Charming Harbin Summer event to kick off

The 2019 Charming Harbin Summer event, the largest summer tourism and culture festival in the city of Harbin, capital of Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, will run from June to September, according to information released at a press conference held by the government of Harbin on May 31.

This year’s festival will introduce three new exciting tourism products—wetland sightseeing, summer resorts, and health tourism. Attractions are divided into four major themes:

Environment City
For many years, Harbin has been ranked as one of the “Top Ten Summer Cities in China” and is a world-renowned summer resort city.

The city will make use of its rich natural environment consisting of wetlands and forests to promote outdoor activities.

Popular tourist attractions include Sun Island scenic area, Hulan Hekou Wetland Park, Binjiang Wetland, and a number of other wetlands.

There are also many famous mountains around the city, and a variety of wildlife and plants can be seen at the Northeast Tiger Forest Park and Lavender Manor.

City of Music
At the beginning of the 20th century, the influx of Western classical music into Harbin heavily influenced the city’s art scene.

In 2010, Harbin won the title of “City of Music” from the United Nations, becoming the only city in Asia to receive the honor.

Harbin will rely on its musical heritage to create an artistic atmosphere and promote the integration of tourism and fashion.

Music can be heard all around the city on old streets and squares.

The city also has some impressive performance venues such as the Harbin Grand Theatre and Harbin New Concert Hall.

Fashion City
Harbin has traditionally been a bridgehead for cultural exchanges between China and the West, and the diverse culture of the city has influenced the city’s fashion.

The city holds regular fashion and cultural festivals, as well as sporting events. It is home to numerous hot springs and theme parks, such as Wanda City and Poseidon Beach Water World, providing a wide range of attraction to suit a variety of tastes.

There are also sporting activities such as marathons, a motorboat festival, and a sailing festival.

City of Memory
Harbin sits at an intersection in the middle of the Songhua River.

In the eastern regions, hunting remains a popular pastime in Sushen, Yilou, Wuji, and Mohe, as well as among the Nvzhen ethnic group. In the central regions, there is a fishing and hunting culture among the Mo, Fuyu and Wozu tribes.

Large railway construction projects in the early 20th century brought many different nationalities and cultures to Harbin, giving the city a European influence and an architectural legacy very distinct from most Chinese cities. As a result, Harbin is often dubbed the “Oriental Paris” or “Oriental Moscow”.

Harbin aims to promote its unique buildings and neighborhoods, including Central Street, Sophia Church, Chinese Baroque Street, Volga House, Gogol Bookstore, and Guandong Ancient Street.

Over a four-month period, around 100 activities involving culture, fashion, music, and sports will take place, with around one important activity being held every 10 days.

The 2019 Harbin Lilac Festival, the Harbin International Marathon, the 9th Harbin Songhua River Wetland Festival, Sino-Russia Culture Exchange Week, the 35th Harbin Summer Music Concert, and the Harbin International Beer Festival are among the event’s most notable attractions.

Since 2012, the Charming Harbin Summer event has been playing a crucial role in improving the influence and reputation of Harbin as a summer resort and boosting the development of the local summer tourism market.

Statistics reveal that Harbin received 31.97 million tourists from June to September 2017 and its total tourism revenue for the summer tourist season hit 45.92 billion yuan ($7.17 billion), up from 24.43 billion yuan in 2012.

In 2017, Harbin received 77.13 million tourists, a year-on-year increase of 9.2 percent. The city generated 117.75 billion yuan ($17.80 billion) in tourism revenue, representing a year-on-year increase of 13.3 percent.

From 2012 to 2018, the number of tourists visiting Harbin in the summer increased from 20.93 million to 36.23 million, an average annual increase of 9.6 percent. The city’s summer tourism income increased from 24.43 billion yuan ($3.54 billion) to 60.65 billion yuan, an average annual increase of 16.4 percent.