Written by Natalia |
When you plan a trip to Harbin, you must take its transportation into consideration. Fortunately, no matter where you start the trip, you can easily get to Harbin, either by flight or train.
Well, it’s also very convenient to get around by bus, subway or taxi. For most travelers, the subway is the preferred choice as Harbin is a top winter destination in China and subway is warm and punctual in the harsh cold winter.
In the following guide, we cover everything you need to know, from airport transfers to winter-specific tips. Hope you can have a smooth trip!
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- How to Get to
- Get to Harbin from Major Cities
- How to Get Around
- Get to Key Harbin Attractions
- Tips for Travel around
- Travel with China Xian Tour
- FAQs
How to Get to Harbin: Flights and Trains
Harbin is an international city friendly to foreigners. Whether you take a flight or train, it is very convenient to get to Harbin. Those who are from countries bordering China may take a direct flight to Harbin. If not, take a flight to Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou first, and then transfer to Harbin by air or train.
Arriving by Air: Harbin Taiping International Airport (HRB)
Location: Yingbin Road, Daoli District, Harbin City, about 33 km from the city center
Some neighboring Asian countries like Japan and South Korea have direct flights to Harbin. If you depart from Europe or America, it’s advised to take a flight to Beijing, Shanghai, Guanzhou or Shenzhen first, and then change to a domestic flight to Harbin Taiping International Airport. This airport is about 33 kilometers from the city center, with VIP lounges, cafes and fast-food restaurants.
From Harbin Airport to Downtown
Without subway, airport shuttle buses, taxis or private pickup service are the major ways connecting the airport to the city center.
Airport Shuttle Bus
For solo travelers or those on a limited budget, the airport shuttle bus is the safest and most cost-efficient way to travel around. At present, 8 bus lines are in operation, four of which are particularly popular among travelers, including Lines 1, 3, 4 and the Airport Express Line.
Route |
Major Stop |
Service Time |
Ticket Fare |
Line 1 |
Harbin Railway Station |
07:30 to the arrival of the last flight |
CNY 20/USD 3 |
Line 3 |
Central Street |
07:30 to the arrival of the last flight |
CNY 20/USD 3 |
Line 4 |
Harbin Ice and Snow World |
07:30 to 01:30 of the next day |
CNY 20/USD 3 |
Airport Express |
Harbin Railway Station |
07:30 to the arrival of the last flight |
CNY 20/USD 3 |
Taxi and Ride-Hailing Apps (DiDi)
If you are in a rush or cannot speak any Chinese, it is suggested to take a taxi or book a car service through ride-hailing apps like Didi. The cost from the airport to Central Street is about CNY 100 – 150/USD 15 – 22.
Private Transfers: Easiest Option for Groups
For first-time visitors with a language barrier, the best solution is to join a Harbin tour covering a professional guide and transportation. You don’t have to waste time waiting for a bus or taxi, instead, the driver and guide will arrive beforehand to welcome you.
Arriving by Train: Harbin’s Main Railway Stations
Harbin Railway Station
- Location: 1, Tielu Street, Nangang District, about 1.5 km from Central Street
- How to get to: metro line 2: Harbin Railway Station, exit 4. If you are in Central Street, you can also walk there directly in 10 – 15 minutes
Harbin West Railway Station
- Location: 501, Harbin Street, Nangang District, about 10 km from Central Street
- How to get to: metro line 3: Harbin West Railway Station
In case you have already arrived in a major city of China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Shenyang and Dalian, taking a high-speed train to Harbin is a comfortable and economic way of transportation.
At present, there are altogether four railway stations in Harbin, but only two are mainly used by travelers, i.e., Harbin Railway Station and Harbin West Railway Station. With its advantageous location adjacent to St. Sophia Cathedral and Central Street at the city center, Harbin Railway Station is the first choice of travelers. By comparison, Harbin West Railway Station is about 10 kilometers from the city proper, but it has more high-speed trains.
