STORY: Chinese, Western cultures fuse in China's Harbin
SHOOTING TIME: File
DATELINE: June 8, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:11
LOCATION: HARBIN, China
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Harbin

STORYLINE:

While most cities in China are awash with tourists wearing traditional Chinese costumes posing for travel snapshots, visitors to Harbin in northeastern China opt for Western-style aristocratic attire to celebrate the city's distinct Western heritage.

The metropolis now boasts 16 different architectural styles - Byzantine, neo-classical, art deco, baroque and more, and its historical buildings number over 1,000.

Iconic buildings such as St. Sophia Church are evidence of European migration, trade and culture that dated back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries after the construction of the Chinese Eastern Railway. Records show Harbin was once home to people from over 30 countries.

Now, a city-wide project is underway to create a digital database for detailed information on Harbin's historical buildings, a majority of which are found in Central Avenue. To date, data on more than 580 historical and cultural buildings has been collected, the city's natural resources and planning bureau official said.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Harbin, China.
(XHTV)