Park of China
Overview
| Designation | National Park of China (seventh batch) |
| Province | Heilongjiang |
| Location | Heilongjiang |
| Rivers and lakes | Songhua River |
| Latitude, longitude | 45.8, 126.6 Google Maps |
| Nearby sites | The Eight Ministries, Changchun 237km, Songhua Lake 239km, Jingyue Lake 241km, Jingpo Lake 277km, Wudalianchi 327km Search nearby |
| Nearby cities | Harbin |
| Themes | River, Island, Rime & snow scenery, Skiing |
About
Sun Island on the Songhua River opposite Harbin, Heilongjiang, is a national park of riverside parkland famous for its winter snow sculpture festival.
Sun Island is a group of islands and sandbanks on the north side of the Songhua River, facing downtown Harbin across the water. Since the early twentieth century it has been where Harbin people swim and picnic in summer, and some Russian-style log houses and villas survive. The song “On Sun Island” made it known across China.
It is in the seventh batch of national parks of China (national scenic areas) named by the State Council in 2009.
Main sights
Sun Island Snow Sculpture Expo: held on the island every winter, one of the main venues of the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival.
Russian-style village: a group of Russian log houses and villas, some original and some moved here.
Squirrel Island: a small wooded island where squirrels roam free.
Siberian Tiger Park: a breeding centre for Siberian tigers on the north bank of the Songhua; visitors tour it by bus.
Travel tips
Getting there: Sun Island lies on the north bank of the Songhua River in Harbin. Taiping airport is about 40 minutes from the city, and both Harbin and Harbin West stations have high-speed trains. From the city centre to the island takes 20 to 30 minutes by bus, metro or taxi.
Layout: Sun Island Park and the wider scenic area, with the Russian-style village, the water pavilions, Squirrel Island and others.
How to visit: walk on the island or use park vehicles. Boats run on the Songhua River in summer, and snow and ice activities are held in winter.
Time: half a day to a day.
Season: summer is green and cool by the river, the most common time to go. In winter Harbin has its Ice and Snow World and snow sculptures, and Sun Island holds a snow expo. Winter is extremely cold, so dress warmly.
Where to stay: there is little lodging on the island, and most people stay in the city, around Central Street and the riverside.
Nearby: Central Street, St Sophia Cathedral and the Flood Control Monument are not far and fit into the same day.
Caution: in winter wear heavy cold-weather clothing and non-slip shoes. In summer there are mosquitoes by the river.
Map
Photo credits: A lake on Sun Island: xiquinhosilva (CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons)
Nearby
| National parks | Eight Ministries–Jingyue Lake Scenic Area 239km, Songhua Lake 239km |
| AAAAA attractions | Da'an Nenjiang Bay Tourist Area 182km, Chagan Lake Scenic Area 191km |
| AAAA attractions | Harbin Polar Aquarium 2km, Central European Style Tourism Area 3km, Siberian Tiger Park 3km, Harbin Architecture Art Museum (Saint Sophia Cathedral) 3km |
| Historic cities | Harbin 5km |
| Cities | Harbin 10km |
| Historical sites | Modern Hotel 2km, Saint Sophia Cathedral 3km, Site of the Manchukuo Harbin Police Bureau 4km, European-Style Building at No. 1 Yiyuan Street, Harbin 5km |
| National geoparks | Jiayin Dinosaur National Geopark 5km |
| Nature reserves | Shuanghe National Nature Reserve 129km |