Ice and Snow Harbin Prose Essay
As a southern child, I have dreamed of wandering in Harbin, a northern city of ice and snow, since I was a child. On the one hand, it is out of yearning for the beautiful scenery of ice and snow, and on the other hand, it is also because of the charm of Harbin. The infinite expectations and longings of Northeastern cities.
As the most representative city in Northeast China, Harbin is second to none in the country in terms of its unique features and its ice and snow sculpture-themed amusement parks. The winter in the Northeast is cold and long, with temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius. Since I set out in January, it was still very cold in Harbin at that time, so I prepared thick cotton coats, down jackets, cotton gloves and cotton shoes. Waiting for cold protection supplies in case of emergency.
I was at Nanchang Changbei International Airport preparing to board a plane to Harbin. After a three and a half hour flight, the plane landed at Harbin Taiping International Airport. At this time, night has fallen. I decided to take the Airport Express to Harbin city. Before getting on the bus, I chatted with the uncle who spoke with a strong Northeastern accent and asked about the scenic spots in Harbin city. He recommended me to go to Central Street. I sat in the front seat, looking out the car window at the dotted lights on the roadside and the small shops on both sides of the road, which triggered my endless reverie about the city at night.
When I arrived at Central Street, Russian-style shops and various buildings filled my field of vision. Standing in front of the Central Street, there are Russian-style big ribs, Harbin red sausage, Madier yogurt and other snacks, as well as various handicraft matryoshka dolls, which fully demonstrate the exquisite craftsmanship and rich food culture of the Harbin people. The ground of Central Street is paved with stone pavement, and there are Western-style buildings of different styles and schools on both sides, among which the representative ones are Renaissance and Baroque buildings. In the night, the buildings on both sides of the street emit bright lights, making people feel like they are in a dreamlike fairy tale world. There are many small ice sculptures on both sides of the street, with animal outlines, such as cats, bears, and deer pulling sleds; There are human avatars, such as shy girls; there are also sculptures in the shape of various handicrafts, such as matryoshka dolls; and advertising sculptures, such as Harbin beer advertisements and Nongfu Spring; in addition, there are artificial ice ladders, ice castles, etc. There is an endless stream of pedestrians on the road. Some passers-by pick up lit fireworks and circle them in the air, and there are also some people selling old Beijing candied haws. The former Soviet Union's classic song "Katyusha" and other Russian organ music were played in the store, intertwined with the hawking sounds on the roadside, and seemed so enthusiastic and energetic in the cold Harbin night. Walking from Jingwei Street to the end of Central Street is one of the most representative buildings in Harbin - the Flood Control Memorial Tower. However, since it was getting late at this time, I did not continue walking when I got here. The trip is scheduled for the next morning.
Early the next morning, I walked from the hotel across Central Street to the Flood Control Memorial Tower Square. The Flood Control Memorial Tower was built in 1958 to commemorate the victory of the people of Harbin in resisting floods in 1957. Behind the Flood Control Memorial Tower is the Songhua River, the mother river of the Northeast people. At this time, at a low temperature of nearly minus 20 degrees, the ice surface of the Songhua River was already more than one meter thick. As the saying goes: three feet of ice does not freeze in one day. In such a cold weather, the originally gurgling Songhua River has become as crystal clear as jade.
Despite the cold climate, the ice surface of the Songhua River still attracts bustling tourists. There are many recreational projects on the ice, such as snowmobiles, dog sleds, ice karts, etc. There are also some people holding horses to greet tourists for riding experience. If you look closely, they are different from the horses in the south. The horses are thick and thick, and the manes on their backs are light yellow, long and dense. Walking a little further, there was a group of people skating not far away. When I got closer, I saw a quite large skating rink. The athletes wear professional helmets, kneepads and skates. They all have strong postures and skillful footwork. Whether accelerating or turning, each skater's smooth movements during gliding have become another eye-catching highlight on the ice of the Songhua River.
Due to time, Songhua River became my last stop in Harbin. The next day, I set off back, ending this short and wonderful journey. However, the beautiful attachment to this city is as unforgettable as the ice and snow in Harbin.