Located in the central area of the Daoli District, covering a distance of less than 1.5 kilometers, Zhongyang Street is the city's busiest shopping center. On both sides of the street sit 71 Euro-style architectures, in styles such as baroque, renaissant, and eclectic. Besides the various buildings, the street cover is fairly unique for its quadrate stones, the only one of its kind in the county. It was said that in the early days of the street, the cover was designed for carriages to protect against dust and water and to guarantee the safety of pedestrians from speeding carriages.

From the northern end to the southern end of the street, 14 parallel streets vertical to Zhongyang Street were constructed. Lin Shuqi, a girl who began painting Zhongyang Street from since her childhood and has just graduated from the China Central Academy of Fine Arts, said that she liked the corners of the street most of all.

"From the designs I can see the differences between the East and the West in people's relations with buildings and the city," said Lin.

For example, each building entrance was set on a street corner instead of facing the streets directly, to give people a stereo yet free aesthetic sense.

On Zhongyang Street, you can see the most traditional Russian food restaurants, the old bookstores with wooden floorboards, old cinemas, and restaurants and small cafes. You can also find the country's largest fur coat store on the street.

 Modern Hotel with 100 years of charm

In architect Zhou Yan's eyes, his most favorite building in Harbin is the Modern Hotel. "It has focused the essential beauty of Harbin, combined with historical legends and architectural aesthetic feelings," Zhou said.

Zhou said that in a Russian advertisement published in 1931 introducing the city of Harbin, the Modern Hotel was said to own the most modern and comfortable suites and the grandest ballroom and dining hall at that time.

Up till nowadays, what has not changed is the hotel's lasting charm. More than 100 years ago, a Russian Jew hired the highest-ranking Russian architect to design for the hotel and in 1906 when the construction was finished, it became the most modern building in Harbin. The hotel owner predicted that it would thrive for more than 100 years.

Today the lingering charm of the hotel still attracts lots of tourists. With the style of French renaissance and a total floor area of 85,000 square meters, the building has a smooth and concise shape. With the magnificent, elegant, and exquisite domestic decorations, the hotel takes on an eighteen-century French noble style. Many renowned people, such as Henry P'u Yi, the last emperor of China, the 14th Dalai Lama, and Song Qingling, have stayed or lived in the hotel.

 St. Sophia Church

The St. Sophia Church is the biggest Orthodox Church in the Far East. Originally a military church for the Russian musketry in eastern Siberian, a church was constructed on its site as a wooden structure in 1907 sponsored by a tea merchant. In 1923 it was rebuilt to fit the need of the increasing number of Easterners. The church's style is Byzantinesque and the main body is made up of bricks and stones with the surface vermeil. The people of Harbin call the church, with the Russian-style deep green dome, "onion."

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