Rivers, forests and the work of winter

Heilongjiang.

Along the rivers of the far northeast

On Harbin's streets, stone paving and concert music sit beside the winter work of cutting river ice. Farther out, the Nen wetlands, red-pine woods and volcanic lakes open different landscapes. Hezhen storytellers, Daur performers, paper cutters and shadow-puppet makers carry local histories through voice and material. Follow the rivers and the work around them, from the Sanjiang Plain to the larch forests of the far north.

Curved exterior of Harbin Opera House — Harbin Opera House, with its curved exterior and glazed entrance.

Harbin Grand Theatre

Harbin Grand Theatre places a white, curving exterior and a timber-lined auditorium beside open wetland. Begin with a contemporary building shaped in relation to its northern setting, then follow the river into the city.

Explore this place

Begin with the classics

Reed marsh, lava-dammed lake, volcanic field and mixed forest: four landscapes shaped by water, rock and trees.

Cranes and water at Zhalong’s viewing area — Cranes beside the water in Zhalong’s public crane-viewing area.

Qiqihar

Look a little closer

Look at work up close: river ice, fish skin, a shadow figure, a skating blade and a crisp slice from the frying pan.

From the journal
From river ice to the Ice and Snow World
Harvest, inspection, construction and lighting turn blocks cut from the Songhua River into temporary architecture.
From the journal
Fish Skin, Cut and Stitched: Hezhen Craft at Jiejinkou
At Jiejinkou, fish-skin making links Hezhen material knowledge to clothing, museum collections and contemporary fish-skin art. The work moves through distinct stages, from preparing a skin to cutting, joining and decorating it.
From the journal
Wangkui shadow theatre: from Laoting lineage to Jiangbei style
Wangkui shadow theatre began with performers from Laoting in Hebei, then absorbed Northeast song and speech into a regional style known as Jiangbei.
From the journal
From school rinks to specialist training in Qitaihe
Aluminium lunch boxes helped pupils build a school rink; later reports trace specialist schools, weekly lessons and indoor ice in Qitaihe.
From the journal
Guobaorou: two fryings and the memory of official cuisine
A Harbin cook’s two-stage frying method gives guobaorou its crisp shell, while old photographs and tableware place the dish within the city’s culinary memory.

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Photo credits and rights

Harbin Opera House, with its curved exterior and glazed entrance.EditQ / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 Photo source ↗ Rights information ↗ Proportionally resized and converted to WebP; no cropping or scene-content changes.
Cranes beside the water in Zhalong’s public crane-viewing area.Huanokinhejo / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 Photo source ↗ Rights information ↗ Proportionally resized and converted to WebP; no cropping or scene-content changes.
Still water and exposed rock in the Jingpo Lake scenic area.drnan tu / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0 Photo source ↗ Rights information ↗ Proportionally resized and converted to WebP; no cropping or scene-content changes.
Lava formations in Wudalianchi Geopark, with a lake and volcanic hills beyond.颜邯 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 Photo source ↗ Rights information ↗ Proportionally resized and converted to WebP; no cropping or scene-content changes.
Xiangshui Creek in Wuying National Forest Park.William L. Farr / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 Photo source ↗ Rights information ↗ Proportionally resized and converted to WebP; no cropping or scene-content changes.