Changchun, Harbin: Tips?

Next on my list of places to visit in China is the North East part of the country.  Off to Changchun & Harbin soon...any tips or comments on these places? Thanks.

The car maker in Changchun used to be the biggest in China. The festival of ice sculpture in Harbin is unique, which means you got to go there in winter if you want to see it. It is said it's so cold that people don't use glue but water to post anything. So if you see someone holds a bucket of water, you got to run away from him. 

So if you see someone holds a bucket of water, you got to run away from him. 

Haha! Wow, thanks! I'll keep that in mind!

Make sure you visit the Ice Bar (in Harbin). Also, i suggest u go outdoor winter swimming,.. i hear it's therapeutic.

Also, i suggest u go outdoor winter swimming,.. i hear it's therapeutic.

Hahah! I would actually dare to! My guess is that the water would feel a whole lot warmer after exposing myself to the -25 degrees C or so since the water can't possibly be 0 degrees C.  The hypothermia will come after getting out of the water...but all this sounds a whole lot better in theory so I'll just stay indoors as much as possible.

> I would actually dare to!

It seems you will make history and become a celebrity instantly. Just let us and media know before you jump into the water. We will tell you when it hits international headlines. 

Visiting the north esp. during winter was an absolutely awesome experience.  We didn't really plan anything.  As soon as we got to Harbin, I bought a map, and my friends and I then circled the places we were interested in visiting.

You hear a lot of people talking about the ice-festival of Harbin but you don't hear a lot of people talking about the Siberian Tiger park, which is an absolute must-see.

Guess what, apart from Siberian tigers, they actually have African lions up there: http://www.bugbitten.com/photos/Asia/China/kwalton/HarbinIce_Festival/36761-5045-1244245.html

It's not for the faint-hearted though, because they have this system whereby visitors can help pay for the tigers' upkeep by donating money to the park.  Depending on the amount you donate, you'll be given a list of animals to choose from, which you can feed the tigers with.

In the tour that I went to, the van that I was in stopped at the African lion enclosure and I was a little confused.  Then another van came up next to us and threw a baby goat out to the lions.  I watched these hungry lions rip the baby goat apart and worst of all, I could hear the goat bleat.

Siberian Tiger park
=================
I have seem a North Eastern Tiger, may be a close relative of the Siberian. It is almost 6 feet tall from shoulder to ground, its arms are as thick as a tree trunk of more than 6 inches diameter. It draws your respect immediately. Compare with other tigers I have seen, other tigers are just small cats.

In the tour that I went to, the van that I was in stopped at the African lion enclosure and I was a little confused.  Then another van came up next to us and threw a baby goat out to the lions.  I watched these hungry lions rip the baby goat apart and worst of all, I could hear the goat bleat.

I've never seen lions get their grub on...live.  Am I wrong for wishing I could have seen that? 

Did you go ice swimming?

Did you go ice swimming?

Hihihoohoo \

No...unfortunately.

Honestly, I don't think swimming had crossed my mind (esp. at -35°C) so we didn't go around looking for a lake.   Although we did visit a lake in Changchun, but it was frozen...and the only thing that went through my mind was ice skating!

But now that I think of it, I really don't know how the elderlies do it.

Talking about ice swimming,...is there any place u can do outdoor winter swimming in shanghai? I would like to see whether i have nerves of steel.

Apparently, there is a place:

Once winter comes, they gather at a creek in Pudong District of Shanghai. Every morning and evening, they jump into the creek and swim for several hours.
Source: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2006-01/04/content_509222.htm

Sabz.

Thanx 4 the link, i will check it out,...might be a lotta fun. I take cold showers in winter - nothing to do with trying to mitigate certain desires,.. it just powers me up,.. plus i believe in the health benefits.

However a cold shower and swimming in cold water aren't the same, i think a swim is a firmer test of character.

Tnx.

What health benefits?  Have any of the "long livers" ever mentioned that they swam in ice?  Usually they say its because they have a bit of alcohol everyday or a piece of fatty meat.  I've never heard of one of them who said they swim in cold water during the winter.  heheehe.

What health benefits?  Have any of the "long livers" ever mentioned that they swam in ice?  Usually they say its because they have a bit of alcohol everyday.

Right on point Minghei. Khabzela and Sabrina, you guys ever figured out how FDR contracted polio?