soonbethere: A Trip To Harbin #2 Siberian Tiger Park

HARBIN BACKPACKING TRIP #2

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I wish Salam to everyone,

This morning, we made our move for Daowai Mosque. The mosque located in the district of Daowai, on Shisidao Street, Harbin.

We took bus 120 from a bus stop in front of Carrefour on Xidazhi Street to go to Arab Square (Alabo Guangchang) where Daowai Mosque was located. The bus fare was 1元 flat rate, regardless of distance. There was a box next to the driver where I put money in it.

ON BOARD BUS 120

The bus then travelled through the town streets that were shrouded in snow, making short stops along the way for passengers to get on or off the bus. Harbin was busy, crowded with traffic on the road with regular traffic noise cars honking etc. We will wonder how things work the way it work here. I have to be as open minded as possible and will enjoy much more during my stay here.

On the bus, we relied on the bus announcement - Voice Annunciation System pre-recorded announcement that call-out the name of the bus stop it arrived, also telling the name of next bus stop. The journey by bus went on and at last, we could see the Mosque Minarets on left side of the bus. Masjid Daowai was located just by the roadside.

We have reached destination and its time to get off the bus.

We stepped out of the bus and suddenly we heard load cracking noise sound similar to noise made by firework. Soon we found out that the noise was coming from public square near to Daowai Mosque. Elderly people were playing "Bing Ga" 打冰尜 (also being called "Bīng Tuóluó" 冰陀螺). They crack the whip to make "Bing Ga" spin on the ground, and continue beating it to make it rotate.

We joined the local people to play Bing Ga Spinner

DAOWAI MOSQUE

Masjid Daowai is very large and is built over a wide area. Construction is also interesting because of evident characteristics of Islamic architecture with a mix of architectural China and Russia. The mosque was built in 1935.

We walked along the back fence of Masjid Daowai.

Next to the mosque there are shops Qingzhen (halal). Mostly there are butcher meat shops and eateries. Across the street there is also the halal bakery. So here we could say that many Muslims live in this area.

This area is Islamic business district. Halal shops adjacent to the mosque Daowai.

MUSLIM CAKE HOUSE AND BAKERY SHOP

Bought Bread At Hahui Qingxiang Cun Cake House And Bakery Shop (Hahui Qingxiang Cun Gaodian Mianbaofang)

This bakery is located on South Shi'erdao Street, behind Masjid Daowai. They have buns with sausage, buns with tuna and I personally think meat they serve was quite good, the coffee was good. Most importantly they are all halal.

Hahui Qingxiangcun Cake House & Bakery Shop 哈回•清香村糕点面包

Sell mostly bakery products such as buns, bread with meat topping and many more

We had coffee. On the cups it was written 哈回

STREET MARKET

Never thought this street market will be crowded with people. This market is near Daowai Mosque and its located on Yumin Street. Neighborhood market selling everything you need for the kitchen such as fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, meat and snacks.

This market gave us an exciting experience of street market business activities during frozen sub-zero temperature winter in Harbin.

MAKEWEI SHOES CITY 玛克威

The temperature had dropped to the level -34 °C. Not wanting to repeat the "suffering" due to the cold extreme suffered earlier in the day, we decided shopping for shoes, warm shoes and souvenirs while sightseeing.

Bought Shoes at Makewei Shoes City (Shopping Complex) located on Jingyu Street, very near to Daowai Mosque.

Got on Bus 205 to get to Taipingqiao, for taking another Bus to go to Tiger Park.

SIBERIAN TIGER PARK

Got on Bus 35 From Taipingqiao Bus Stop 太平桥 located at the junction (road intersection) of Xinbin Street 新滨街 & Dongdazhi Street 东大直街 to go to Siberian Tiger Park.

The bus stop in located on Xinbin Street in front of a muslim restaurant known as Qingzhen Laocaiguan Restaurant.

Muslim Restaurant on Xinbin Road 清真老菜馆 (blue signboard)

Got off the bus and walked to the Siberian Tiger Park.

Arrived there and bought the entrance tickets.

In Front of Siberian Tiger Park Ticket Booth

Visitors taking the tour of Siberian Tiger Park by bus ride, protected by strong wire mesh cage, visitors can see the tigers walking around freely. If you are brave enough, you can buy live animals to feed to the tigers, including chickens and even cows.

The Siberian Tigers were the main attraction, in addition there were white tigers, leopards and several other big cat types can be found in the park.