Editing Harbin (section)

==Culture==
The Harbin local culture is based on [[Han Chinese|Han culture]], combined with Manchu culture and Russian culture.<ref name="hktdc.com HarbinInfo"/> This combination of cultures influences the local architecture style, food, music, and customs. The city of Harbin was appointed a UNESCO City of Music on 22 June 2010 as part of the [[Creative Cities Network]].<ref name="english.peopledaily.com.cn">{{cite news|url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90882/7041463.html|title=UN recognizes China's northeastern Harbin as "Music City"|author1=王寒露|date=26 June 2010|access-date=15 October 2014|agency=People's Daily Online|issue=Xinhua|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029191324/http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90882/7041463.html|archive-date=29 October 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Cuisine===

[[File:Guobaorou a0.jpg|thumb|Traditional Guo Bao Rou]]
Harbin is renowned for its culinary tradition. The cuisine of Harbin consists of European dishes and Northern Chinese dishes mainly typified by heavy sauce and deep-frying.<ref name="cnntravel">
{{cite news
  |url=http://travel.cnn.com/shanghai/eat/around-china-31-dishes-808639
  |title=31 dishes: A guide to China's regional specialties
  |publisher=CNN Travel
  |access-date=3 March 2014
  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225065916/http://travel.cnn.com/shanghai/eat/around-china-31-dishes-808639
  |archive-date=25 February 2014
  |url-status=live
  }}
</ref>{{better source needed|date=August 2023}}

One of the most famous dishes in [[Northeastern Chinese cuisine]] is [[Guo Bao Rou]], a form of sweet and sour pork. It is a classic dish from Harbin that originated in the early 20th century in Daotai Fu ({{lang-zh|道台府|hp=Dàotái Fǔ|links=no}}).<ref name="Guobaorou">{{cite web|script-title=zh:"锅包肉"来自道台府|url=http://www.hljnews.cn/fou_baoye/2005-10/25/content_884048.htm|script-work=zh:生活报|via=Heilongjiang News |access-date=1 March 2014|date=25 October 2005|language=zh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306231357/http://www.hljnews.cn/fou_baoye/2005-10/25/content_884048.htm|archive-date=6 March 2014}}</ref> It consists of a bite-sized pieces of pork in a [[potato starch]] [[batter (cooking)|batter]], deep-fried until crispy. They are then lightly coated in a variation of a sweet and sour sauce, made from freshly prepared [[syrup]], rice vinegar, sugar, flavoured with ginger, cilantro, sliced carrot and garlic. The Harbin Guobaorou is distinct from that of other areas of China, such as Liaoning, where the sauce may be made using either tomato ketchup or orange juice. Rather the Harbin style is dominated by the honey and ginger flavours and has a clear or honey yellow colour. Originally the taste was fresh and salty. In order to fete foreign guests, Zheng Xingwen, the chef of Daotai Fu, altered the dish into a sweet and sour taste. Usually, people prefer to go to several small or middle size restaurants to enjoy this dish, because it is difficult to handle the frying process at home.<ref name="Guobaorou"/>

Demoli Stewed Live Fish is one among other notable dishes in Harbin, which is originated in a village named Demoli on the expressway from Harbin to Jiamusi. The village is now Demoli Service Area on Harbin-Tongjiang Expressway.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://heilongjiang.dbw.cn/system/2010/09/02/052704618.shtml |script-title=zh:哈同公路得莫利服务区打造"龙江第一服务区" |website=dbw.cn Heilongjiang |date=2010-09-02 |language=zh-cn |access-date=3 March 2014 |archive-date=6 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006135225/http://heilongjiang.dbw.cn/system/2010/09/02/052704618.shtml }}</ref> Stewed Chicken with Mushrooms, Braised Pork with Vermicelli, and quick-boil pork with Chinese sauerkraut are also typical authentic local dishes.

