Nothing lends whimsy and mystique to a picture quite like a snowy day. Frosty weather is not uncommon in Harbin during winter. First-timers to Harbin 哈尔滨 ought to take a pause and experience the local scene in its originality. It might be 7:30am in the morning but the city had already taken a life of its own.
A Walk on the Streets
Freezing cold at -24°C. Infamous for its very cold winters, bring more clothes than you will think you will need to Harbin so that you can layer.
Food of Harbin has so many kinds of specialities around Central street and Hongbo Century Square that even if we want, we could not finish trying all of them.
One of the best street food, the sweetness and piping hot sweet potatoes will make you fall in love with Harbin.
We explored the side alleys of Central Street and had our simple breakfast in this restaurant.
Broccoli, tofu, rice cake, egg tart and glutinous rice made up our breakfast. We were holding back from ordering more dishes so that we could reserve our stomach for other delicacies.
Guandong Ancient Lane
We met an unfriendly taxi driver who refused to alight us outside Guandong Ancient Lane, which was one of our much anticipated attraction in the itinerary. We were told to walk by ourselves which would take us about 3 mins. We read from a blog that visitors would need to pay but that wasn’t the case. Entry is FOC.
Full of traditional delicacies, Harbin Guandong ancient lane displays culture of the ‘Guandong migration’ period, which refers to the historical period when people migrated from the central part of China to the Northeast. How majestic is this building!
Everything here is indoor. The place displays an ancient feel and there is a sense of unhurried-ness. With a myriad of different dining options and picturesque spots, this might be one of the few places in Harbin where visitors can snack and relax at the same time.
Many pictures taken and will let them do the talking.
Russian chocolates.
We tried peanut candies!
Dragon’s beard candy (or Chinese cotton candy) is a handmade traditional art of China. It is also a traditional Chinese sweet similar to floss halva or Cotton candy.
There is a foodcourt selling classic Chinese dishes.
A great food haunt where dishes are freshly cooked in front of you. We have to admit that they look really appetising.
What A Big Catch!
Located right beside Guandong Ancient Lane is a huge shopping mall. Our first impression was akin to The Paragon where everything would be expensive but after some exploring we thought this mall was a place for bargain hunting.
More than just fashion shops, the mall is a suitable hangout for families with kids.
Plenty of pop-up cafes to have a drink and just chill.
Located at the basement was a huge marketplace for shoppers to shop for groceries and dine.
Freshly squeezed fruit juice with cute bottles.
What a big catch! We were pleasantly surprised that we could order seafood and had them cooked on the spot for us to dine. What till we see the price 🙂
Here’s our order – a lobster (CNY50 = SGD10)
Seabass (CNY30 = SGD6)
皮皮虾 (CNY31 = SGD6)
The chef ushered us to this cosy dining area while we waited for the food.
The restaurant exhibited a homely feeling which made it a favourite place for shoppers to have a respite and enjoy a cup of freshly brewed coffee. The decor and furnishing were contemporary and inviting.
Everything was hot and fresh! Our seafood craving was satisfied in the most economical way.
Including the cooking cost, the total bill came to CNY137.90 = SGD27.60.
Hey, did we mention our food hunting continue after savouring the seafood?
Big and Small M trying the soya bean milk.
Crispy chinese pan fried dumpling (鍋貼).
Chinese flat bread (发面饼).
Cute animal buns!
Time Kingdom
If your little ones enjoy KidZania, they will surely fall in love with Time Kingdom. Akin to KidZania theme style of play, Time Kingdom is also an interactive city made for 3 – 15 year old kids who can immerse themselves into lots of fun through realistic role-play in Harbin.
The Wintriest Harbin
Harbin 哈尔滨, which is nestled in the heart of China’s historical Manchuria region, is still a place less travelled. Apart from its freezing weather during winter, taking a walk in the back alleys allowed us to see these visually pleasing buildings that transported us to a place where time seemed to have been frozen for 40 years, a flashback to a simpler and more peaceful time.
In a mood for supper? Zhongyang Dajie 中央大街 has no lack of eatery options.
Small M was wondering why the chef had to use such a big pot to place the dish.
A thriving late-night dessert culture has taken grasp of Harbin especially among the youngsters. We were surprised that Harbin offers one of the best places to be tempted by decadent desserts.
While Small M trying in vain to search for free Wi-Fi amidst the Great “Wall” of China…
Big M knows it is still possible for a selfie.
Sweet dessert for us! It would be blasphemous to talk about cafe hopping without including them during your visit to Harbin.
