St. Sophia Cathedral

By a stroke of luck, Harbin has become my No.1⃣️ station travel destination when I returned to the country. At that time, the temperature was only -10 degrees, and the enthusiasm of travel enthusiasts had already started activities on this land. But in fact, there are not many permanent attractions in the city, mainly centered on Central Street: Sophia Church, Songhua River, Red Brick Street Morning Market, etc. This winter is really too cold. I am determined to make every time I take out the camera a picture. Simply put, pull your photo/travel partner in to learn!. .🔸Bench by the church The bench at the front door: There will be light hitting here from 11:00-1:00 at noon; but there will also be many little sisters lining up here! The effect is a bit far-fetched at other times on the shady side. The bench at the side door: 3-4 o'clock sunset time, I didn't take this (because I had a fever hhh) 5 o'clock after the night view when the lights are on! 🔸Octagonal Pavilion Here you can take pictures of the frame through the arch perspective, you need to find more angles, there are closed stairs and so on here, you need to pay attention to safety. 🔸Sinkhole There is a sinkhole in front of the Octagonal Pavilion, which will be closer to the church, and there is almost sun all day. I chose to sit on it and take pictures! 🔸Front door Of course don't stand too close! A little farther away, the lens has a little upward angle + stretch your hand forward (to get a little lens distortion effect. .Half a year, I saw the Sophia Cathedral in Turkey and the Sophia Church in Harbin, which is a bit magical! Also reviewed the photography skills of my photo partner half a year later, I hope he can continue to work hard

Saint Sophia Cathedral is a Byzantine-style Orthodox church built in 1907. It is a landmark building in Harbin and a must-visit tourist spot. The fragrance of plum blossoms in summer and the fluttering snowflakes in winter all present different beautiful scenes. Everyone is welcome to bring their stamp cards to Saint Sophia Cathedral for a unique experience. The old buildings in Harbin have an exotic charm and are full of history and culture! The scenery inside and outside the church is worth visiting and taking pictures of. Address: 88 Toulong Street, Daoli District, Harbin Transportation Guide Bus: Routes 83, 94, 64, 102, 52, 8 can all reach Taxi: It is recommended to ask for a receipt, starting price is 9 yuan Subway: Get off at Central Street Station on Line 2, and you can reach it within a 15-minute walk Saint Sophia Cathedral was originally built for the Fourth Infantry Division of the Russian East Siberia during the construction of the Middle East Railway. In the same year, Russian tea merchant I.F. Chizhikov funded the reconstruction of a wooden church based on the military church. In 1911, a brick wall was built outside the wooden wall, forming a brick-wood structure church. On September 27, 1923, Saint Sophia Cathedral was rebuilt for the second time. It took 9 years and was completed on November 25, 1932, becoming the largest Orthodox church in the Far East. The Sophia Church was designed by Russian architect Koyasikov. It is magnificent, elegant and extraordinary, with a total height of 53.25 meters, a building area of 721 square meters, and can accommodate 2000 people. The top of the main entrance is a bell tower. The seven copper bells are exactly seven notes. They need to be played by trained bell ringers to produce the ups and downs of the bell sound. The church building is arranged in the form of a Greek cross, which is influenced by Byzantine architectural style. The main dome and bell tower also have the traditional Russian 'tent top' and 'onion head' shape. In 1986, the Harbin Municipal People's Government listed it as a first-class protected building. In November 1996, it was listed as the fourth batch of national key cultural relics protection units. From June 2 to September 2, 1997, the Harbin Municipal People's Government carried out a comprehensive renovation of the church according to the original design, expanded the Sophia Square by 7000 square meters, and opened it as the Harbin Architectural Art Museum to promote and carry forward the unique architectural culture of Harbin. In 2000, the Harbin Municipal People's Government organized the expansion of the Harbin Architectural Art Square, the Central Leisure Square and the Urban Construction Planning Exhibition Hall construction project. It was completed and put into use on October 1 of the same year. The expanded Architectural Art Square has increased from 6000 square meters to 10000 square meters, and the Central Square covers an area of 36154 square meters.

