Harbin Town

The next day was gloriously sunny and bearably cold. Behind the snow sculpture, one of many beautiful and comical ones dotted along the Songhua River walk, is the oldest rail bridge that linked with Inner Mongolia. It was built by the Russians over 100 years ago but it is now a free public monument. There were lots of people walking over it and there was a holiday mood in the air. Gazing at the expanse of white frozen river glittering in the sun was an amazing sight. It is Harbin's winter playground with curling, skating, snow-tyring and Bactrian camel rides. Sadly, there are also photo opportunities with captive Arctic foxes.
We were catching an afternoon train back to Shen yang and after marvelling that the Chinese seem to prefer cold drinks even in winter, we drank a luke warm cup of coffee and departed.