Harbin: Unit 731 Museum (cruel inhumane experiments) in Heilongjiang province of China

It is our last day at Harbin. Our flight is scheduled at night and there isn't much activities to do in Harbin downtown except shopping and food. Unfortunately, I am not keen for shopping. I prefer to spend much time visiting historical attraction sites. As we searched online, we found an interesting museum which is located about an hour drive from Harbin downtown. This museum attraction isn't popular among foreign tourists due to the location since it is only accessible by private car service, taxi/cab and public bus transportation. However, we still want to visit this museum. This museum is known as Unit 731. 

Unit 731 was a biological and chemical warfare research and development which was based at the Pingfang district of Harbin. The biological and chemical research unit used human beings for various cruel experiments. 

• Vivisection were performed on men, women and children after infecting them with various diseases and removing their organs to study the effects or disease on the human body. 
• Captives were tied to stakes and used as targets to test germ-releasing bombs, chemical weapons and explosive bombs
• Conducting experiments by taking captives outside, dipping various appendages into water and allowing their limbs to freeze and many more.

I didn't know anything about the history of Unit 731 before this visit. It is an educational for me to learn and understand the history during my three hours visit. As we read and look at photos or evidences, we feel terrified and sorry for all the prisoners and victims at Unit 731.

Unit 731 (Museum) Harbin

Address: 25 Xinjiang Dajie, Harbin.

Opening Hours: Tuesday - Sunday, 9am -11:30am and 1pm - 4pm (Monday closed)

Public Buses no.: 338 or 343 from the western part of the train station, at Kunlun Hotel

Official Website: http://unit731.org/harbin-museum/

The front view of Unit 731 Museum in Harbin, Heilongjiang province of China

The full length site view of the renovated Unit 731 Museum at Harbin in Heilongjiang province of China

The historical background of the inhumane crimes by Unit 731 Japanese Imperial Army in Harbin, China

Replica caskte bed was used to tie the offender to the wooden bed with a belt and filled up the water all over his mouth as a punishment to the douching at Unit 731 Museum in Harbin, China

Field Experiment by tying the prisoners to the stakes and used them to test germ-releasing bombs, chemical weapons, and explosive bombs at Unit 731 Museum in Harbin, China

Freezing Experiment was conducted by taking captives outside, dipping various appendages into water, and allowing the limb to freeze at Unit 731 Museum in Harbin, China

Poison Gas Experiments at Unit 731 Museum in Harbin, Heilongjiang province of China

Former site of Japanese Unit 731 Headquarter is located behind the museum at Harbin in Heilongjiang province of China

Bacteria Lab and Special Prison at Unit 731 Museum in Harbin, China

Bacteria Lab and Special Prison site at Unit 731 Museum in Harbin, China

The site of boiler room at Unit 731 Museum in Harbin, Heilongjiang province of China

Former site of small animals underground breeding area and storage room for assemble and bacteria bomb are situated behind the gate of the railway tracks at Unit 731 Museum in Harbin, China

Rear view of the former site of boiler room with underground water recycling tank at Unit 731 Museum in Harbin, China

Former site of underground water recycling tank at Unit 731 Museum in Harbin, China

Former site of underground gas storage at Unit 731 Museum in Harbin, Heilongjiang province of China

Former site of poison gas lab at Unit 731 Museum in Harbin, Heilongjiang province of China

Medical Equipments used for Dissection at Unit 731 Museum at Harbin in Heilongjiang province of China

Harbin: Winter Ice Sculpture Exhibition in Heilongjiang province, China

This post was a long overdue. I was supposed to write this post, Harbin Ice Sculpture Exhibition weeks ago right after my last post on Harbin Snow Sculpture Exhibition post but I was very busy with other stuff and couldn't find the time to do it. 

As I mentioned before, there are Snow and Ice Sculpture Exhibitions in Harbin from late November until the following year in late February. Hence, we head to Harbin Ice Sculpture Exhibition once we finished our tour at Snow Sculpture Exhibition. Both of these exhibitions are located nearby which require about 30 minutes walk if you can endure the freezing cold. Otherwise, you can choose to take a cab which takes you there within 10 minutes.

Harbin Ice Sculpture Exhibition opens in the morning until at night. You are able to see these ice sculpture clearly which are crafted with big blocks of ice in the daytime while these same sculptures will be light up with colourful neons at night. You will feel different ambience between the daytime and at night.

The entrance ticket to Harbin Ice Sculpture Exhibition is between CNY200 to CNY300 per person. It is quite expensive, considering this exhibition opens for three months during the winter season. There are food outlets in Harbin Ice Sculpture Exhibition where you can grab your meals and coffee when you need to stay away from freezing outdoor. It is our first time experiencing the most freezing winter season as the temperature can drop up to -30 Celcius. No matter, how many thick layers of clothing we have on our bodies, we can't stand to the coldest and ended up, to keep searching for a place to keep us warm.

