Volga Manor
Xiangfang District, Harbin, China
A fairytale version of Russia featuring replicas of famous and lost buildings, Volga Manor sits on a river just outside Harbin. The tourist resort is particularly magical in winter when snow decks the trees and frames the onion domes and red-brick buildings, and travelers can enjoy activities like sledding, skating, and saunas, as well as Russian-themed shows, art, and eats.
The basics
Most travelers visit Volga Manor on a day or overnight trip from Harbin, and the park is often a stop on longer multi-day tours of Harbin during the ice festival season. Winter day-trip packages usually offer lunch, a stage show, and winter sports like sledding, snow tubing, and skiing on the small slope (equipment included). Travelers staying the night can choose between several hotels and wooden villas themed like Russian dachas.
Things to know before you go
Volga Manor is a good choice for families, snow fans, and social media mavens.
Layering is key to staying warm in Harbin’s savage winters—as is a warm hat with ear protection.
Volga Manor is not adapted for travelers who use wheelchairs.
How to get there
Volga Manor lies just southeast of Harbin, about a 20-mile (30-kilometer) drive from Central Street. It’s tricky to reach by public transportation, so most travelers join a tour. If you’re going it alone, a private driver is a better choice than taxis or DiDi rideshares, as return rides can be hard to find.
When to get there
Volga Manor is open year-round, but winter is the most popular time to go, as most travelers visit during Harbin’s ice festival season in January and February (this time of year is also when most of the resort’s 30 buildings are open). Come in summer, though, and you can enjoy outdoor activities like kayaking and golf.
Harbin’s Russian roots
Harbin was once home to more Russians than any city outside the Soviet Union. Saint Sophia Cathedral is the city's most visible Russian element, but you can see Russian architecture on Central Street and explore Harbin's Jewish Russian heritage at the Old Synagogue Concert Hall. The wooden church at Volga Manor is a replica of one that stood in Harbin until the Red Guards tore it down during the Cultural Revolution.
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