How to Get to Harbin from Major Cities
Get to Harbin from Beijing
By Flight
- Dep. – Arr. Airports: Beijing Capital Airport / Daxing Airport – Harbin Taiping Airport
- Departures: about 50 daily departures from 06:30 – 23:00
- Cost: CNY 600 – 2,000/USD 88 – 294
- Total Travel Time: about 4 – 5 hours
By High-speed Train
- Dep. – Arr. Stations: Beijing Chaoyang Railway Station / Beijing Railway Station / Beijing West Railway Station – Harbin West Railway Station / Harbin Railway Station
- Departures: about 25 daily departures from 06:30 to 17:30
- Cost: first-class seats: CNY 950/USD 140; second-class seats: about CNY 600/USD 88
- Travel Time: about 5 – 6.5 hours
Get to Harbin from Shanghai
By Flight
- Dep.- Arr. Airports: Shanghai Pudong Airport /Hongqiao Airport – Harbin Taiping Airport
- Departures: about 80 daily departures from 07:00 to 21:30
- Cost: CNY 600 -2,000/USD 88 – 294
- Total Travel Time: about 5hours
By High-speed Train
- Dep. – Arr. Stations: Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station – Harbin West Railway Station
- Departures:1 departure at 09:30
- Cost: first-class seats: CNY 1,763/USD 259; second-class seats: about CNY 1,101/USD 162
- Travel Time: about12 hours
Get to Harbin from Guangzhou
By Flight
- Dep.- Arr. Airports: Guangzhou Baiyun Airport – Harbin Taiping Airport
- Departures: about 20 daily departures from 07:00 to 19:30
- Cost: CNY 600 – 1,800/USD 88 – 264
- Total Travel Time: about 6hours
By Normal Train – Not Recommended
Without high-speed trains, normal trains are the only option and 3 departures run every day. Though the cost is cheaper, even the fastest normal train takes about 35 hours. It will be very exhausting and will affect your travel experience.
Get to Harbin from Shenzhen
By Flight
- Dep. – Arr. Airports: Shenzhen Bao’anAirport – Harbin Taiping Airport
- Departures: about 35 daily departures from 07:00 to 17:30
- Cost: CNY 700 – 1,800/USD 103 – 264
- Total Travel Time: about 6- 7 hours
By Normal Train – Not Recommended
Only 1 normal train is available and the travel time is as long as 37 hours, so it is not recommended for tourists.
Get to Harbin from Hong Kong
By Flight
- Dep. – Arr. Airports: Hong Kong International Airport – Harbin Taiping Airport
- Departures: no direct flight, about 100 transfer flights every day from 07:30 to 01:30 the next day
- Cost: CNY 1,000 – 2,500/USD 147 – 367
- Total Travel Time: varies from9 – 14 hours depending on layover duration
By Train – Not Recommended
Between Harbin and Hong Kong, neither high-speed trains nor normal trains are available. So if you plan to take the train, a transfer is needed. The cost ranges from CNY 700 – 1,700/USD 103 – 250 and the travel time ranges from 25 – 39 hours. So it is not an ideal choice.
Harbin Public Transport: How to Get Around the City
Overview of Transportation in Harbin
With a sound transportation network, Harbin is rather easy to get around. The major mode of transportation within the city is by metro or public bus. You can also hail a taxi or Didi for convenience.
Means of Transportation |
Fare |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
Metro |
CNY 2-7/USD 0.3 – 1 |
Punctual, fast, no traffic jam, warm in winter, covers major attractions |
Limited coverage |
Taxi / Ride-hailing |
Calculated by meter, with the flag-down fare of CNY 9/USD 1 |
Convenient, point-to-point service, warm in winter |
May be stuck in a traffic jam, higher cost, hard to get in winter |
Bus |
CNY 1-2/USD 0.2 – 0.3 |
Cheap, covers the most sites |
Slow, easily stuck in a traffic jam, need to find out the right line |
Walking |
Free |
A way to enjoy local slow life |
Limited by weather conditions and distance |
Mastering the Harbin Metro: Lines & Key Stops
Harbin metro is clean, warm, and punctual, making it the preferred mode of transportation for tourists, especially in winter. When it snows heavily, metro is more trustworthy and can avoid the ground traffic jam. As there are English direction signs on the train and the station name is announced in both Chinese and English upon arrival, it’s very friendly to foreigners. At present, three metro lines are operated in Harbin daily from 6:00 am to 10:30 pm. The ticket fare is CNY 2-7/USD 0.3 – 1 depending on your travel mileage.