We have tasted the wonders of Lapland and in our first trip to China and Harbin, this trip was nothing short of amazing. The locals are warm and approachable and Harbin is safe with a lot of securities. All thanks to Scoot introducing the direct flight to Harbin, we came and captured the raw beauty of this ‘Ice City’. Harbin 哈尔滨, we will be reunited soon!
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In the past, students had to spend many hours a day in the library to research their academic writing assignments using printed books and academic journals. Writing essays was a hard work because you had to read piles of books to find information relevant to the specific essay topic assigned by your professor and then take notes, writing by hand.
Today, technology innovations and the internet have transformed the way people learn and process information. We can work more productively, having instantly access to a world of information and can find everything with just a few clicks using Google.
The Internet is also full of resources you can use to improve your writing skills or get fast help with your tricky assignments on an affordable essay writing service at a cheap price. Actually, there are so many online resources available that finding really good ones can be rather a time-consuming task. Here are some tips on how to use the internet to get your essays done properly.
Every academic paper is based on an in-depth research that requires time and effort. If you don’t plan ahead about what you are going to write, you may waste your time browsing through countless websites that don’t contain relevant information and discover that you have spent the whole day on the research and haven’t written a single word of your essay. In such a situation, it’s easy to fall into despair and start thinking: “Where can I find someone to write my essay for me?”
Improve Your Writing Skills by Reading
All successful fiction and non-fiction writers are extensive readers. You won’t write well if you don’t read a lot. With the internet, you can get access to blogs that cover topics of your interest and follow them. You can read news articles or e-books. The choice is yours. You will learn from people who are confident writers. You can even become a contributor to existing blogs or start your own blog as well if you feel that you have interesting ideas that are worth sharing with other people.
Find Good Examples to Get Interesting Ideas
When you have little experience in writing, it often may be hard to put ideas into words on paper. You may be an expert on your topic but lack essential skills and knowledge to convey your thoughts in writing effectively. Luckily, there are websites where you can find examples of essays written by other people. You may read them to get understanding of how academic papers are structured and formatted. You may also discover some effective tricks that you can use in your writing.
But not all essay examples are created equal. Lots of easily-accessible essays on any online service that offers pre-written papers were written by students like you so they are far from being perfect. If you want to take advantage of a well-written paper sample, you should deal with a reliable custom writing compan where you can order an essay on your topic or a cheap custom speech sample written by professional writers.
Use Online Tools to Improve the Quality of Your Writing
You can use online spell-checkers that will show your mistakes in grammar, spelling, and punctuation, provide you with explanations, and suggest improvements. To make sure that your essays are easy-to-read, you can use online apps that check readability score. You should also use plagiarism checkers to be confident that your papers are original.
If you use the internet wisely, you are sure to benefit as a writer.
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Northern Taiwan includes Taipei City, New Taipei City, Taoyuan City, Hsinchu County and City and Yilan Country. Probably one of the best regions to explore and take pictures, here are 15 attractions to check out for good food and fun recreational activities.
The National Palace Museum houses large collections of artifacts, paintings and books from the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. There are about 690,000 artifacts; each one is an exquisite representation of its kind, earning the museum’s reputation as the Chinese cultural treasury.
Entirely formed by nature, Yehliu Geopark is a popular scenic spot on the North Coast with unique geological terrains and strain rock formations. Erosion, weathering and crustal movements have all contributed to the strange rock formations such as sea trenches, candle rocks, mushroom rock, tofu rock, homeycomb rock, potholes and melting erosion panels. The ever-popular Queen’s Head, fairy’s shoe and candlestick rocks are famous representations of the world’s sea erosion landscapes.
By Long Distance Bus:
From Taipei West Bus Station – Terminal A (located at Taipei Main Station), go to the KuoKuang (國光) window and purchase a ticket for NT$96 to Yehliu Geopark (野柳地質公園). The journey takes around 90 minutes, and the bus will drop you on the main road just outside the park entrance. Walk down the lane on the left side to enter.
By Shuttle Bus:
Ride comfortably in a shuttle bus from Ximen to Yehliu, followed by the Ying Yang Sea, 13-Layer Remains, Golden Waterfall, Jiufen (九份), and Shifen Old Streets (十分老街), leaving at 9AM and returning at 17:45.
The Xinyi Plan Area is a new business zone and is currently Taipei’s landmark shopping district. Besides Taipei 101, there are many departmental stores, hip restaurants and international 5-star hotels. During the day, Xinyi Shopping District is a fast-paced business and financial district, but at night it’s a dazzling urban entertainment area. Did we mention it’s known as “Taipei’s Manhattan”?