At the entrance of Harbin Ice Sculpture Exhibition in Heilongjiang, China

It is very freezing as the temperature can go to the lowest negative 30C at Harbin Ice Sculpture Exhibition in Heilongjiang, China

Enjoying watching at Harbin Ice Sculpture Exhibition as these sculptures are designed by using big blocks of ice in Heilongjiang, China

It is getting freezing and colder as the sun is disappering and heading to the night at Harbin Ice Sculpture Exhibition in Heilongjiang, China

Palace Ice Sculpture at Harbin Ice Sculpture Exhibition in Heilongjiang, China

Guanyin (the Goddess of Mercy and Compassion) Ice and Snow Sculpture at Harbin Ice Sculpture Exhibition in Heilongjiang, China

Chinese Pagoda Ice Sculpture at Harbin Ice Sculpture Exhibition in Heilongjiang, China

Colourful neons lit up at Harbin Ice Sculpture Exhibition in Heilongjiang, China

Feeling freezing at night at Harbin Ice Sculpture Exhibition in Heilongjiang, China

Windmill Ice sculpture at Harbin Ice Sculpture Exhibition in Heilongjiang, China

Harbin beer ice sculpture at Harbin Ice Sculpture Exhibition in Heilongjiang, China

Snow Beer Ice Sculpture at Harbin Ice Sculpture Exhibition in Heilongjiang, China

Giant fish at Harbin Ice Sculpture Exhibition in Heilongjiang, China

China's Great Wall Ice Sculpture at Harbin Ice Sculpture Exhibition in Heilongjiang, China

Exploring Harbin Ice Sculpture Exhibition at night in Heilongjiang, China

Harbin: Winter Snow Sculpture Exhibition in Heilongjiang province, China

Harbin is the capital city of Heilongjiang province in the northeastern region of People's Republic of China. Since Heilongjiang province is situated in the northern of China and near the border with Russia with the extreme cold winters, compared to other Chinese cities. The local government of Heilongjiang province promotes Harbin city as the most beautiful Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival during the winter, between December to February yearly.

Tourists from local and abroad travel to Harbin during the peak season of Winter season to visit and experience extremely cold weather at Ice and Snow Sculpture Exhibitions. Both of Ice and Snow Sculpture Art Exhibitions are located nearby to each other, on an island, which is separated by a huge lake from Harbin downtown. It takes about 10-15 minutes by cab from Harbin downtown to these exhibitions. Ice Sculpture Exhibition and Snow Sculpture Exhibition are located at two different places but they are near to each other. Ice Sculpture Exhibition opens until at night while Snow Sculpture Art Exhibition opens in the daytime. As such, we head to Snow Sculpture Art Exhibition first before going to Ice Sculpture Exhibition.

There is an entrance ticket fee for Ice and Snow Sculpture Exhibitions respectively. It is very expensive considering, these exhibitions are held for 3 months only. Do expect the entrance fee costs between RMB200 to RMB300 per person for each exhibition. It is very cold in Harbin. We never experience the coldest winter in our lives which can drop to -30 C. Even though we wear many layers of clothing including thick skiing gloves, we still feel numb and freezing after staying outdoor for sometime. That's the torture feel of freezing in Harbin.

Traveling within cities in China has become more convenient and easier for foreigners who aren't able to read and understand Chinese. Ctrip is a one-stop website where you can book from travel package, air tickets, train tickets to hotels at anywhere in China. This is the official website of Ctrip:  http://english.ctrip.com/

Traveling by domestic flight is very expensive in China. We want to get some local experience by traveling and sleeping on the train from Beijing to Harbin. It takes more than 10 hours train ride thus, we decide to book soft sleeper bedding in a private room for a comfortable ride. It is smooth, comfortable and clean rides throughout our journey. Shower is prohibited on the train but the water supply is sufficient for us to brush our teeth and go to bathroom business. Hot water vending machine is available to make hot drink and noodle soup in the cup.

Traveling and sleeping in the train from Beijing to Harbin overnight. It is comfortable and clean train ride throughout more than 10 hours journey

At the entrance of Harbin Snow Sculpture Art Expo in Heilongjiang province, China

Celebrating Chinese New Year festival with fireworks and dragon dance at Harbin Snow Sculpture Art Expo in Heilongjiang province, China

Fairytale Castle in Snow Sculpture at Harbin Snow Sculpture Art Expo in Heilongjiang province, China

Visitors enjoy walking, playing with their top spins and cycling on the frozen lake at Harbin Snow Sculpture Art Expo in Heilongjiang province, China

Castle wall in ice sculpture at Harbin Snow Sculpture Art Expo in Heilongjiang province, China

Enjoying the slide on ice sculpture in very cold winter at Harbin Snow Sculpture Art Expo in Heilongjiang province, China

Sliding activity on the ice sculpture at Harbin Snow Sculpture Art Expo in Heilongjiang province, China

I love this romance snow sculpture at Harbin Snow Sculpture Art Expo in Heilongjiang province, China

Some Snow Sculpture designs display at Harbin Snow Sculpture Art Expo in China

Giant ship and Palace in Ice Sculpture at Harbin Snow Sculpture Art Expo in Heilongjiang province, China

Heading back to Harbin downtown and overlooking at the frozen lake at Harbin in Heilongjiang province, China