Shangri-La Songbei, Harbin

Shangri-La Songbei, Harbin is a five-star resort-style hotel at No. 1 Songbei Avenue in Songbei District, on the north bank of the Songhua River in Heilongjiang province, China. Songbei is the newer, more spacious part of Harbin, and it is the district that holds Harbin Ice and Snow World, Sun Island scenic area and the Wanda Culture Tourism City, which makes the hotel a convenient base for travelers whose main aim is the winter ice festival. The historic center on the south bank, including Central Street and Saint Sophia Cathedral, is reachable by taxi across the river bridges, though journey times vary with traffic. The property is designed more as a resort than a city-center tower, with generous public spaces and a calmer setting than downtown Daoli. Rooms are offered as Deluxe Room, Executive Room and Suite categories, and the listed amenities include a restaurant, bar, fitness center, indoor pool, spa, concierge and wifi. The indoor pool and spa are a genuine draw in winter, when outdoor time at the ice sculptures is limited by extreme cold. Dining centers on the hotel restaurant, with breakfast buffets that usually cover Chinese and international dishes, while the bar offers an evening option for visitors who do not want to travel back into town after dark. Because the surrounding area is mostly newer development rather than dense streets of independent restaurants, guests tend to eat in the hotel or in nearby mall and tourism-complex venues. The service style is that of an upscale international resort, with a concierge who can help with tickets, transport and Chinese-language directions. Published rates are about CNY 900 to 1800 per night (roughly $134 to $269), rising in the peak ice-festival weeks from late December through February. The hotel suits families and couples on a winter-festival trip, as well as summer visitors heading to Sun Island and the river-north attractions.