It's not that Russia is too expensive to go to But Harbin is more cost-effective🥹 At the Saint Sophia Cathedral at 7:30 in the morning⛪️ I felt the romance exclusive to Harbin🕊️ I got the picture I wanted📷 It's worth getting up early!! 📍Sharing 9️⃣ shooting spots to easily avoid the crowd 1️⃣The green benches around the church can be used as a backdrop 2️⃣The green pentagonal platform in front of the church can block the crowd below the church, and the photographer can stand low or squat to take a low-angle shot 3️⃣The red brick corridor at the oblique front of the church🧱, you can take a silhouette through the archway👤 4️⃣Stand in front of the church or on the side, when there are fewer people in the church, take a scene where the people are small and the scene is large 5️⃣Sit on the stone bridge far from the church, lean on the stone platform next to the street lamp, the stone platform can block the crowd below the church, take a close-up low-angle shot from the bottom up 6️⃣Stand by the wall of the church to take a close-up portrait 7️⃣Sit on the stone platform next to the stairs, which can block the crowd under the church 8️⃣Stand across the street to take a long shot of the church🚥 9️⃣Use a drone to take an overhead shot of the entire church⛪️, remember to report in advance

| Three-day tour | Heilongjiang.🔔Harbin three-day travel guide is here! 🧥👖Harbin winter equipment: a down jacket, a hat, a pair of gloves, and cotton snow boots. The winter in Harbin is extremely cold, and a slight carelessness will make you feel cold. 🔔Recommended attractions: 1️⃣Ice and Snow World (must experience) 🎟Tickets: The adult ticket price for foreign tourists is 328 yuan/ticket 💥Recommended must-experience projects: ✨Giant slide (need to make an appointment in advance, you can make an appointment every hour or half an hour)✨Ferris wheel (recommended to experience in the evening, the lights are beautiful)✨Various ice sculpture art, performances ⚠️Tips: The recommended play time is from 13:00 to 18:00, when the sky gradually darkens, the photography effect is better. 2️⃣Saint Sophia Cathedral (very close to Central Street) 🕐Opening hours: 8:30-17:00 🎟Tickets: 20 yuan/ticket; students, children 15 yuan/ticket; there are often piano, violin and other music performances in the church. ⚠️Tips: It is recommended to play for 1 to 2 hours. After the tour, you can walk to the nearby Central Street, about 10 to 15 minutes. 3️⃣Central Street (open all day, no ticket required) 🍴Food: Madieer popsicles, special candied haws, Anna cheese sticks, chimney bread, old chef smoked meat. 4️⃣Snow Town (optional) 🎟Tickets: 120 yuan/ticket 🚘Transportation: The most convenient way is to charter a car ⚠️Tips: There is only one main street here, and the snow mushroom is its most characteristic scenery, or you can choose to go to Mohe. 5️⃣Harbin Pharmaceutical Factory No. 6 (only open for external visits) 🚘Transportation: You can get off at the "Nanzhi Road" subway station, this place is very suitable for taking pictures. 6️⃣The site of the 731st Regiment of the Japanese Invaders (strongly recommended to visit, to remember history) 🎟Tickets: Free (but need to make an appointment before entering the museum) 🕐Opening hours: Closed on Monday, other times are from 9:00 to 16:30. ✨Recommended visit time: 2 to 3 hours. 💥💥Recommended travel itinerary: 1️⃣Leisure three-day tour: Day1: Starting point—Arrive in Harbin; Day2: Experience the Ice and Snow World—Visit Saint Sophia Cathedral—Stroll Central Street; Day3: Visit Harbin Pharmaceutical Factory No. 6—Go to Yabuli Skiing. 2️⃣Speed and passion route: Day 1: Starting point—Arrive in Harbin—Visit Saint Sophia Cathedral—Stroll Central Street; Day 2: Watch the Songhua River—Experience the Ice and Snow World—Play the night market; Day 3: Visit Snow Town or experience skiing. 3️⃣Classic three-day tour: Day 1: Starting point—Arrive in Harbin; Day 2: Visit Saint Sophia Cathedral—Stroll Central Street—Experience the Ice and Snow World; Day 3: Visit Harbin Pharmaceutical Factory No. 6— Songhua River —Visit the 731 Regiment site. Are you ready to embark on this trip?

