Harbin is known for the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, held annually from late December through February. The festival includes Ice and Snow World and the Sun Island Snow Sculpture Art Expo. Architectural landmarks include Saint Sophia Cathedral, a former Russian Orthodox church in central Harbin, and Zhongyang Street (Central Street), a pedestrian avenue with early-20th-century European-style buildings. Outdoor and wildlife sites include Sun Island Scenic Area and Harbin Siberian Tiger Park north of the city. The Unit 731 Museum in Pingfang District documents the wartime research facility.
Harbin has multiple rail facilities. Harbin Railway Station (哈尔滨站) serves conventional services; Harbin West (哈尔滨西站) is the main station for high-speed services. Bullet trains operate from Harbin West on routes such as the Harbin–Dalian high-speed railway and the Harbin–Qiqihar intercity railway. Travelers can buy train tickets to Dalian, Qiqihar and other regional cities, and use trains from Harbin to reach nearby destinations by rail. Check schedules at each train station and buy train tickets in advance for fixed travel dates. Book trains from and to Harbin online at Rail Monsters.