4-Day Tour of Harbin, Hailar, and Manzhouli
One evening before: Shanghai - Harbin (late flight, accommodation in Harbin)
D1: Poseidon Underwater World - Sophia Cathedral - Central Street
Harbin - Hailar (22:43 - 8:55, overnight train)
D2: Morigele Grassland day tour (chartered car)
Hailar - Manzhouli (16:35 - 19:05)
Dashan Russian Food Store - Manzhouli city night view
D3: Lublisi Restaurant - Matryoshka Hotel - Russian Circus - Matryoshka Scenic Area night view
D4: Matryoshka Scenic Area day view - Mammoth Park - National Gate Scenic Area
Manzhouli - Shanghai (late flight)
Poseidon Underwater World
Morigele River Grassland
Lublisi Restaurant
Matryoshka Scenic Area night view
Matryoshka Scenic Area day view (unfortunately the weather was bad)
1. At Harbin Airport, as long as there are flights, there is an airport shuttle to the train station, 20 yuan per person, about 1 hour drive.
2. At Poseidon Underwater World, be sure to watch the mermaid show and feeding show, don't miss them. See the show schedule for details. Tickets are nearly 200 yuan per person, quite expensive. It can be said that besides seeing Poseidon, there is not much else to see, so the value for money is low. But in summer, it's a good choice to avoid the sun and see various small animals. The best time to photograph Poseidon in summer is after 15:30, otherwise the light will make photos unclear.
3. For those taking the overnight train from Harbin to Hailar, you can rent a hourly room at a hotel opposite the train station to take a shower before boarding, 68 yuan for 3 hours.
4. Morigele River Grassland is the essence of Hulunbuir Grassland. If you don't have enough time for the small loop, you can choose a chartered car day tour like I did. The grass is greenest from late June to late July, and starts turning yellow in August. The train arrives at Hailar at 9:00. The driver picks you up directly at the train station. The order of visits: Tianxia Grassland Scenic Area - Jinzhanghan Scenic Area (not in operation) - Muyun Mountain Top (expensive, see photo, and during peak season without reservation you can't go) - Cliff. Along the way, there are groups of horses, cows, and sheep, all scenic. Finally, stop by Genghis Khan Square downtown, return to the train station at 15:30, take the 16:30 train to Manzhouli. Except for Tianxia Grassland Scenic Area, there is no place to eat along the way, so it's best to bring your own food, and agree with the driver in advance that meals are not included, letting the driver handle his own lunch. When chartering a car, be sure to confirm that you can go to the Cliff. Many drivers refuse, saying that only off-road vehicles can go, but that's not true. Our SUV driver was very good; I casually asked if we could go to the Cliff, and he took us there. There are three viewing points for the Morigele River. Viewing point 1 is a bit low, locals charge 10 yuan per person. Viewing point 2 is Muyun Mountain Top. Viewing point 3 is the Cliff.
5. The night view of Manzhouli city center and North Lake Park is average. To photograph the panda and polar bear on Zhongsu Jin Street, you can locate Manzhouli Grand Hotel.
6. Lublisi Restaurant is worth visiting. It's extremely crowded at dinner time. At 21:30, there are still many people queuing. So it's best to have an early lunch. Arrive at the restaurant at 10:15 to get a number, and you can eat at 10:30.
7. The best value period for room rates at Matryoshka Hotel is between June 25 and July 10. After mid-July, prices rise sharply. (Specific dates may vary slightly each year, you can call the hotel to ask.) Building 1 is where the big Matryoshka is, and it's the most expensive building. Except for the room interior as shown in the photo, other photos can be taken in public areas. The public restroom on the first floor is beautiful.
8. Staying at the hotel on your birthday brings a big surprise.
9. Hotel guests can buy tickets for Matryoshka Scenic Area at the hotel with a 20% discount, and can enter the park unlimited times by face recognition within 2 days. Other online tickets only allow one entry. Because the scenic area is not large, if you enter in the morning, you have to stay until 20:30 to see the night view, which is too time-consuming. So hotel guests have an advantage. Also, during peak season, you must reserve in advance for dining at the hotel, otherwise there will be no seats. Poor us had to eat pastries at the first-floor coffee shop.
10. The Russian Circus is not very entertaining.
11. The night view of Matryoshka Scenic Area lights up at 20:30 and turns off around 22:30. The lights are only on in summer. At 21:00 there is a show and a simple fireworks display. The circus performance is twice a day: one at 16:00 and one at 19:30.
12. There are too many mosquitoes and bugs in Manzhouli, especially at Mammoth Park. The mosquitoes and insects will make you question life. It feels like you need to wear a beekeeper's hat to move around. Be sure to bring insect repellent.
13. Zhalainuoer Museum is closed on Mondays.
14. The National Gate Scenic Area now does not sell separate tickets for the gate; it has become a combo ticket for National Gate Scenic Area + Beijiang Bright Pearl, 128 yuan per person, thumbs down. You can navigate to 'First Gate of the North Country'. There is an observation deck on the second floor of the adjacent shopping mall, free to view the Chinese and Russian national gates.
15. The starting fare for taxis in Manzhouli is 7 yuan. The chartered car driver quoted 250 yuan. Taking a taxi from Matryoshka Hotel to Mammoth Park is 48 yuan, from Mammoth Park to National Gate Scenic Area is 56 yuan. For your reference.
16. Every July-August, Spring Airlines has direct flights between Shanghai and Manzhouli. The flight prices in early July are very attractive. Combined with the hotel rates in early July, it's still true that early July is the best value time to visit Manzhouli. Go for it.
17. Be sure to bring a jacket. When it's hot, it can be 30 degrees, but suddenly it turns to autumn and drops to 18 degrees.
18. Dashan Russian Food Store sells not only food but also many cosmetics.