#timetotravel This is Saint Sophia Cathedral in Harbin. The Russian influence is very evident in the architecture of this cathedral. The exterior is stunningly beautiful especially when it is lit ay night. It is worth a visit or a stop in Harbin especially if you are in the city center. They have a gallery inside about the history of Harbin and the cathedral so this visit is also educational and informative. Entrance Fee: 15 (please double check because we were there a few years back. It might have changed already. Address: No. 88 Tuolong Street, Daoli District. Enjoy your visit. #mytripvlog #tripblazers #landmark #attraction #architecture #chinatravel #harbin

🌟 Highlights: Located in Sophia Square, Daoli District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, this Byzantine-style Eastern Orthodox cathedral⛪️ was built in 1907 and is a landmark building of Harbin🏠. In 1986, it was classified as a first-class protected building by the Harbin Municipal People's Government; in 1996, it was approved by the State Council to be listed as the fourth batch of national key cultural relics protection units. The interior of Saint Sophia Cathedral now serves as the 'Harbin Architectural Art Museum'. 🕙 Opening Hours: Closed on Mondays. Visiting hours are from 9:00 to 11:30 in the morning, and there are concerts🎼 at 13:00/15:30/18:30 in the afternoon, each lasting about 30 minutes. 🎫 Ticket Price: 20 yuan for a concert, and additional charges apply. The experience of a castle concert is also a unique experience in life. 📍 Detailed Address: Name: Harbin Saint Sophia Cathedral Address: No. 88, Tongjiang Street, Daoli District, Harbin 🚉 Transportation Tips: 🚌 Bus: Take bus No. 47 directly 🚇 Subway: Get off at Shangzhi Street Station on Metro Line 2

✅Clothing Head: Hat + Ear Covers + Mask Upper body: Down jacket + Thick sweater + Thermal underwear + Gloves + Scarf Lower body: Thick pants + Thermal pants + Thick socks + Snow boots ✅Accommodation: Atour Hotel on Friendship Road, Central Street, Harbin 1. The hotel is right by the Songhua River, you can take a walk by the river; it's 2 kilometers away from Central Street, half an hour's walk, the location is very convenient 2. The high floors of the hotel can directly see the night view and sunset of the Songhua River 3. Breakfast is served until 10:30, very sincere; Atour fans all know that Atour's breakfast is very rich, and it will change according to each city, this Atour breakfast even has silkworm pupae, which is quite amazing haha 4. Atour members can delay check-out until 16:00 in the afternoon, which is convenient for going straight to Snow Village Yabuli after strolling around Harbin ✅Itinerary 1️⃣DAY1: Harbin→Central Street→Saint Sophia Cathedral→Songhua River→Ice and Snow World 📍Central Street: A street for food and shopping, 1450 meters long, built in 1900, the buildings along the street are all Baroque style, very beautiful; here I ate Lao Chang spring rolls and Madieer popsicles (5 yuan, basically one per person, super delicious) 📍Saint Sophia Cathedral: Very historical, grand and solemn in appearance, the decorations and pictures inside are extremely exquisite, the ticket is 35 yuan 📍Songhua River: The frozen Songhua River is too cool, people can walk on it, and there are some entertainment projects, such as dog sledding (I feel so sorry for the dogs, it's heartbreaking) 📍Ice and Snow World: Highly recommended, beautiful day and night! All the buildings are made of ice and snow sculptures, it's super cold inside, be sure to wear a couple more pairs of socks 2️⃣DAY2: Harbin→Yabuli Ski Resort It's 230 kilometers from Harbin to Yabuli, a 3-hour drive; I was super excited to see such a high ski resort for the first time, the tracks are divided into advanced, intermediate, and beginner, for me who is skiing for the first time, I can only go to the beginner's track, if you are particularly interested in skiing, you can also hire a coach, skiing for 3 hours (including snow shoes, ski poles, snowboard) 3️⃣DAY3: Yabuli Ski Resort→Ya Snow Post Station→Big Bald Mountain→Ice and Snow Gallery→Snow Village 📍Ya Snow Post Station: There are plank roads, forest wildlife park, bandit nest Weihu Village; the package ticket is 168 yuan 📍Ice and Snow Gallery: There is a forest nature trail suitable for tourists to walk, and there is also a Northeast Wildlife Park to visit (bears, dogs, deer, wild boars, etc.) 📍Snow Village: No one can escape the beauty of Snow Village!! Snow Village is not big, but the mushroom houses covered by snow are just too beautiful PS: There is currently a round-trip direct bus from Harbin to Snow Village, 120 yuan/person

