Zhongyang Pedestrian Street (中央大街), located in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, is 1,450 meters long and 21.34 meters wide, with a total area of 18,547 square meters. Originally known as “China Street,” it was established in 1898 during the construction of Harbin’s railway and urban facilities. Initially a muddy path used by horse-drawn carriages transporting railway materials, the street evolved into a bustling area as Russian shops and businesses began to emerge. Despite being called “China Street,” European-style buildings and foreign-operated shops gradually dominated, giving the street a distinctly international feel.
In 1928, the street was officially renamed “Zhongyang Street” (Central Street). It is now home to 71 European and European-inspired buildings, with 13 city-level protected structures representing architectural styles like Renaissance, Baroque, Eclecticism, and Modernism. Major landmarks include the Flood Control Victory Monument and the historic Modern Hotel. The street also hosts cultural events such as the Western Food Festival and Old Street Music Festivals, making it a vibrant cultural and tourist destination.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Highlights of Zhongyang Pedestrian Street
- Vlog about Zhongyang Pedestrian Street
- Cultural Events
- History of Zhongyang Pedestrian Street
- Attractions Near Zhongyang Pedestrian Street
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 – 2 hours |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| Opening Hours | 24 hours a day throughout the year |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0451-87650401 |
Location and Transportation
Zhongyang Pedestrian Street is located in Daoli District, Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province, China. To get there, you can choose one of the following ways:
Bus: Take bus 53, 114, 132, or 136 and get off at Zhongyang Pedestrian Street Stop (中央大街站).
Metro: The closest metro station to the attraction is Zhongyang Avenue (中央大街) on line 2. After getting out of the station from Exit 1, walk about 250 meters to the east to reach south end of the street.
Highlights of Zhongyang Pedestrian Street
Flood Control Victory Monument
The Flood Control Victory Monument is located in the northern section of Zhongyang Street, on the Songhua River Square in Daoli District, Harbin, and in the center of Stalin Park. This monument was built to commemorate the people of Harbin overcoming a devastating flood in 1957. The structure consists of a tower and a colonnade. The tower, made of granite, stands 22.5 meters tall and is comprised of a base, a shaft, and a top. The base has two levels, symbolizing the water levels of the catastrophic floods in 1932 and 1957. The lower part of the tower features relief sculptures depicting the people’s efforts to combat the flood. At the top of the tower are sculptures representing workers, farmers, soldiers, and intellectuals. Surrounding the monument is a 21-arched semicircular colonnade, with explanatory plaques at both ends.
Harbin First-Class Post Office
The Harbin First-Class Post Office, located at the intersection of Zhongyang Street and Jingwei Street, was built in the early 20th century in the Art Nouveau style. It was one of the first buildings constructed during the initial development of Zhongyang Street and was originally known as the Gleitze Building, the first building at the southern end of the street. In 1910, it housed the Far East Harbin Second Loan Bank, and by 1914, it became the Harbin First-Class Post Office. After the reorganization of China’s postal zones in 1914, the post office was elevated to first-class status, managing second- and third-class post offices in Heilongjiang and parts of Jilin Province, under the supervision of the Fengtian (Shenyang) Postal Bureau. Once China joined the Universal Postal Union, the Harbin First-Class Post Office was designated as an international mail exchange center.
Modern Hotel
The Modern Hotel is located on Zhongyang Street in Daoli District, Harbin, and is a significant historical site, known for being the venue where the New Political Consultative Conference’s preparatory activities took place in 1948. It is an example of French Louis XIV classical architecture, covering a total area of 9,000 square meters. The hotel features guest rooms, a Western restaurant, a pavilion, a ballroom, and a cinema. In 1948, democratic figures such as Shen Junru, Zhang Bojun, and Cai Tingkai met here with representatives of the Chinese Communist Party to discuss the preparation for the new Chinese political system.
The hotel was originally built in 1906 by a Jewish Russian businessman, Josef Kasper. After suffering damage from the Japanese puppet army in 1934, the hotel fell into decline. Following Harbin’s liberation in 1946, the Modern Hotel was used as a reception center by the Northeastern Bureau. In 1953, it was renamed the Harbin Hostel, and in 1985, it underwent major renovations. The original layout was preserved, but the wooden attic was converted into standard guest rooms covering an area of 1,100 square meters. The hotel’s original name, “Modern,” was restored in 1987.
Education Bookstore
The Education Bookstore, located at 154 Zhongyang Street in Daoli District, Harbin, was built in 1909 and is a protected municipal heritage building. The building originally housed the Songpu Trading Company and is designed in the Baroque style. The interior and exterior of the building feature intricate plant-shaped decorations and elaborate pilasters, with five different column styles. The structure is adorned with curved decorative lines, and the window arches are topped with small broken pediments. The main entrance features a dome.
