Russian Legacy in China (Harbin)

Harbin,

Harbin today is still very much influenced by its Russian past. A city once under Russian rule, it is now a center of trade with our country.

 

The influence of Russia came with the construction of the China Far East Railway, an extension of the Trans-Siberian Railway, and Harbin, known formerly as a fishing village, began to prosper as the largest commercial, economical center of North Eastern Asia.

 

Tsarist Russia encouraged Russian settlement in their important Trans-Siberian-Railway outpost by waiving the then 25 year long military service. For Jews who settled there, the restrictions applying in Russia were also waived.

 

The local cuisine in Harbin is also Russian-influenced. Harbin's bakeries are famous for their bread (lie-ba in local dialect, derived from the Russian word "khleb" for "bread"). Harbin's sausages (qiu-lin hong-chang) are another notable product, in that they tend to be of a much more European flavour than other Chinese sausages.

 

The Harbin dialect also retains other vocabulary items originating in the Russian language.Today, after years of neglect and even destruction, Harbin is rediscovering, protecting and restoring the Russian influenced buildings.  The city is most known around the world for the amazing annual winter Harbin Ice Festival with brightly lighted full size ice structures dazzling crowds from around China and the world.

Latest views

Marked as favourite