| A Romantic Escape into a Winter Fairy Tale World. Day 1⃣ & Day 2⃣: First Exploration of Harbin The early morning high-speed train took me through the cold of the north, arriving in Harbin at 17:00, where I felt the charm of the Northeast's cold and warmth blending together. I checked into the cozy hotel I had booked, all to start a spirited food tour the next day. The barbecue on Caoshi Street was so satisfying! The aroma of the grilled meat was like the warmest embrace in the cold.🍢🔥 Day 3⃣: First Skiing Experience at Yabuli The morning drive took us to Yabuli, a skiing paradise that lived up to its reputation, and the post-lunch skiing experience was truly heart-pounding! Three hours of skiing was both a challenge and a pleasure, and the hotel rest at night was the best reward for the day's fatigue.🎿💨 Day 4⃣: Snow Village Fairy Tale Snow Village, the name itself is like a place out of a fairy tale book. The daytime tour of Snow Village made me feel as if I had stepped into the world of Frozen, and the night view was incredible, with the warmth of the fire kang room contrasting sharply with the cold outside, giving me an unforgettable night.❄🌌 Day 5⃣: The Regret of Missing the Sunrise The 4 AM sunrise, though not visible due to heavy snow, became a unique memory of this trip. The unexpected road closure due to the snow added a bit of surprise and uncertainty to our return journey.🌨🚞 Day 6⃣: Harbin Cultural Tour The solemnity of Saint Sophia Cathedral, the historical charm of Central Street, the Russian Western cuisine at Huameixi Restaurant, each deeply moved me. An evening walk by the Songhua River was the most beautiful gift this city gave me.🏛🍽 Day 7⃣: Goodbye, Harbin With a heart full of memories, I took the high-speed train back to Beijing, secretly looking forward to the next adventure.🚄💭 Day 8⃣: The Magic of Universal Studios Beijing Every corner of Universal Studios was filled with magic and surprises, and for a day I felt like the protagonist of a movie, experiencing one heart-pounding moment after another.🎢🎬 Day 9⃣ & Day 10⃣: The Essence of Culture The beauty of the ruins of the Old Summer Palace, the scholarly atmosphere of Tsinghua University, every step was deep in history. Then, with the stories of the journey, I embarked on the trip back to Guangzhou.🏰📚 This trip to Harbin and Snow Village was really too dreamy! Every place had its unique charm, and I can't wait to share more photos and stories with you!👍✨

🔥 Experienced the bustling vibe of Harbin – the square of Saint Sophia Cathedral 🕌 is filled with tourists from all places and 'Russian princesses' posing for photos – it's indeed a great spot for photography‼️ 🪧 Preview: Next issue, I'll organize the travel tips from my previous fun in Russia.🥹 📍Location Saint Sophia Cathedral, Harbin ⏰Time It's suggested not to go during dinner time as it gets very crowded👩‍👩‍👧‍👧👨‍👨‍👦‍👦. Recommended to visit after 9 pm for the night view when the lights are on – it's very beautiful🎆. It's better to visit in the morning and avoid the lunch hour.🥹 🎫Ticket Free FREE 📝Photo Spots 💟 Behind the cathedral in the tunnel area 💟 The arched doors diagonally opposite the cathedral – there are three in total – rush to the one with fewer people 💟 The green benches next to the cathedral 💟 The green fence beside the cathedral 💟 The stone piers at the entrance of the cathedral 📝TIPS 💟 The Saint Sophia Cathedral is beautiful during both day and night, and the night view is also very pretty – 💟 For self-driving tours, you can navigate to the Huayan Outlets Shopping Plaza – the cathedral is just across the street – 💟 It's windy in winter, so it's advised to arrange for scarves, hats, gloves, and warm patches –

On the first day I arrived in Harbin, I stayed on Central Street. Before dinner, I specifically went to the Sophia Church to appreciate the famous architecture. 📜Saint Sophia Cathedral is located in Sophia Square, Daoli District, Harbin. It is a landmark building of Harbin. It was first built in March of the 33rd year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty. It was originally a military church built by the Russian Fourth Infantry Division of Siberia during the construction of the Middle East Railway. On September 27, 1923, the Saint Sophia Church was rebuilt for the second time. It took 9 years and was completed on November 25, 1932. It became the largest Orthodox church in the Far East. Saint Sophia Cathedral was designed by Russian architect Koyasikov. It is magnificent, elegant and transcendent, magnificent and spectacular, 53.25 meters high, with a construction area of 721 square meters, which can accommodate 2000 people. The layout of the church building is in the form of a Greek cross, which is influenced by Byzantine architectural style. 🌙As soon as I drove to Sophia Square, I immediately felt the interlacing changes between different cultures. The entire square is full of exotic styles. Walking on the square, what comes to me is the cold wind and the breath of architectural art. The Byzantine-style cathedral stands alone there. The central part is a huge round dome, with a semi-circular dome at the front and back. The overall shape is prominent in the center, and the color changes and pays attention to unity. It is magnificent and solemn, full of different beauty, proudly existing, beautiful scenery, it reminds me of that popular song-Night Song. I have no expression on my face, looking at the lonely scenery. Listen quietly, my black coat, want to warm your increasingly cold memories, the life you have gone through. Overall, it is a scenic spot worth visiting. After all, it is a landmark of Harbin. The unique and long-standing Byzantine architecture can make people feel the beauty of its national architectural art, and it is very photogenic. It is suitable as a photo spot, whether it is day or night, it has its own scenery.

