Harbin Transportation Guide: How to Get Around?

Harbin, also called the City of Ice, is famous for its beautiful snow scenery and the spectacular Ice and Snow Festival, which attracts tourists from around the world. If it's your first time visiting Harbin, you might not be familiar with the city's transportation options. In this article, we will go through a detailed introduction to Harbin's transportation system with you. Let's take a look!

How to Get Around Harbin

With various transportation options available, navigating Harbin is convenient. Here are the seven most common transportation options in Harbin:

By Bus

A bus on the street in Harbin

Taking the bus is one of the most convenient ways to get around the city. There are many bus lines that cover most of the popular scenic spots in downtown Harbin, like Zhongyang Pedestrian Street, St. Sophia Church, and Harbin Ice and Snow World. If you're heading to mountains or ski resorts in the suburbs, such as Maoer Mountain, Yabuli Ski Resort, there are express bus options that can take you directly to your destination. Also, you can take a bus from the airport to downtown Harbin.

Generally, it costs one yuan per person to take a bus. If you take a bus that has air conditioning, it will cost two yuan per person. There are no bus ticket sellers on the bus, so you need to put the money into a box or use a QR code in Alipay to pay.

By Train

There are 4 train stations in Harbin: Harbin Railway Station, Harbin East Railway Station, Harbin West Railway Station, and Harbin North Railway Station. Only Harbin West Railway Station provides bullet trains. You can take a train from any of these stations to the other three. This will help save some time because you don't need to worry about traffic jams.

There are lots of scenic spots near Harbin Railway Station, such as Zhongyang Pedestrian Street, St. Sophia Church, and Zhaolin Park. After getting out of the train station, take the subway Line 2 for about 10 minutes, and you will get to your destination.

By Car

A taxi in Harbin

The easiest way to get around Harbin is by taking a car. You can either hail a taxi anywhere by the roadside or use DiDi, a ride-hailing app in China similar to Uber, to hail a taxi online. If you hail a taxi on the street, you need to tell the driver your destination and ask him to turn on the meter. You can say "dabiao," which means turn on the meter in Chinese. Payment is usually in cash, some drivers may accept WeChat Pay or Alipay.

If you use DiDi, you'll need to register an account with your passport information. When your booked taxi arrives, check if the license plate number matches the one on your order. The driver may need to verify your identity, so just show the order on your phone. Note: DiDi only supports online payments through WeChat and AliPay. However, not all the drivers understand English. Communication might be a little bit challenging. If you travel with Odynovo, we will arrange private cars and an English-speaking guide for you and offer you a worry-free trip to Harbin.

By Bicycle

There are public bicycles in Harbin. With Alipay, you may scan the QR code on the bike to begin your ride. However, cycling isn't the most convenient choice. In recent years, several bike lanes have been removed and replaced with car lanes. Furthermore, Harbin has several overpasses with rather steep inclines that are not friendly for cycling.

By Metro

An entrance of Harbin Metro

The Harbin Metro began operation about 10 years ago. Each metro station has advanced equipment that is well-maintained, ensuring a comfortable ride for you. There are 3 lines in total, covering most of the city's popular attractions. You can reach the attractions within about a 5-minute walk after exiting the station. Here are the attractions you can reach by metro:

• Line 2: Zhongyang Pedestrian Street, Sun Island, Ice and Snow World
• Line 3: Jingyu Park, Zhaolin Park, and Lilac Park

By Ferry

The Songhua River, Chinese third-largest river, flows through Harbin, making ferries one of the primary means of transportation in the city. You can take ferries to cross the Songhua River and get a chance to enjoy the scenic view of the surrounding landscape. But there won't be ferries in the winter, because the whole river will freeze and become a natural skating rink.

How to Get to Other Places From Harbin

You might be wondering what transportation to take when you finish your trip to Harbin and need to travel to the next destination. Generally, you can take a train, a plane, or a long-distance bus to other cities.

By Airplane

Harbin Taiping International Airport offers numerous flights every day. You can get to the airport by bus or by taxi. It might take about 40 minutes to get there from Zhongyang Pedestrian Street.

Since Harbin is in the northeasternmost part of China, if you're heading to cities in the south or west, the quickest and most convenient way is to take a flight. For example, it only takes 4 hours for you to fly from Harbin to Guilin by direct flight. If you want to go to Guilin by bullet train, you may need to transfer to another train in Beijing, because there is no direct bullet train from Harbin to Guilin. And it will take 16 hours in total.

By Train

Harbin Railway Station

Although it's not as fast as flying, taking a train to other places from Harbin is more convenient because almost every city and small town have train stations. It will be a unique experience if you take a train to other places from Harbin. As the train leaves Harbin's urban area, the view changes from towering buildings to endless rice fields. Trains continue to operate in winter, offering you a chance to enjoy the snow-covered rural landscape. Many poplar trees still stand tall by the fields, adding to the picturesque scenery.

By Long-Distance Bus

You can take a long-distance bus at the bus station near the airport or at any train station. Mostly, these long-distance buses are heading to small cities or towns that don't have airports or advanced train stations yet. During the Spring Festival, when the airport or train station becomes crowded, long-distance buses to nearby large cities are available. Generally, it will cost about 20 yuan per person to take a long-distance bus.

Plan a Tour With Us

If you have any other questions about the Harbin transportation system, feel free to let us know. Contact us for a customized tour or write to trip@odynovotours.com, and we will help you plan everything for your trip to China.