Address: Songzhi Rd., Xinyi Dist., Taipei City 110, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
Taipei 101was once the world’s tallest building, reaching 508 meters in height. The inspiration for the building comes from the bamboo plant, as each segment resembles a section of bamboo, symbolizing continuous growth. Visitors here can take a ride on the world’s fastest elevator and enjoy the exhilarating sensation of going to the top in 37 seconds. The Observatory on the 89th floor offers a 360-degree field of vision and a birds-eye view of Taipei. The brilliant scene at nighttime is especially dazzling.
The Songshan Cultural Park has been developed from what was originally a tobacco factory operated by the Japanese colonial government. After a number of changes, it was transformed and renamed Songshan Cultural Park in 2010. The park has a combination of arts, cultural creativities, and design exhibitions, and is currently an important base for Taiwan’s design and cultural arts industry.
Address: 110, Taiwan, Taipei City, Xinyi District, 光復南路133號
#6 Guanghua Digital Plaza Computer Market光華數位新天地, 光華商場
The Guang Hua Digital Plaza was orginally located on Bade Road between Section 1 and 2, under the Guang Hua Bridge, and was the first shopping mall in Taipei. When Guanghua Bridge was demolished, the businesses moved to the nearby Taipei Information Building and continued to develop along with surrounded businesses into a large shopping district for information products and parts. Currently Taiwan’s biggest 3C (Computers, Consumer Electronics and Communication Products) shopping area, and is often compared to Akihabara in Tokyo, Japan.
Huashan Creative Park is located at the former site of the Taipei Winery. It has an outdoor art space and an indoor exhibition area. The modern art on display contrasts with the old structures in the park that evoke a nostalgic atmosphere and retro flavor. Innovative art shows and pop music concerts are often held here, which makes this attraction an example of the interaction between the new and old eras. For those of you who love cultural events, art, photography and retro relics, it’s well-worth a visit.
Address: 100, Taiwan, Taipei City, Zhongzheng District, 八德路一段1號
By MRT: Take the Orange Line 4 or Blue Line 5 to Zhongxiao Xinsheng (忠孝新生), Exit 1. Continue walking straight until reaching Jinshan Rd intersection. Cross the intersection and enter the park’s main entrance on the right.
Located near the Grand Hotel, Taipei Martyr’s Shrine was built in 1969 to honor 330,000 soldiers and officers who heroically sacrificed themselves for their country. The guards who stand by the entrance are often targets for visitors who attempt to distract them and elicit a smile, but these statue-like armed guards will not let them succeed.
Address: 10491, Taiwan, Taipei City, Zhongshan District, 北安路139號
#9 五分埔 Wufenpu Garment Wholesale Area
Located near the Songshan Train Station, Wufenpu is a garment wholesale area with hundreds of wholesalers. During the early Qing Dynasty, five families settled here (with the surnames He, Zhou, Shen, Du and Li), hence the name Wufenpu. This area is the best place to shop for discounted fashion items each seasion, and it is also the largest apparel wholesale center in Taipei. You can find men’s and women’s apparel, maternity and children’s clothing, and even clothes for cats and dogs here!
Address: 110, Taiwan, Taipei City, Xinyi District, 永吉路443巷9弄
By MRT: There are two ways to reach Wufenpu. The most convenient way is to travel to Songshan Station (松山), terminus of the Green Line 3. After leaving from Exit 3, walk straight and continue until you cross Songlong Road. The shopping complex is located within the maze of alleys and lanes to your front and left. Wufenpu is also reachable from Houshanpi (後山埤) on Blue Line 5.
#10 士林夜市 Shilin Night Market
Since it’s established in 1909, Shilin Night Market has become one of the largest night markets in Taipei. It’s close to Jiantan Metro Station and there’s a large crowd of visitors all the time. There are many food vendors and a large variety of food items to choose from. Strolling along the winding alleys often brings pleasant surprises. Besides the famous Shilin snacks such as crispy pancake, stir-fried squid and Shilin sausage, there are also other delicious Taiwanese snacks here.
Address: 111, Taiwan, Taipei City, Shilin District, 基河路101號
By MRT: Take the Red Line 2 to Jiantan Station (劍潭), not Shilin Station. After leaving Exit 1, diagonally cross the street to the left to enter the night market.
