on the Street are Alexxeev Cathedral, Russian Riverside Park and the Streetcars, etc.

Stop Two: Saint Sophia Cathedral (AAAA scenic spot)

Add: No 88, Toulong Str., Daoli District

Traffic Routes:

Walk along Jingwei Street towards Hongxing Street, and then walk along Hongxing Street, cross Zhongyang Avenue, then walk along 14th Street in West Daoli and an overhead pass to Toulong Street, and after 500 meters there stands the Saint Sophia Cathedral.

Tel: +86-451-8468-6904

Website: www.sofia.com.cn

Tickets: ￥20 for adults, ￥10 for students, and totally free for senior citizens above 70 and children under 1.4 meters.

Open Hour: 8:30 to 17:00

Highlights: The Saint Sophia Cathedral is an AAAA scenic spot and National Key Protected Ancient Cultural Relic. Located at Daoli District, it was built in March 1907, with a total area of 50,000 square meters. As a new tourist site of Harbin, the scenic area has Saint Sophia Cathedral Exhibition Center, City Construction Exhibition, Construction Art Square, Central Square and Underground Multi-function Hall. The Saint Sophia Cathedral used to be the army cathedral of Tsarist Russian during the construction of Middle East Railway. It was built mostly according to Byzantine style, with Russian traditional tent roof and onion-shape tower. Designed by Russian architecture Kjasikopf, the cathedral’s wall was built by bricks and stones. It has a total area of 721 square meters and a height of 53.35 meters. Seen from the sky like a cross, it is the most well protected Byzantine building in China.