Roaming the World (1524) Black Dragon & Inner Mongolia Journey Part 24 – Central Street

📍 Harbin · 👁 5878 reads · ❤️ 33 likes

In late June 2021, during a trip to Heilongjiang, I visited Central Street in Harbin. Pictured is the south entrance of Central Street.

Central Street is located in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, the capital of music known as the "Little Paris of the East." It is currently the largest and longest pedestrian street in Asia. Photo taken at the north entrance of Central Street.

Central Street was first built in 1898, initially called "China Street," and was renamed to the still-used "Central Street" in 1925. Pictured is the pedestrian underpass of Central Street.

"If you haven't been to Central Street, you can't say you've been to Harbin." Known as "Asia's First Street," Central Street has been not only an old street and pedestrian street for over a hundred years, but also an architectural art exhibition street. It was awarded the "National Human Settlements Environment Example Highest Award." Pictured is the guide map of Central Street.

A century of accumulated cultural heritage, unique European style, enduring legendary stories, and dazzling night scenery form the romantic, fashionable, elegant, and noble Central Street in people's hearts, and have become an eternal fascination for old Harbin locals. Pictured is the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China building on Central Street.

In May 1924, Russian engineer Komtrashok & Co. designed and supervised the paving of square stones on Central Street. The paving stones were cast from granite, 18 cm long and 10 cm wide. Shortly after its creation, it became a famous commercial street in Harbin. With many foreigners settling in for business, trade flourished unprecedentedly. The rapid economic development stimulated European businessmen to build extensively here. Pictured is the square stone sidewalk of Central Street.

Central Street starts from the Songhua River Flood Control Monument in the north and ends at Xinyang Square in the south, with a total length of 1,450 meters and a width of 21.34 meters, including a 10.8-meter-wide square stone pedestrian path. Pictured is the flowerbed celebrating July 1st in front of the Songhua River Flood Control Monument.

The Harbin Flood Control Victory Memorial Hall was built in 1958 to commemorate the people of Harbin overcoming a major flood in 1957 by constructing a permanent river embankment. It is a symbol of Harbin. The designers were Bajiqi, Li Guangyao, and Ziyeliev. The entire tower is 22.5 meters high, inscribed with "Tower Suppresses River and Sky," surrounded by 20 Romanesque colonnades each 7 meters high. At the base of the tower, there are two levels of pools: the upper level marks the highest flood level of 120.30 meters in 1957, and the lower level marks the highest flood level of 119.72 meters in 1932. The water level marking line above the pools indicates the highest flood level of 120.89 meters in 1998. At the top of the tower is a three-dimensional statue of flood-fighting heroes raising red flags, symbolizing the bravery and unity of Harbin people in overcoming floods time and again under the leadership of the Communist Party.

On Central Street, there are many painters creating portraits for tourists on the spot.

The unique European architecture, rows of fine shopping malls, flower-filled leisure areas, and diverse cultural life on Central Street form a beautiful scenery in Harbin. Pictured is a European-style fountain next to Central Street.

The square stones made Central Street instantly appear noble. At that time, there were countless foreign shops, pharmacies, restaurants, hotels, bars, and dance halls on China Street, among which Daoli Churin Branch and Modar Hotel were quite famous throughout the Far East. Pictured is Churin Food Company.

Churin Company was built in 1919 and is an Art Nouveau building. The main building has three floors, divided by belt courses between floors, with windows gradually narrowing from top to bottom, giving a sense of stability. The finishing touch—a three-centered arched round window—defines the characteristics of Art Nouveau architecture. Pictured is the former site of Daoli Churin Branch on Central Street.

A girl looking at her phone by the side of Central Street.

Ha Rou Lian is one of the two favorite Harbin red sausage manufacturers among Harbin locals.

Harbin red sausage produced by Ha Rou Lian.

European style permeates the European architecture on Central Street, with classics every few steps and sights every ten steps. Architectural styles that took centuries to form in Western architectural history are gathered here, making Central Street the most famous street in the Far East. Pictured is the sculpture outside the Far East Bank.

Exterior of Far East Bank.

Far East Bank is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Central Street Post Office is the former site of the Harbin Post Office, built in 1902.

Brief introduction of the former site of Harbin Post Office.

There are also many sculptures full of artistic sentiment on Central Street.

Built in 1918, Songpu Foreign Firm is the largest representative Baroque building in Harbin and a landmark building on Central Street. Its appearance is splendid, with vivid shapes, complex decorations, and rich contours. The dark red attic, mansard roof, and varied half-dome create a beautiful skyline.

Brief introduction of the former site of Songpu Foreign Firm.