Beitou is famously known as the Hot Spring Hometown. Located in Beitou Park and near Beitou River, Beitou Hot Spring Museum is an important representation of the hot spring history in Beitou. Currently classified as a Class 3 historical site, the museum was originally built as the Beitou Public Bathhouse. The north part of the architecture exudes a solemn ambiance like that of a Japanese shrine.
Address: 112, Taiwan, Taipei City, Beitou District, 中山路2號
By MRT: The Beitou Hot Spring Museum is located in the Beitou Hot Springs (北投溫泉) area.Take the Red Line 2 to Beitou (北投), then change to the Xinbeitou branch (新北投). After arriving at Xinbeitou, walk straight out of the station and along Zhongshan Road (中山路). The museum will be on the right side.
Maokong used to be the biggest tea plantation area in northern Taiwan. Now it is mainly a recreational space that integrates the art of traditional tea drinking and dining. On a clear day, the entire Taipei landscape can be seen from the Maokong Gondola ride. At night, it is an ideal place to enjoy the Taipei night scene. Maokong Gondolo was the first cable car system in Taipei, boasting a nearly 90-degree wide turn. As the Gondola ascends to the top of the mountain, the entire tea plantation area can be seen at a glance.
■ Take the Metro
Take the Wenshan-Neihu Line of Taipei Metro to the Taipei Zoo Station and then walk to the Maokong Gondola Taipei Zoo Station (about 350 meters).
MRT Nangang/Banqiao/Tucheng Line: Get off at Taipei City Hall Station, and then take bus route G1, BR18 or BR21.
■ Take a Bus
Take Bus 236, 237, 282, 294, 295, 611, 676, 679, 793, 933, 1501, 1503 (except holidays) , 1558, S12, Brown 3, Brown 6, Brown 11, Brown 15, Brown 18, Brown 21, Green 1 or Maokong Tour Bus (Left Line, Taipei Zoo) to the Maokong Gondola Taipei Zoo Station.
#13 Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf 淡水漁人碼頭 / Tamsui [Danshui] Old Street淡水老街
Fisherman’s Wharf is a popular spot for visitors to stroll and enjoy some of the famous Tamsui snacks. Located along the riverfront in Tamsui, Tamsui Old Street is a boardwalk-like area full of shops, carnival games, restaurants, cafés, and xiaochi snacks.
By MRT/Bus: After arriving at Tamsui Station (淡水), Red Line 2, take bus 紅26 (Red 26), 836, or 857 towards Fisherman’s Wharf (漁人碼頭).
#14 Jiufen九份
Jiufen (meaning 9 portions) got its name because in the early days there were only 9 families that lived here. Due to transportation difficulties in the mountain area, whomever went to town to buy goods would always divide the goods into 9 portions to share among the 9 families. Some of the must-not-miss old-time favourite local snacks in Jiufen are taro balls, taro cakes, and A-Po’s fish balls.
By Train: From Taipei Main Station (台北車站), take the train north to Ruifang Station. After exiting the station and facing the Wellcome supermarket, take a left and walk 200 metres down Mingdeng Road. Next to the police station is a bus station (named Local Residents Plaza, 區民廣場) with routes 827 and 788 heading toward Jiufen. Please note that the bus stop next to the police station heads east toward Jiufen, and the bus stop across from the police station heads west toward Taipei. Route 825 provides weekend service only. From here, the bus trip takes roughly 15 minutes, and the fare is NT$15. It is recommended to take bus 1062 back to Taipei and enjoy some time at Raohe Night Market (饒河夜市).
By Bus: From MRT Zhongxiao Fuxing (忠孝復興), Brown Line BR and Blue Line BL interchange, leave from Exit 2 and from outside Sogo department store take bus route 1062 (Keelung Bus) to Jinguashi, alight at Jiufen. The ride is about 1 hour and the fare is NT$98. Be sure to get a good seat to enjoy scenic views of Northern Taiwan. Bus 788 is also available from Keelung.
It only takes a 40-minute car ride from Taipei to reach Jiaoxi Township, Yilan County, Jiaoxi Hot Spring is one of the rare flatland hot spring areas in Taiwan. Known as the “Essence of Hot Springs”, Jiaoxi’s hot spring water is clear, odorless and rich in minerals. Besides hot springs, Jiaoxi also has other attractions such as Wufenqi Scenic Area, Longtan Lake, Houdong Waterfall, Linmeishipan Trail and Paoma Historic Trial.
Address: No.16, Gongyuan Rd., Jiaoxi Township, Yilan County
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