Editing Harbin (section)

==Architecture==

Harbin is notable for its combination of Chinese and European architecture styles. Many Russian and other European style buildings are protected by the government. The architecture in Harbin gives it the nicknames of "Oriental Moscow" and "Oriental Paris" in China.<ref name="Profiles of China Provinces, Cities and Industrial Parks"/>

===Historical architecture===
[[File:Central walk (1) - panoramio.jpg|thumb|right|European-style building in Central Street]][[Central Street (Harbin)|Central Street]], one of the main business streets in Harbin, is a remnant of the bustling international business activities at the turn of the 20th century. First built in 1898, The {{convert|1.4|km|abbr=on}} long street is now a veritable museum of European architectural styles: [[Baroque]] and [[Byzantine architecture|Byzantine]] façades,<ref name="hktdc.com HarbinInfo"/> little Russian bakeries and French fashion houses, as well as non European architectural styles: American eateries, and [[Japanese restaurant]]s.<ref name="Central Street">{{cite web
 |url          = http://www.cnto.org.uk/harbin/2007_10_23_16/20071023163837426.htm
 |title        = Central Street
 |publisher    = China National Tourist Office
 |access-date   = 23 October 2007
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20071102145922/http://www.cnto.org.uk/harbin/2007_10_23_16/20071023163837426.htm
 |archive-date = 2007-11-02
 }}</ref>

The [[Russian Orthodox]] church, [[Saint Sophia Cathedral in Harbin|Saint Sophia Cathedral]], is also located in the central district of Daoli.<ref name="hktdc.com HarbinInfo"/> Built in 1907 and expanded from 1923 to 1932, it was closed during the [[Great Leap Forward]] and Cultural Revolution periods. Following its designation in 1996 as a national cultural heritage site (First class Preserved Building),<ref>[http://www.upp.cn:8084/english/view/Arts/index_1.html "Preserved Buildings"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306120047/http://www.upp.cn:8084/english/view/Arts/index_1.html |date=2012-03-06 }}. [http://www.upp.cn/english/ Harbin Urban and Rural Planning Bureau] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531124449/http://www.upp.cn/english/ |date=2014-05-31 }}.</ref> it was turned into a museum as a showcase of the history of Harbin city in 1997.<ref name="Koga">Yukiko Koga. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=hkq9tNjsSo8C "The Atmosphere of a Foreign Country": Harbin's Architectural Inheritance] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160515175520/https://books.google.com/books?id=hkq9tNjsSo8C&printsec=frontcover |date=2016-05-15 }}''. In: Anne M. Cronin, Kevin Hetherington. ''Consuming the Entrepreneurial City: Image, Memory, Spectacle''. Routledge, 2008. p. 229.</ref> The {{convert|53.35|m|abbr=on}}-tall Church, which covers an area of 721 square meters, is a typical representative of Byzantine architecture.<ref name="Sofia Orthodox Church">{{cite web
 |url          = http://www.cnto.org.uk/harbin/2007_10_23_16/20071023164619188.htm
 |title        = St. Sofia Orthodox Church
 |publisher    = China National Tourist Office
 |access-date   = 23 October 2007
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20071102145923/http://www.cnto.org.uk/harbin/2007_10_23_16/20071023164619188.htm
 |archive-date = 2007-11-02
 }}</ref>

[[File:ハルビン極楽寺玄関.jpg|thumb|right|Ji Le Temple (Temple of Bliss), a Buddhist temple in Harbin]]
Many citizens believe that the Orthodox church damaged the local [[feng shui]], so they donated money to build a Chinese Buddhist monastery in 1921, the [[Ji Le Temple]]. There were more than 15 Russian Orthodox churches and two cemeteries in Harbin until 1949. The [[Communist Revolution]], and the subsequent [[Cultural Revolution]], and the decrease in the [[Russians in China|ethnic Russian]] population, saw many of them abandoned or destroyed. Today, about 10 churches remain, while services are held only in the [[Church of the Intercession in Harbin]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://orthodox.cn/contemporary/harbin/pokrov_en.htm|title=Protection (Pokrov) of the Mother of God Church of Harbin|access-date=27 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160722215200/http://www.orthodox.cn/contemporary/harbin/pokrov_en.htm|archive-date=22 July 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Harbin Railway Administration, formerly known as the Middle East Railway Administration, commonly known as the "big stone house", was built in 1902, destroyed twice and rebuilt in 1904 and 1906.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}

===Modern architecture===
[[Harbin Grand Theatre]] is located in the cultural center of [[Songbei District]], Harbin. It provides 1600- and 400-seat venues. The architecture uses the external design of the heterogeneous hyperbolic surface.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sh.people.com.cn/n2/2016/0302/c357192-27847914.html|script-title=zh:美呆了！哈尔滨大剧院获评"世界最佳文化类建筑"|script-work=zh:文汇报 |via=people.com.cn |date=2 March 2016|access-date=4 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312181224/http://sh.people.com.cn/n2/2016/0302/c357192-27847914.html|archive-date=12 March 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Harbin Grand Theatre]] is a landmark building in Harbin. It is built in accordance with the water and is consistent with the surrounding environment. It embodies the concept of the landscape and landscape of the north. As a public building facility, the theatre provides people and visitors with different spatial experiences from the theatre, landscape, square and stereoscopic platform. During the design process, architect [[Ma Yansong]] has set up a unique sightseeing corridor and viewing platform in the [[Harbin Grand Theatre|Grand Theatre]]. Visitors are able to overlook the surrounding wetland and enjoy the unique natural wetland scenery of Harbin.

After the completion of the [[Harbin Grand Theatre]], the public can enjoy opera, symphony, ballet and drama performances in various function rooms.