China | Harbin

Saint Sophia Cathedral Harbin

China Discovery Tour

Harbin | China

02 Jan 2020 | Thu

Day 06 of 18

  • Lao Daowai Harbin
  • Saint Sophia Cathedral Harbin
  • Zhongyang Pedestrian Street Harbin
  • Lunch | LaoChang ChunBing Harbin
  • Harbin Ice and Snow World
  • Flight | Harbin to Zhengzhou
  • Meet Zhengzhou/Dengfeng/Luoyang Tour Guide (James) & Driver
  • Crowne Plaza Hotel Zhengzhou

Saint Sophia Cathedral Harbin

Saint Sophia Cathedral Harbin is a beautiful and historic church located in the city of Harbin, China. The church was built in the early 20th century by Russian architects and is one of the few remaining examples of Russian religious architecture in China. The church is a popular tourist destination and is well-known for its unique blend of Chinese and Russian architectural styles.

Saint Sophia Cathedral

The Cathedral of the Holy Wisdom of God or Saint Sophia Cathedral in Harbin is a former Russian Orthodox church located in the central district of Daoli, Harbin City, Heilongjiang, China.

St. Sophia Orthodox Cathedral was built in 1907 after the completion of the Trans-Siberian Railway in 1903, which connected Vladivostok to northeast China. The Russian No.4 Army Division arrived in this region just after Russia’s loss to the Japanese in the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905). St. Sophia Church was built and completed of timber in March, 1907 as part of a plan to reconsolidate the confidence of the army by building an imposing spiritual symbol.

In 1921, Harbin had a population of 300,000, including 100,000 Russians. The church was expanded and renovated from September 23, 1923, when a ceremony was held to celebrate the laying of the cornerstone, to its completion on November 25, 1932, after nine years. The present-day St. Sophia Church was hailed as a monumental work of art and the largest Orthodox church in the Far East.

The church is located on the corner of Toulong Street (Toulong jie) and Zhaolin Street. It stands at 53.3 meters (175 ft) tall, occupies an area of 721 square meters (0.18 acres), and is the perfect example of Russian Revival architecture. The main structure is laid out like a cross with the main hall topped with a huge green-tipped dome. Under the bright sun, the church and the square area it stands on look quite like Red Square in Moscow.

– Wikipedia Saint Sophia Cathedral Harbin

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