The bookstore was initially established as Songpu Trading Company in 1909, then relocated to Zhongyang Street in 1916. By 1918, the current building was completed. Initially, the store primarily focused on retail while also handling wholesale, selling daily necessities, construction tools, local products, and food items. The building’s Baroque design was created by Russian architect A. A. Myakovsky, who was commissioned by the Japanese businessman Mizukami Toshihisa.
Former Site of the Universal Savings Society
The Former Site of the Universal Savings Society, located at 59 Zhongyang Street, Harbin, was built in 1926 and showcases a classical architectural style. Originally named the “Mitchkov Building,” the structure features Ionic columns at the main entrance and a pediment above, both typical elements of classical architecture. The exterior walls are finished with a distinctive stone-brushed surface. As of February 2024, the building operates as the “Liu Guifu Jewelry Mall.”
Former Site of the Daoli Qiulin Foreign Firm
The Former Site of the Daoli Qiulin Foreign Firm, built in 1910, is an eclectic-style building located at the intersection of Zhongyang Street (189-191) and Xitoudao Street. In 1910, it was part of the central commercial district, with a church across the street (now the Kailai Hotel) and a police station nearby. In 1916, Qiulin acquired the Samsonovich Brothers Trading Company at the corner of Zhongyang Street and Xiuliudao Street and relocated the Qiulin Foreign Firm to this new location to expand its business. As of February 2024, the building houses a variety of commercial enterprises, including KFC and the Russia-themed Lucia Restaurant.
Former Site of the Jewish National Bank
The Former Site of the Jewish National Bank is located at the intersection of Zhongyang Street (No. 57-59) and Xi Shiyi Dao Street. This building, which opened in 1923, exhibits eclectic architectural features with Renaissance influences, including Roman columns, a dome, and a cornice with corbel designs. The ground floor has narrow doors flanked by large display windows. The Jewish National Bank was a private bank founded by the Jewish community in Harbin to provide financial assistance and foster mutual support among Jewish residents. Though small in size, it had correspondent banks in Berlin, Paris, New York, and London. In 1959, following the socialist transformation of foreign enterprises, it was renamed the Harbin People’s Bank Foreign Savings Office. As of February 2024, the building houses commercial entities such as Liu Guifu Jewelry and Lao Feng Xiang Silver House.
Vlog about Zhongyang Pedestrian Street
Cultural Events
Madieer Balcony Concerts
The first Madieer Balcony Concert took place in May 2008, and by 2024, the event has seen 17 editions. The 16th edition, organized by the Harbin Madieer Group Co., was a large-scale public music performance. It featured various musical pieces such as Crossing the Ocean to See You, Blue and White Porcelain, and The World, along with several interactive show segments. These concerts take place daily from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
“Charming Harbin Summer” Old Street Music Festival
Since 2013, the “Charming Harbin Summer” Old Street Music Festival has been held at the intersection of Zhongyang Street and Youyi Road. The event, organized by the Harbin Cultural Bureau, features performances by the Harbin Symphony Orchestra and Harbin Opera House artists on stages at Zhongyang Street, Youyi Road, and Xitoudao Street. The event is divided into three segments: “Old Street Music Show,” “Old Street Parade,” and “Old Street Social Dance,” with the themes of “Dreams, Elegance, Innocence, Classics, and Century.” Six stages are set up about 300 meters apart, and the festival continues to take place every summer.
History of Zhongyang Pedestrian Street
In the mid-19th century, Russia’s small-scale wars of aggression in Northeast China disrupted the region’s previously isolated state. By the early 20th century, the Russian October Revolution and subsequent national wars forced Russian refugees to migrate to Harbin. This influx of Russian settlers brought significant cultural exchange and architectural influence to the city. The majority of the European-style buildings on Zhongyang Street were constructed between the early 1900s and the 1930s, a period marked by these wars and revolutions.
Russian refugees in Harbin integrated their culture with the local environment, introducing various European architectural styles such as Renaissance, Eclecticism, and Baroque to the area. Within just 30 years, Zhongyang Street reflected the rich architectural history of Europe from the 15th to the 19th centuries. Examples include Renaissance architecture from the 15th and 16th centuries (Women and Children’s Store), 17th-century Baroque (Education Bookstore), Eclecticism (Provincial Commercial Hall), and early 20th-century Art Nouveau (Harbin Photography Society). These buildings provided Harbin residents with a window into Western architectural traditions.
The direct catalyst for the formation of Zhongyang Street was the construction of the China Eastern Railway, which significantly altered Harbin’s natural development trajectory, introducing advanced production methods and boosting the local economy. By the 1980s, following China’s reform and opening-up policies, commercial development in the area surged, particularly throughout the 1990s. In 1986, the Harbin municipal government designated Zhongyang Street as a protected historic street. Beginning in August 1996, the street underwent a 10-month environmental renovation, including road reconstruction, the establishment of leisure areas, building facade refurbishments, and signage regulation. As a result, Zhongyang Street transformed into a vibrant pedestrian commercial street, offering tourism, shopping, entertainment, and leisure activities.
