Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
Harbin, January 30 (Xinhua) — Winter tourism is currently booming in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang Province in northeast China, which was recently named a "World Outstanding City of Ice and Snow Tourism" by the United Nations World Tourism Organization. Central Street is bustling, and the setting sun illuminates the dome of the Modern Hotel, radiating an air of freedom and romance against the white snow. Tourists line up around the Modern ice cream parlor to buy the "popular online ice cream." After receiving their ice cream, they immediately pick up the Modern ice cream with one hand and point their phone camera with the other, snapping photos.
The founder of the Modern Hotel was a Russian entrepreneur. More than 100 years ago, having earned his first fortune in the watch and jewelry trade, he began actively seeking partners, raising funds, and creating a large, modern service complex offering accommodations, food, cinema, entertainment, and leisure.
In 1914, the Hotel Modern officially opened its doors, and the media of the time covered the opening ceremony: the building housed a hotel, a restaurant, a cafe, and a cinema called the Modern.
Originally, "Modern" meant "modern" and "fashionable." Today, the Hotel "Modern" has embarked on a comprehensive modernization and renovation, focusing on four cultural elements: "the color red, music, European flair, and gastronomy," aiming to create a themed hotel-museum, reviving its century-old character.
Liu Lingling, Deputy General Director of Harbin Modern Joint-Stock Company, explained that the Modern Hotel will tell a "hundred-year story" of gastronomy and entertainment. The hotel plans to restore the original atmosphere of the music bar and continue to develop the classical IP of music on the Modern's balcony, so that musical notes become a link between the past and the present. The intangible culinary mastery of the Modern Hotel is also intended to be preserved, with the goal of creating a high-quality culinary experience for guests, showcasing the charm of the mastery of "Western cuisine culture" in Harbin.
Today, the ice cream parlor, Western restaurant, craft beer brewery, and other food establishments under the "Modern" brand have become popular online destinations. Thanks to its unique flavor, "Modern" ice cream has become a hit on Central Street.
“Today, the total sales volume has exceeded 300 million units,” says Liu Lingling.
The charm of "Modern" extends beyond its ice cream. The classic "sayka" bread, a legacy of Russian technologists, is soft and sweet; the red and baby sausages, perfected by heirs to the intangible cultural heritage, smoked in old ovens using fruit wood, possess a unique flavor. Harbin "Modern" Joint-Stock Company, based on the "Modern" Hotel, was transformed into a state-owned joint-stock company after three reorganizations. Its current core business includes hotel accommodations, Chinese and Western cuisine, food production and sales, cultural tourism, and more.
The former Tongyiqing Chinese and Foreign Goods Store, located in the Daowai District of Harbin, is a century-old Chinese Baroque building that witnessed the flourishing of Harbin's modern commerce. Thanks to a systematic renovation by the company Modern, this long-vacant building was renovated and reopened in late 2025.
"Tourists can not only sample authentic Harbin cuisine and signature Modern products here, but also purchase cultural and creative goods, but also feel the breath of history in the building's details," says Liu Lingling.
Having transcended centuries of space and time, this exotic “old brand” bears witness to the changes and development of this city and increasingly demonstrates the special charm of “modernism.” -0-
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.