#111 Teaching at Taizhou Teachers College, China ( HARBIN: Part 2, World of Ice & Snow, Stalin Park, Buddhist Temples and Confucian Temple!)

Asia » China » Heilongjiang » Harbin
January 14th 2009

Published: January 14th 2009

THIS IS PART "TWO" OF MY 2009 WINTER-VISIT TO HARBIN, THE "FROZEN" CAPITAL OF HEILONGJIANG, THE NORTHERN MOST PROVINCE OF CHINA: MY PRIMARY REASON FOR BRAVING THIS 24 HOUR TRAIN-JOURNEY FROM TAIZHOU TO SUB-ARCTIC HARBIN IS THE ANNUAL "ICE AND SNOW FESTIVAL", WHICH INVITES VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, DURING THE MONTHS OF DECEMBER THROUGH FEBRUARY, TO ONE OF THE GREATEST SNOW- AND ICE-CARVIN... Read Full Entry

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Hans J. Schneider

Hans

After 38 years as a Foreign Language Teacher and Foreign Language Dept. Chair at Coral Gables Sr. H.S., and A.J. Professor of German at the University of Miami, I have left Florida in June of 2006, where my home is in Miami Beach, Florida, USA. I have just signed another year's teaching-contract (my 8th year now) with Taizhou University in the city of Taizhou, located about 3hrs north of Shanghai, in Jiangsu Province, CHINA. I thought it would be informative for others and rewarding for me personally, to log the progress of my efforts from beginning to end, as a Travel and Photo Jo... full info

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Tour of "The Big World of Ice and Snow", cont

This familiar looking Spanish cathedral of ice has its own ice-slide down the left side, along the green neon lights.

Tour of "The Big World of Ice and Snow", cont'd., Photo #11

Trees with sparkling lights enhance the scene of another fantasy-structure of ice.

Tour of "The Big World of Ice and Snow", cont'd., Photo #12

Even the long steps and railings surrounding the ice castles are made of ice blocks, and make for some precarious stair-climbing to several layers of walks surrounding the castles.

Tour of "The Big World of Ice and Snow", cont

The neon light radiate brilliant colors that constantly change.

Tour of "The Big World of Ice and Snow", cont'd., Photo #14

Every ice -structure is stunning and gargantuan.

Tour of "The Big World of Ice and Snow", cont

Another view of the five, towering, Indian-style Buddhist Pagodas. The whole complex is surrouned by a wide terrace of ice, which is reached by several long sets of slick ice-steps.

Tour of "The Big World of Ice and Snow", cont

Between the yellow Pagodas of the previous photo, this "snow"-carving of the giant Buddha also can be seen. This photos offers a closer view, with its artistic details. The size of this carving can be compared to the visitors on the lower left of the photo.

Tour of "The Big World of Ice and Snow", cont

Another set of more traditional Chinese ice-Pagodas are also surrounded by several, layered ice-terraces and secured by carved ice-railings. Unfortunately, these make the climb up or down the steps of ice no less precarious.

Tour of "The Big World of Ice and Snow", cont'd., Photo #18

How long will it take for these ice-towers to melt in the spring sun in late March??

Tour of "The Big World of Ice and Snow", cont'd., Photo #19

Check out the size of this spectacular ice-cathedral and compare it to the miniscule tourist admiring it on the lower left of the photo.

Tour of "The Big World of Ice and Snow", cont

It is a slippery walk up the ice-steps for two visitors to this fantasy of ice and lights.

Tour of "The Big World of Ice and Snow", cont'd., Photo #21

Yes, this fantasy will all melt away in a few months, only to be replaced next winter by a new "Fantasy World of Ice".

Tour of "The Big World of Ice and Snow", cont'd., Photo #22

This stunning "snow" sculpture of the "Birds Nest Olympic Stadium" in Beijing is a carefully carved representation. It looked rather docile among all of the other fantasy structures around the park.

Tour of "The Big World of Ice and Snow", cont'd., Photo #23

Commercialism is part of the "new" China, and one of China's most famous beers, "Harbin Beer", is one of the primary sponsors of the event. Harbin Beer was China's first beer-brewery, dating to the year 1900.

Tour of "The Big World of Ice and Snow", cont

After hours of "ooohs and aaahs" inside the park, and frozen to the bones, I depart one of the most fabulous, man-made winter-sights in the world, in the city of Harbin, "The Big World of Ice and Snow".

Tour of "The Big World of Ice and Snow", cont

I can't wait to get back to my warm hotel-room to re-heat my frozen body and re-count my toes. Everytime I counted my toes, during my hours in the ice-park, I came up one toe short?? I have a feeling that this will be the only time I will visit Harbin during the winter, though I may have to return and look for that missing toe in the spring thaw.

The Pedestrian Mall in Harbin is the longest in China. Photo #1

In the next series of photos, we will take a freezing walk along the "Zhongyang Dajie" in Harbin, also known as China's longest pedestrian mall. It begins at the edge of the Songhua River, at the Flood Control Memorial Tower.