Seeing this bronze carriage brings you to the famous Central Street Beer Square, which is lively at night.

Built in 1906, Modar Hotel is an Art Nouveau building. Its design is simple, smooth, and flowing. Different colors and different dome shapes show a friendly charm and embody the essence of Western architecture. The building's length occupies a block between West 7th and West 8th Streets. Pictured is the exterior of Modar Hotel.

Pictured is the brief introduction of Modar Hotel.

Every day, a small band performs on the balcony of Modar Hotel.

When visiting Central Street, you must try authentic Russian-style western cuisine at the Modar Western Restaurant under Modar Hotel.

There are quite a few people at Modar Western Restaurant.

Why are so many people queuing at the entrance of Modar Hotel? They are waiting to buy Harbin's most famous "Modar Ice Cream Bars." These ice cream bars are not only a favorite of Harbin locals but also a local specialty often recommended to tourists.

Hua Mei Western Restaurant is located at No. 112 Central Street, first built in 1925. Originally named Mars Western Tea & Food Shop. It has a business area of 1,500 square meters, 120 employees, and annual sales of 12 million yuan. Pictured is the exterior of Hua Mei Western Restaurant.

The restaurant focuses mainly on Russian-style western cuisine, supplemented by French and Italian cuisines. The first floor features a modern European garden-style bar; the second floor features the style of Moscow's Kremlin in the former Soviet Union; the third floor features a modern Russian style, divided into north and south halls. Hua Mei Western Restaurant, together with Shanghai Jacques Red House Western Restaurant, Beijing Maxim's Restaurant, and Tianjin Kiessling Restaurant, is known as one of the four major Western restaurants in China.

Pictured is the architectural introduction of Hua Mei Western Restaurant.

Europe's most charming nearly 300-year cultural development history is vividly embodied on Central Street. Its profound historical depth and extensive architectural art display are rare in the world. Pictured is the former site of the White Russian Bank, built in 1907.

Brief introduction of the former site of the White Russian Bank.

Former site of the Jewish National Bank, a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Brief introduction of the former site of the Jewish National Bank.

The pedestrian street is dazzling with lights, crowded with tourists at night, offering unique characteristics and fully demonstrating its functions of tourism, shopping, entertainment, and leisure. The four leisure areas with different styles—West 6th Street, West 7th Street, Central Mall, and the front of the Vehicle Factory Residential Building—form a new urban landscape that integrates leisure, entertainment, tourism, and shopping on Central Street. Photo taken on Central Street.

Central Street is filled with various department stores. Every night, the whole street is brilliantly lit, making it a must-visit in Harbin. Photo taken on Central Street.

Former site of the original Harbin Special City Public Office.

Brief introduction of the former site of the original Harbin Special City Public Office.

In 1986, the Harbin Municipal Government designated Central Street as a protected street. On June 1, 1997, it was transformed into the first commercial pedestrian street in the country, one of the first "China Historical and Cultural Streets." In 1998, Central Street Pedestrian Street was awarded the titles of "National Model Street for No Fake Goods in a Hundred Cities and Ten Thousand Shops" and "National Youth Civilization Demonstration Base." In March 2006, it was rated as an advanced unit in the national "Hundred Cities, Ten Thousand Shops, No Fake Goods" campaign by the Central Propaganda Department and other departments. In April 2006, it was awarded the "China Human Settlements Environment Example Award" by the Ministry of Construction. Photo taken on Central Street.

Although Central Street is not the longest street in Harbin, it encompasses the four most influential architectural schools in Western architectural history, with 71 European-style or imitation European-style buildings. Common styles include Renaissance (originating in the 15th–16th centuries), Baroque (early 17th century), Eclecticism, and Art Nouveau (late 19th–early 20th century). There are 13 city-level protected buildings. These buildings embody the essence of Western architectural art, making Central Street an architectural art corridor. Photo taken on Central Street.

The architecture of Central Street embodies the essence of Western architectural art, making Central Street an architectural art corridor. Photo taken on Central Street.

Former site of Aglov Foreign Firm, built in 1923.

Brief introduction of the former site of Aglov Foreign Firm.

It is best to visit Central Street at night, as it is most beautiful when thousands of lights are lit.

Central Street is not very wide, but it is full of exotic charm, with many specialty snacks and handicrafts on both sides.

Churin Lidaosi is one of the two favorite Harbin red sausage manufacturers among Harbin locals.

Harbin red sausage produced by Churin Lidaosi.

Churin Lidaosi, established in 1908, is a "China Time-Honored Brand." Although it is more expensive than other Harbin red sausages, I still bought quite a few.