Saint Sophia Cathedral
Ha Er Bin, Heilongjiang
An onion-domed red-brick Russian Orthodox church completed in 1907 and expanded through the 1920s, converted in 1997 into the Harbin Architecture Art Gallery.
Why visit Saint Sophia Cathedral?
It's Harbin's most photographed building and the most visible reminder that this city was, for several decades, run more like a Russian rail town than a Chinese one. The cathedral no longer holds services, but its interior now shows historic photographs charting Harbin's transformation from marsh village to rail hub to modern city.
How to experience it
The exterior, especially the main dome and bell tower, is the real draw and is freely visible from the surrounding square at any hour; paying entry gets you into the photography exhibits inside.
Tip
The square in front floods with pigeons and photographers at golden hour — arrive slightly before sunset for the best light on the brickwork.