Since Russia had a strong influence on Harbin's history, the local cuisine of Harbin also contains Russian-style dishes and flavor.<ref name="hktdc.com HarbinInfo"/> There are several authentic Russian-style restaurants in Harbin, especially alongside the Zhongyang Street.<ref name="HarbinCuisine">{{cite web
  |url=http://www.visitourchina.com/guide/harbin_cuisine.htm
  |title=Harbin Cuisine
  |publisher=visitourchina
  |access-date=3 March 2014
  |archive-date=28 March 2014
  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328143039/http://visitourchina.com/guide/harbin_cuisine.htm
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>
[[File:Smoked Chinese sausage.jpg|thumb|Harbin-style smoked sausage]]
A popular regional specialty is [[Chinese sausage#Northern China|Harbin-style smoked savory red sausage]].<ref name="cnntravel"/> This product, which is similar to mild Lithuanian and German sausages, tend to be much more of European flavours than other Chinese sausages. In 1900, Russian merchant Ivan Yakovlevich Churin founded a branch in Harbin, which was named [[Qiulin Group|Churin Foreign trading company]] ({{lang-zh|p=Qiulin Yanghang}}; {{langx|ru|Цюлинь Янхан|links=no}}) selling imported clothes, leather boots, canned foods, vodka, etc., and began to expand sales network in other cities in Manchuria.<ref name=churinfc>{{lang|ru|[http://russian.china.org.cn/russian/56082.htm Торговая фирма «И. Я. Чурин и К<sup>о</sup>» и табачная фабрика А. Лопато] // Китайский информационный Интернет-центр 10/01/2003}}</ref><ref>{{lang|ru|Спутник по Сибири, Маньчжурии, Амуру и Уссурийскому краю. 1911 год (6 год издания). Составил И. С. Кларк. VII выпуск. — Иркутск. — Паровая типо-литография П. Макушина и В. Посохина. — С. 106.}}</ref> The influx of Europeans through the Trans-Siberian Railway and Chinese Eastern Railway, increased demand of European flavor food. In 1909, Churin's Sausage Factory was founded, and first produced European flavor sausage with the manufacturing process of Lithuanian staff. Since then, European style sausage has become a specialty of the city.<ref name="cnntravel"/>

A Russian style large round bread [[Dalieba|大列巴 dà liě ba]], derived from the Russian word ''{{lang|ru-Latn|khleb}}'' for "bread" is also produced in Harbin's bakeries. Dalieba is a miche like sourdough bread. First introduced to the locals by a Russian baker, it has been sold in bakeries in Harbin for over a hundred years.<ref name="Russiankhleb">
{{cite web
  |url=http://www.thefreshloaf.com/node/19061/recreating-%E5%A4%A7%E5%88%97%E5%B7%B4dalieba-chinese-sourdough-bread-100-years-history-and-russian-heritage
  |title=Recreating {{lang|zh-hans|大列巴|nocat=true}} (dà liě ba) - the Chinese sourdough bread with 100+ years of history and a Russian heritage
  |publisher=The Fresh Loaf
  |access-date=3 March 2014
  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130811234539/http://www.thefreshloaf.com/node/19061/recreating-%E5%A4%A7%E5%88%97%E5%B7%B4dalieba-chinese-sourdough-bread-100-years-history-and-russian-heritage
  |archive-date=11 August 2013
  |url-status=live
  }}
</ref> Dalieba's sour and chewy taste is different from other traditional soft and fluffy Asian style breads in other parts of China.

[[Kvass]], a Russia-originated [[fermented beverage]] made from [[black bread|black]] or regular [[rye bread]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enjoyyourcooking.com/beverage-recipes/russian-rye-bread-drink-kvass.html|title=Kvass (Russian Fermented Rye Bread Drink)|access-date=27 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821154049/http://www.enjoyyourcooking.com/beverage-recipes/russian-rye-bread-drink-kvass.html|archive-date=21 August 2016}}</ref> is also popular in Harbin.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://meal.dbw.cn/system/2011/06/15/053227379.shtml |script-title=zh:哈尔滨特色饮料"格瓦斯"竞相亮相哈洽会 |website=Dbw.cn |date=2011-06-15 |language=zh-hans |access-date=2014-03-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425131738/http://meal.dbw.cn/system/2011/06/15/053227379.shtml |archive-date=2013-04-25 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Madier ("{{lang|zh-hans|马迭尔}}", derived from "Modern") ice-cream provided in the Zhongyang Street is also well known in northern China. This ice cream is made from a specific traditional recipe and it tastes a little salty but more sweet and milky. Besides its headquarters in Harbin, it also has branches in other major Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai, etc.<ref name="madier">{{cite web|script-title=zh:马迭尔进京布局意在全国市场|url=http://www.bbtnews.com.cn/news/2014-07/31000000313537.shtml|work=贺陈慧|publisher=高端旅游周刊|access-date=21 November 2014|date=31 July 2014|language=zh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218184016/http://www.bbtnews.com.cn/news/2014-07/31000000313537.shtml|archive-date=18 December 2014}}</ref>

