Day 2: Natural scenery amid the city [summer travel route]

There is a saying that if you don't visit Sun Island, your trip to Harbin is incomplete.

Sun Island recreation area is located on Songhua River's northern bank. You can get access to the island by bus, ferry and Songhua River Cableway.

If you want to indulge in a magnificent view of the city from above taking the Songhua River Cable-way is highly recommended.

It was built in 1997 and mainly used to transport tourists traveling between the Daoli district and Sun Island.

The cable-way is 1,156 meters long with its highest point about 70 meters above the Songhua River water.

Sun Island scenic area is the only wetland scenic area located in the center of the city, covering an area of 38 square kilometers. It has a romantic feel to it and is well-known as one of China's best summer resorts.

Scenic spots in the area include a deer park, a squirrel island, a refreshing swan lake and a miniature Russian-styled town. Cycling along the roads on the Sun Island, one can bask in the beauty of nature amid the concrete jungle.

In addition to natural beauty, Russian art galleries, North China Fine Arts Museum, Museum of Art Sun Island, Harbin Ice and Snow Culture Exhibition and the Sun Island Russian painting art trade center for visitors, are places to see the city's cultural charms.

It will take you about a half day to tour the island.

Night view of the landscape along Harbin downtown section of Songhua River. [Photo/VCG]

After the island you can visit the Tiedaobing Qihang Memorial Tower at Zhongdong Railway Park.

The sightseeing tower has a 100-square-meter sightseeing platform 39 meters above the ground. You can enjoy panoramic views of the scenery around Songhua River, Zhongdong Railway Park, Sun Island and Harbin Grand Theater through the glass walls installed on the platform. The tower includes two cable-stayed elevators, the first of this type in Harbin.

In the afternoon, you can head to the Siberian Tiger Park in Songbei district to meet the endangered Siberian tigers.

The park is a protection area for rare animals and aims to allow the tigers to enjoy an environment as close as possible to what they would experience in the wild. It is the world's largest Siberian tiger breeding center and home to more than 120 adult tigers, as well as cubs, deer and bears.

At night, you may need a good meal to gather strength. Flavorful and abundant Northeastern cuisine is recommended.

Daoli district contains a cluster of Harbin’s authentic traditional restaurants. Beilaishun Restaurant, Laosongbing Restaurant, Hongda Old Restaurant, Daotaihu Laochujia Restaurant and Laorenyi Restaurant gained fame providing traditional Harbin delicacies such as Northeast stew (东北乱炖), white meat with black pudding (白肉血肠), pork marinated vegetables and vermicelli (炒肉渍菜粉), as well as sweet and sour deep-fried pork slices (锅包肉).

Aerial view of Sun Island scenic area in summer. [Photo/Xinhua]