Job Discussion Forums

miss-l · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 20 Location: Guangzhou

Hi!
I was wondering if anyone has worked in or visited Harbin? I have done some research and it doesn't seem like much of a tourist place (good thing) but that means there really isn't much information on the place (bad thing). Will there be antthing to do? Can anyone help?
Thanks!

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

You may have researched the wrong sites, gal, because Harbin certainly is an attractive place as Chinese places go!
You should lokk it up in a LONELY PLANET guide or their website (if it is on their website, I have not checked that out).
There is the charm of old Russian architecture and of wooded surroundings. It is not like Shanghai, though - no hip and happening expat scene.
It is the climate that raises my concern - not different from Irkutsk's! In summer lots of mosquitoes. In winter plenty of cold!

miss-l · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 20 Location: Guangzhou

Thanks! I looked it up on Lonely Planet and other travel sites and found some lovely photos. It does look very nice but I am going to be there for a year and I just wondered what there was to do! As to the weather; I am from Scotland! Anything other than terrrible weather would terrify me. Very Happy

Seth · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 575 Location: in exile

I think Roger's use of 'cold' is an understatement. Try 'bloody freezing' instead. While the mosquitos won't be as bad as the millies in Scotland, the winters are unbearable at best. I've already spent one northern winter in China, and I'll never do it again. Imagine not being able to feel your extremities for 2 months straight. Every night I had to soak my hands and feet in warm water just to get the circulation back. Then imagine trying to use a squat toilet while wearing 4 layers of clothing. The horror, the horror!

chinasyndrome · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2003 3:17 am Post subject: Re: Harbin = Siberia

[quote="Seth"]

Anne-Marie Gregory · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2003 4:57 am Post subject: PM me

Miss-l

PM me. I lived in Harbin til February.

[email protected]

klasies · Joined: 04 Mar 2003 Posts: 178 Location: China

Miss L

I am almost in my 3rd year in Heilongjiang and what everyone says about the cold is true, but I got colder back in South Africa during the winter. Why? Cause everything here is geared for the cold. My apartment is cosy and warm inside and when venturing outside you layer your clothes and if that is done correctly, no problem.
Roger, Harbin has got quite a 'hip and happening expat scene.' Not as much as down south but not too bad for the northeast. I am not in Harbin but have been there many times. They have the prettiest girls in China!!!
I agree with the mossie comment!

Andre

hubei_canuk · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Posts: 240 Location: hubei china

The English writer, Colin Thubron, said the people of Harbin were cold so long and so often they didn't even have the good sense to hate it.
As he travelled south to Shanghai, he could find people who hated the cold because they knew what "warm" was.
..
But the poor Harbingers...they never curse the darkness cause they've never seen the sun!!!!!!

miss-l · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 20 Location: Guangzhou

Thanks for all your replies! Harbin sounds interesting but I don't know if I am hard enough to cope with Siberian winters! I was offered another job in Kunming. The conditions were not as good but do you think it would be a better place to live?

randyj · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2003 6:23 am Post subject:

Kunming natives refer to their city as the "Spring City" because its climate has few extremes. Other things equal, you would enjoy teaching in Kunming. Mountains shelter it from winter, and altitude moderates summer temperatures.