Line No. |
Run Between |
Service Hours |
Main Stops |
1 |
Harbin East Railway Station – Xinjiang Street |
6:00 am to 10:30 pm |
Museum of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin South Railway Station, Jiaotong Xueyuan, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin Institute of Technology |
2 |
Meteorological Observatory – Jiangbei University Town |
6:00 am to 10:30 pm |
Ice and Snow World, Sun Island, People’s Square, Central Street, Shangzhi Street, Harbin Railway Station, Museum of Heilongjiang Province |
3 |
Harbin Turbine Co., Ltd. – Harbin Turbine Co., Ltd. |
6:00 am to 10:30 pm |
Harbin West Railway Station, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Conference and Exhibition Center, Taipingqiao |
Taking the Bus: Routes, Schedules, Payment & Tips
Harbin owns a dense network of public bus lines, but for travelers, you just need to know the most important lines passing the key attractions and transportation hubs. CNY 1/USD 0.2 is needed for a single ride on a regular bus, if you get on an air-conditioned bus, CNY 2/USD 0.3 is required. Cash is accepted, just remember to prepare change. You are advised to scan the QR code to pay with WeChat Pay or Alipay.
Line No. |
Run Between |
Service Hours |
Main Stops |
29 |
North Square of Harbin Railway Station – Parking Lot of Harbin Grand Theater |
6:30 am to 9:00 pm |
Harbin Railway Station, Zhaolin Park, Flood Control Monument, People’s Square, Sun Island, Ice and Snow World |
47 |
Museum of Heilongjiang Province – Chuangxin Road Parking Lot |
5:30 am to 9:00 pm |
Harbin Railway Station, People’s Square, Sun Island, Ice and Snow World |
126 |
Flood Control Monument – Fengye Town Outlets |
6:30 am to 9:00 pm |
Central Street, Sun Island, Ice and Snow World |
101 |
Tianyi Lanwan – Harbin Turbine Co., Ltd. |
5:30 am to 10:00 pm |
Children’s Hospital, Flood Control Monument, Harbin Railway Station, Museum of Heilongjiang Province |
Taxis and DiDi in Harbin: What You Need to Know
If you are on a tight schedule, taking a taxi or DiDi car is a good choice. Write the name and address of your destination in Chinese in advance and show it to the taxi driver. After getting in the taxi, tell the driver to use the meter. It’s convenient if you have cash at hand. Most taxis also accept WeChat Pay or Alipay. You can download the app before departure.
Comparatively speaking, hailing a car on DiDi app is easier as it has an English interface and accepts payment by credit cards.
Ferry: Travel Around Songhua River
The ferry is one of the main ways for locals and tourists to cross the Songhua River to Sun Island. Jiuzhan Wharf and Daowai Qidaojie Wharf are the two major departure wharves, which are close to Central Street and the Chinese Baroque Historical and Cultural District, respectively.
The ferry runs from 09:00 to 16:00 with a ticket price of CNY 2/USD 0.3 and a travel time of 10 – 15 minutes. Please note that the ferry only operates from early May to mid-October, as the river is frozen from December to April.
Harbin Metro vs Taxi – Which is Better?
Metro is the most reliable and efficient way to get around while taxi is more flexible and direct. In winter, metro is your first choice because it’s warm and less affected by the ice and snow. What’s more, it covers the best highlights in Harbin including Central Street and Ice and Snow World. The ticket price is only CNY 2-7/USD 0.3 – 1, much cheaper than taxis. However, if there is no metro station nearby, or you go out at night, or you carry large luggage, it’s better to take a taxi.
How to Get to Key Harbin Attractions
The following guide allows you to reach top attractions in Harbin easily.