I went to Harbin with a friend and played solidly for a week. It was so cold, but it was really beautiful. I have compiled some of my personal travel experiences for your reference. Travel Equipment Prepare a set of thermal underwear, thin velvet base long sleeves for outer wear, knee cotton pants, windproof and waterproof trousers, down jacket, wool sweater or high collar sweater, down jacket, snow boots, disposable slippers, sunglasses, scarf hat, ear muffs, plush gloves, lip balm, moisturizing and hydrating, masks, etc., power bank, warm baby, self-heating shoe pad, chocolate snacks, etc. Food Recommendations Sweet and sour pork, spicy hot pot, iron pot stew, rice bag, stuffed skin, sweet and sour pork loin, candied haws, three fresh ground, blood sausage, northern tofu brain, etc. The food in the Northeast is really a lot and the taste is very nice. The portion size there is really generous. Don't order too many portions at once. Wait for the dishes to come up. If it's not enough, order again. Refuse to waste. My Travel Route D1 Landing in Harbin (if you arrive early, you can go out to the Saint Sophia Cathedral, Central Street, Songhua River Railway Bridge) D2 Harbin-Yabuli Town (we experienced dog sledding, went to Yabuli Panda Pavilion to see pandas) D3 Yabuli-Snow Town-Erdaobaihe (experienced snowfield hiking, strolled around the Northeast Market on Snow Charm Street, ate Northeast candied haws (super delicious, there are many kinds), also went to experience skiing and snowmobiling, visited the Ten Mile Gallery, twisted the Northeast Yangko in the afternoon, and finally participated in the bonfire party and set off fireworks) D4 Changbai Mountain-Changbai Waterfall-Xiaotianchi (very lucky to see Tianchi, ate hot spring boiled eggs, soaked in hot springs to experience what is called ice and fire) D5 Changbai Mountain-Changchun 【Closing Pit Suggestions】 1. Goggles: can be used when skiing, other times wear sunglasses, see if there are rental goggles, it is not cost-effective to buy one specially, if you don't ski often, you don't need to buy one specially 2. Coat: can be rented at the foot of the mountain, depending on personal physique, if you are afraid of cold, sisters are advised to rent one (generally 50-100, need 100 deposit) I saw that there are also down jackets for rent, you can also rent, so you won't have the situation of buying one specially and then wearing it once and always staying in the closet 3. It is best to carry a water cup with you, the Northeast is very dry, drink more water, and also put a cup of water in front of the bed at night. About Group Tours I still think it's possible to join a group, the road conditions are all snowy mountain roads, very technical. The group includes hotel + tickets + business car + aerial photography, so my friend and I chartered a car, and did not encounter invisible compulsory consumption. As for accommodation, we stayed in a four-star hotel, and the team leader would not urge us to set off very early, and the most touching point is that you can tell the master to stop at any time on the road if you encounter a place you want to go, get off the car and play enough before going to the next place, the whole is very free. This time the Harbin small group really found the right one!! If you also want to join a group tour, be sure to look carefully and keep your eyes open, don't sign up for those low-price shopping groups!

St. Sophia Church was built and completed of timber in March, 1907 as part of a plan to reconsolidate the confidence of the army by building an imposing spiritual symbol. The church is located on the corner of Toulong Street (Toulong jie) and Zhaolin Street. It stands at 175 ft tall, occupies an area of 721 square meters, and is the perfect example of Russian Revival architecture. These photos were taken last year during New Year's Day. It was a good place to celebrate the holiday and to welcome the new year. It was freezing though. Well, Harbin is a good place to feel the Winter and the snow. #tripmoments #tripinspired #tripaway #chinalife #chinatravel #orthodox #churches #harbin