It's not that Harbin is unaffordable, it's that Russia is more cost-effective.

I spent CNY 3,300 on a 4-day, 5-night trip to Lake Baikal, including flights, transportation, and accommodation in high-end local hotels. 🏨 1️⃣ Get to know the local environment I arrived in the morning on a red-eye flight, so I took a nap at the hotel and went out for dinner and a walk in the evening. I mostly stayed on Karl Marx Street and visited the supermarket there. Breakfast was included, and it was delicious. There was a cafe with bear skin opposite the hotel, and the salad and dumplings were delicious! ❗️ 2️⃣ City walk I visited museums, art galleries, Kazan Cathedral, shopping malls, and churches in the city center. It felt like a third-tier city. 3️⃣ Lake Baikal You can take a bus there, which is much cheaper. It seems to cost only CNY 10 from the central market. I arrived at noon and had lunch at a lakeside restaurant. I stayed at the hotel for a while and planned to take a nap until the evening, so I stayed near the hotel. 4️⃣ Skiing and walking by Lake Baikal ⛷🚶🏻 There is a ski resort by the lake where you can ski and enjoy the view. It seems to cost about CNY 100. There is a cable car to see the lake view, and you can take a walk by the lake. There is a fish market and some handicrafts for sale, right where you take the bus back. You can buy cosmetics in the city center, which is very cost-effective. I flew back to the city center in the evening. 🛫 🔶 I exchanged CNY 1,000 at the time. Visa: You don't need to find someone to do it for you. Just apply on the official website. It costs CNY 375 per person. 💰 🚗 Use Yandex Go to call a taxi. 💰 Total cost: CNY 3,200 It's a great deal. Don't miss it this winter. Come and join us! ❗️❗️