Attractions |
Transportation |
Harbin Ice and Snow World |
Metro: Take Metro Line 2 and get off at Ice and Snow World Station, exit 3 or 4. |
Sun Island (Snow Expo) |
Metro: Take Metro Line 2 and get off at Sun Island Station.
Ferry: Take a ferry from Jiuzhan Wharf or Daowai Qidaojie Wharf to Sun Island Wharf. It costs CNY 2/USD 0.3 and takes about 10 – 15 minutes. Cable car: Take the 10-minute cable car from Songhua River Cable Station and get off at Sun Island Station. The fare for a single trip and a round-trip is CNY 58/USD 9 and CNY 92/USD 14, respectively. |
Harbin Tiger Park |
Taxi: As there is no subway station near the Tiger Park, you can take a taxi. It takes 30 to 40 minutes and costs CNY 35 – 50/USD 5 – 7 from the city center. |
Yabuli Ski Resort |
High-speed train + shuttle bus: Take a high-speed train to Yabuli West Railway Station, then transfer to a taxi or bus to the ski resort. The total travel time is about 2 hours and the total cost is about CNY 80 – 90/USD 12 – 13.
Direct Tourist Bus: Take the bus at Harbin Central Street to the ski resort directly, which sets out at 06:00 and 08:30 and the journey takes about CNY 70 /USD 10 and 3 hours. |
China Snow Town |
Direct Tourist Bus: Take a direct tourist bus at Taiping International Airport, West Railway Station or Songhua River Sightseeing Cableway to get to Snow Town directly. The whole journey takes about 5.5 hours and the ticket fare is CNY 100 – 120/USD 15 – 18. |
Essential Tips for Visitors to Travel around Harbin
Navigation app: Download Baidu Maps or Amap in advance for searching bus and metro lines. In China, they are more reliable than Google Maps.
Payment for public transport: Almost all public buses and metros accept payment by scanning QR transport codes on WeChat or Alipay. It’s not necessary to buy an IC card, unless you plan to stay for a long time in Harbin.
Key transportation phrases:
English |
Mandarin |
Where is it? |
Zai na li. |
Hello, I want to go this place. |
Ni hao, wo xiang qu zhe li. |
Please run the meter. |
Qing da biao. |
Please stop. |
Qing ting che. |
I’m going to the Ice and Snow World. |
Qu bing xue da shi jie. |
I’m going to Central Street. |
Qu zhong yang da jie. |
Can I use Alipay? |
Ke yi yong zhi fu bao ma? |
Can I use WeChat Pay? |
Ke yi yong wei xin zhi fu bao? |
I want to buy a ticket. |
Wo xiang mai yi zhang piao. |
Let China Xian Tour Make Your Harbin Tour Easy and Enjoyable
Though it is convenient to get to and around Harbin by public transport, the best way is to join a tour group with seamless service from point to point. Contact China Xian Tour and we will customize a trip covering transportation for you. In this way, you will enjoy a smoother and more relaxed trip.
FAQs about Harbin Transportation
How to buy a Harbin Metro ticket?
You can buy a ticket from the ticket window within the metro station or from the self-help machine. Actually, if you use WeChat Pay or Alipay, you don’t need to buy a paper ticket. Both of these two apps have a “Travel Services” section. You just need to click the section, then tap on the “Chengchema” (乘车码) function, and show your personal QR code to the fare scanner when boarding.
Where to stay in Harbin?
The surrounding areas of Central Street are recommended as it is the heart of Harbin. The developed transportation network here allows you to travel around easily.
Is public transportation in Harbin easy for foreigners to use?
Yes. There are English signs on metro and you can hear English announcements at each stop, so it’s easy to take a metro, but you may encounter a language barrier if taking public buses.
Do I need a Harbin transportation card, and where can I buy one?
If you have opened an Alipay or WeChat Pay account, the transportation card is not necessary. If you do need one, you can buy it from the Customer Service Center at No. 126, Jingwei Street.
How reliable is public transport in Harbin during heavy snow?
Harbin’s public transport is worthy of your trust even in case of heavy snow, because the drivers are experienced in handling such conditions and the tyres are anti-skid. To a certain degree, it is more reliable than taxis or self-driving.