===Tourism===

Harbin is a popular domestic tourist destination, particularly in the winter, when there are large-scale [[ice sculpture]] displays. Harbin also has a large indoor ski park, located inside the Wanda Harbin Mall (counting six ski slants up to {{convert|500|m|ft}} in length).<ref name="cnn.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/china-top-megacities/index.html|title=Megacities and more: A guide to China's most impressive urban centers|website=[[CNN]]|date=6 March 2019 }}</ref> During the 2023–2024 winter season, there were 87 million visitors, mostly coming from other parts of China.<ref name="EconomistFeb2025">{{Cite news |date=February 12, 2025 |title=Hail China’s new "ice-and-snow economy" |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |url=https://www.economist.com/china/2025/02/13/hail-chinas-new-ice-and-snow-economy |access-date=2025-02-27 |issn=0013-0613}}</ref>

Harbin is also known for its European-style structures and designs, such as the popular Saint Sophia Cathedral, Central Street, and the Baroque compositional complex in Lao Daowai (Old Town).

===Winter culture===
[[File:Tower at Harbin Ice and Snow Festival 2012.jpg|thumb|Tower at Harbin Ice and Snow Festival, 2013]]
Located in northern Northeast China, Harbin is the northernmost among major cities in China. Under the direct influence of the [[Siberian Anticyclone]], the average daily temperature is {{convert|−19.7|C|F}} in winter. Annual low temperatures below {{convert|−25.0|C|F}} are not uncommon. Nicknamed "Ice City" due to its freezingly cold winter, Harbin is decorated by various styles of Ice and snow Sculptures from December to March every year.<ref name="BBCsculpturemelting"/>

[[File:2011 Harbin Sun Island International Snow Sculpture EXPO 01.JPG|thumb|Snow Sculpture in Sun Island, 2011]]
The annual [[Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival]] has been held since 1985. Although the official start date is 5 January each year, in practice, many of the sculptures can be seen before. While there are ice sculptures throughout the city, there are two main exhibition areas: enormous snow sculptures at Sun Island (Taiyang Dao, a [[Tourist Attraction Rating Categories of China|AAAAA-rated]] recreational area on the opposite side of the Songhua River from the city) and the separate "Ice and Snow World" that operates each night with lights switched on, illuminating the sculptures from both inside and outside. Ice and Snow World features illuminated full-size buildings made from blocks of 2–3 feet thick crystal clear ice directly taken from the Songhua River, which passes through the city. The sculptures inside the exhibition ground takes 15,000 workers to work for 16 days. In early December, ice artisans cut 120,000 cubic metres (4.2&nbsp;million cubic feet) of ice blocks from Songhua river's frozen surface as raw materials for the ice sculptures' show.<ref name="Iceismoney"/> Massive ice buildings, large-scale snow sculptures, ice slides, festival food and drinks can also be found in several parks and major avenues in the city. Winter activities in the festival include [[Yabuli Ski Resort|Yabuli]] Alpine [[Skiing]], snow mobile driving, winter-swimming in [[Songhua River]], and the traditional ice-lantern exhibition in Zhaolin Garden, which was first held in 1963.<ref name="Ice Lantern Exhibition">
{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.cnto.org.uk/harbin/2007_10_23_16/20071023165258827.htm
 |title       = Ice Lantern Exhibition
 |publisher   = China National Tourist Office
 |access-date  = 23 October 2007
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20071102145937/http://www.cnto.org.uk/harbin/2007_10_23_16/20071023165258827.htm
 |archive-date = 2 November 2007
}}</ref> Snow carving and ice and snow recreations are famous nationwide, especially among Asian countries including Korea, Japan, Thailand and Singapore.<ref name="Iceismoney">
{{cite web
  |url=http://www.smh.com.au/travel/ice-is-money-in-chinas-coldest-city-20081113-62yj.html
  |title=Ice is money in China's coldest city
  |publisher=www.smh.com.au
  |date=13 November 2008
  |access-date=22 April 2014
  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091002152548/http://www.smh.com.au/travel/ice-is-money-in-chinas-coldest-city-20081113-62yj.html
  |archive-date=2 October 2009
  |url-status=live
  }}
</ref>

The "Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival" is one of the four largest ice and snow festivals in the world, along with Japan's [[Sapporo Snow Festival]], Canada's [[Quebec City Winter Carnival]], and Norway's [[Holmenkollen Ski Festival]].<ref name="hktdc.com HarbinInfo"/>

Every November, the city of Harbin sends teams of ice artisans to the United States to promote their unique art form. It takes more than 100 artisans to create ICE!, the annual display of indoor Christmas-themed ice carvings in National Harbor, Maryland; Nashville, Tennessee; [http://www.gaylordpalms.com/ice Kissimmee, Florida]; and Grapevine, Texas.