The Pedestrian Mall in Harbin is the longest in China. Photo #2

On both sides of the "pedestrian mall", buildings constructed during the time of Russia's greatest influence line the street. These now house everything from hotels to upscale shops to fast food chains.

The Pedestrian Mall in Harbin is the longest in China. Photo #3

The long walk along the mall takes us past many spectacular ice-sculptures. Represented here is the Ox, this year's animal sign in the Chinese Lunar Calendar.

The Pedestrian Mall in Harbin is the longest in China. Photo #4

Though I am walking under clear blue skies, the temperature is a biting-cold.

The Pedestrian Mall in Harbin is the longest in China. Photo #5

Another ice-shape complements the surrounding buildings and offers the opportunity for a photo.

14th January 2009

yunyan
non-member comment

wow
Harbin...ice world...fantasyland...thanks show those pic from Harbin,,,, ;)

14th January 2009

karon
non-member comment

It's so cool.

14th January 2009

Correction.
non-member comment

Chairman Mao, in anticipation of war with Russia, dismanteled the huge and wonderful imperial wall and fortifications which surrounded Beijing in the 1950's. --------------------------------------- The leaders decided to demolish the Beijing City wall, because they wanted to build a "NEW" Beijing. This was a vast mistake. Otherwise, Beijing would have its own wonderful citywall like Xi'an. In 1950s, the relations between China and USSR was good. But from aboud 1960, it became worse and worse. At 1969, it reached the worst. Small military confrontations happened in both Northeast and Northwest. USSR put great pressure to the Chinese leaders, bacause USSR had more than 1million army in China-Mongolia border and the China-Mongolia border is only 4-hour away from Beijing. So I guess most Chinese are happy to see the collapse of USSR, just like US.

14th January 2009

About Manchu/Man
non-member comment

Your history knowledge is amazing. But there are some mistakes. Long story, so I just provide some links. There were several key persons creating the earlier history of Manchu. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nurhaci http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huang_Taiji http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shunzhi_Emperor http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chongzhen_Emperor http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Zicheng http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_Sangui

14th January 2009

Hans
Hans J. Schneider

Of course it is a long story for the Manchus!
It is not possible to entertain all of the detailed history of thousands of years, and so I appreciate the links. It would take books, as there have been written, to entertain all of these much earlier details. But in fact, the general idea as I have presented them are what has been written in my blog. For further reading, history books will offer year by year accounts of the Manchus. Thank you for the observations and links.

14th January 2009

Hans
Hans J. Schneider

Bricks diverted for both, above- and below ground construction!
It is true, that much of the wall has been used to build a new Beijing by Chairman Mao, and that included a whole underground city for the safety of the citizens of Beijing, and for the leaders, against the expected attack by Stalin. Small battles were already taking place between Russia and China on the northern borders, as the two countries drifted apart from earlier co-operation. And so, believing an attack by the Russians on Beijing would take place, and having little time to lose, Chairman Mao constructed, with millions of the bricks diverted from the ancient city wall, a whole underground city that stretches for miles, that has not yet been fully explored. Visitors are able to take underground tours to visit some of this enormous complex and amazing facilities. Along with thousands of others, I have been one of these visitors.

15th January 2009

Sue
non-member comment

Happy Holidays!
Heh Hans, great blog as usual. Trust that you will thaw out adequately during your annual trip back to Florida! Starting post grad studies next week and have my name down for casual teaching at the major Language Institutes here, and have a place to stay rent free until my place becomes available, so everything going well. Also hunting for good places for my Mum to relocate to on the Gold Coast, so no rest even for the not-so-wicked! Miss you all. Hope Stef gets things sorted for herself. Suexx

15th January 2009

Your reply
non-member comment

It is true, that much of the wall has been used to build a new Beijing by Chairman Mao, and that included a whole underground city for the safety of the citizens of Beijing, and for the leaders, against the expected attack by Stalin. ----------------------------------------- Against Leonid Brezhnev not Stalin(Otherwize do you think the Stalin Park could be named after Stalin?). Actually Mao and Stalin had a good relationship. The relationship between Mao and Nikita Khrushchev was not good, but also not that bad.

16th January 2009

June
non-member comment

An amazing display of ice sculpture show! What takes my breath away is the creators' passion of devotion and the long-lasting solid frieze of that unique environment. What a wonderful dazzling world!

16th January 2009

June
non-member comment

According to memory, there were students' exchange programmes kept going on since the 50s until the early 60s. Photos of beautiful blond Udssr students were even displayed in the windows at the Taizhou Middleschool. How about that? But, people were later told that government of the Udssr had become either terribly corrupted or betrayal against communism: difficult to comprehent!

7th November 2010

Jeans Ping
non-member comment

A happy man
Whenever I see you,you always wear a happy smile, look so kind.I am afriad of talking with foreigners.but when I see you, I always cannot help to talk with you.which is exciting. You make me more confident,and I want to say:Thank you !

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#111 Teaching at Taizhou Teachers College, China ( HARBIN: Part 2, World of Ice & Snow, Stalin Park, Buddhist Temples and Confucian Temple!)

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