===''The Music City''===
[[File:Harbin Music Park 2016-03-09.jpg|thumb|Harbin Music Park, located in Youyi West Road]]
Founded in 1908, the Harbin Symphony Orchestra was China's oldest symphony orchestra. Harbin No.1 Music School was also the first music school in China, which was founded in 1928. Nearly 100 famous musicians have studied at the school since its founding, said Liu Yantao, deputy chief of Harbin Cultural, Press and Publication Bureau.
Every year, thousands of youngsters start their music dreams in this city, and the "Harbin Summer Music Concert" serial activities that always be held in the every year's summer present the music passion of the locals.
[[UNESCO]] recognizes China's Harbin as "The Music City" as part of the [[Creative Cities Network]] in 2010.<ref name="english.peopledaily.com.cn"/>

====Harbin Summer Music Concert====

Harbin Summer Music Concert ('Concert' for short) is a national concert festival, which is held on 6 August every two years for a period of 10~11 days. During the concert, multiple evenings, concert, race and activities are held. The artists come from all over the world.

The 'Harbin Summer Music Month', which was then renamed as 'Harbin Summer Music Concert', was held in August 1958. The first formal Concert was held on 5 August 1961 in Harbin Youth Palace, and kept on every year until 1966 when the [[Cultural Revolution]] started in China.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.artsbird.com/newweb12/artsnews.php?thisid=26163|title=Introduction of Harbin Summer Music Concert|access-date=27 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201005725/http://www.artsbird.com/newweb12/artsnews.php?thisid=26163|archive-date=1 February 2012}}</ref> In 1979, the Concert was recovered and from 1994, it has been held every two years. As a part of 2006 Harbin Summer Music Concert's opening ceremony, a 1,001-piano concert was held in Harbin's Flood memorial square located at the north end of [[Central Street (Harbin)|Central Street]] ({{lang-zh|s=中央大街|hp=Zhōngyāng Dàjiē|links=no}}) on 6 August 2006.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=zh:第28届中国·哈尔滨之夏音乐会琴宝隆之声·千台钢琴演奏会吉尼斯纪录申请过程|url=http://news.sina.com.cn/o/2006-08-10/01489704857s.shtml|script-work=zh:新晚报|publisher=[[Sina Corp|Sina Entertainment]]|access-date=6 February 2014|author=李威 封娇 李木双|date=10 August 2006|language=zh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222055948/http://news.sina.com.cn/o/2006-08-10/01489704857s.shtml|archive-date=22 February 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|script-title=zh:"琴宝隆之声"千台钢琴演奏会奏响华彩乐章|url=http://ent.sina.com.cn/y/2006-08-08/14401191418.html/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140206000802/http://ent.sina.com.cn/y/2006-08-08/14401191418.html/|archive-date=6 February 2014|work=[[Sina Corp|Sina Entertainment]] |access-date=6 February 2014|author=王玮|date=8 August 2006|language=zh}}</ref> Repertoires of the ensemble consisted of ''[[Triumphal March]]'', ''Military March'', ''[[Radetzky March]]'' and famous traditional local song ''On The Sun Island''. This concert set a new Guinness World Record for largest piano ensemble, surpassing the previous record held by German artists in a 600-piano concert.<ref name="english.peopledaily.com.cn"/>
In 2008, the 29th Harbin Summer Music Concert was held on 6 August.
[[File:Harbin Grand Theatre Pano 201609.jpg|center|thumb|1024x1024px|[[Harbin Grand Theatre]], designed by [[MAD Studio]]. Located in Harbin's Songbei District, the opera house is surrounded by wetlands and waterways of Songhua River.]]

===Media===
[[File:黑龙江省哈尔滨市龙塔 02.JPG|thumb|287x287px|Dragon Tower (Long Ta), a 336-meter-tall freestanding [[lattice tower]], serves as the headquarter of [[HLJTV]]. ]]

===Television and radio===
* [[Heilongjiang Television]] (HLJTV) serves as the media outlets of this region, broadcasts on seven channels as well as a satellite channel for other provinces.
* {{ill|Harbin Television|zh|哈尔滨电视台|vertical-align=sup}} (HRBTV) serves as a municipal station, which has five channels for specialized programming.
* [[Long Guang]], ''Dragon Broadcast'', formerly Heilongjiang People's Broadcasting Station, the radio station group that serves the whole Heilongjiang region, providing seven channels including a Korean language broadcast station.
* {{ill|Harbin People's Broadcasting Station|zh|哈尔滨人民广播电台|vertical-align=sup}} (HPBS), broadcasts music, news, traffic, economy and life in Harbin and adjacent areas including Daqing, Suihua and Fuyu.