Harbin Train Stations: Where and How to Take a Train?

Since 28 September 2026, Harbin has been the starting point for China's northernmost high-speed railway. The new line runs through forest landscapes to Yichun in under two hours!

That's another reason to visit the capital of Heilongjiang Province. But it's important to know which station to use. Harbin has four main passenger railway stations, ranging from the historic station in the city centre to the large, modern transport hub in the west.

Want to find your way around? Here's a station-by-station guide.

Main railway stations in Harbin

Each railway station in Harbin serves different routes, so the best one for you depends mainly on your destination:

• Harbin Railway Station is in the city centre, close to Central Street and the Songhua River.
• Harbin West Railway Station is a major modern hub, serving routes to Beijing, Shenyang, Dalian and Changchun.
• Harbin North Railway Station is across the river in Songbei District.
• Harbin East Railway Station mainly serves conventional trains, particularly regional services.

What about Harbin South Railway Station? It does exist, but it handles freight rather than passenger services, so you cannot catch a passenger train there.

Harbin Railway Station (City Centre)

If you're staying near Central Street or Saint Sophia Cathedral, you'll probably pass through this station. Harbin Railway Station is in Nangang District, around 10 minutes by metro from the old city centre.

You'll find both conventional and high-speed trains here, particularly services to:

• Qiqihar
• Mudanjiang
• Yichun, since the new railway line opened in late September 2026

How do you get there?

💡 Trip.com tip: This station is conveniently located if you're visiting Harbin for the first time. Metro Line 2 serves the station, and Central Street (Zhongyang Dajie) is just a few minutes away by metro or within walking distance (just under 2 km).

The airport express bus from Harbin Taiping International Airport, around 38 km away, stops directly outside the station at Hotel Tianzhu. The fare is CNY 20.

Facilities at Harbin Railway Station

• 🍔 A wide choice of food on the upper floor, including Chinese restaurants, fast food, KFC and McDonald's.
• 💺 A large waiting room on the second floor with more than 1,000 seats.
• 🧳 Lockers along the waiting area.
• 🎫 Ticket counters and self-service machines on the ground floor.
• ♨️ In winter, a volunteer service point offering free hot water and phone charging.
• 🧥 Changing rooms in the toilets, handy for putting on an extra layer when arriving from a warmer region.

Main train routes from Harbin

Good to know: Some trains on these two routes depart from Harbin West Railway Station instead. Check the departure station shown for your chosen train before booking.

Harbin West Railway Station

For journeys to Beijing, Shenyang, Dalian or Changchun, you'll usually depart from Harbin West Railway Station. It's the largest railway station in the city and handles most high-speed trains.

Located around 9 km south-west of the city centre, the station opened in December 2012. It's a modern, spacious complex with 18 platforms, so allow some extra time to find your way around.

How do you get there?

👉 Metro Line 3 serves the station's underground level directly. A taxi from the city centre takes around 20 minutes. From Harbin Taiping International Airport, about 31 km away, Airport Bus Line 2 serves the station from 04:00 to 21:00, with a fare of CNY 20.

How do you buy train tickets?

There are three options, all valid for trains departing from Harbin's four railway stations:

• On Trip.com (the easiest and most recommended option): book in English, link your e-ticket to your passport and avoid queuing at the station. Convenient, isn't it?
• Through the 12306 app: China's official railway ticketing platform, available in Chinese and English.
• At the ticket counters: You can buy a ticket using your passport. Harbin West Railway Station has 28 ticket counters across two areas on the second floor.

Facilities at Harbin West Railway Station

• 🍜 Chinese restaurants and fast-food outlets in the departure hall and on the mezzanine level
• 💺 Around 2,500 seats in the waiting area, plus a lounge for Business Class ticket holders
• 🧳 Left-luggage lockers near Gate B2
• 🧑‍🦳 A porter service, known as the “Red Caps”, for older passengers and those carrying heavy luggage
• 🛍️ A shopping arcade on the eastern forecourt, with a taxi rank and access to the metro

Key train routes from Harbin West

Harbin North Railway Station

Harbin North Railway Station is a small station on the north bank of the river in Songbei District. It opened in 2015 and is much smaller than Harbin West Railway Station.

Although it is less well known, it can still be useful for travellers. Metro Line 2 connects it directly to the Harbin Ice and Snow World, and it is also a stop on the new high-speed rail line to Yichun.

You can also catch trains to Qiqihar from here, and the university town of Hulan is nearby.

How do you get there?

Metro Line 2 serves the station, along with bus routes 551, 552 and 213. You can travel directly from Harbin Railway Station on Metro Line 2 without changing trains.

Facilities at Harbin North Railway Station

• 🚇 Direct access to Metro Line 2, which provides convenient connections to Harbin Ice and Snow World and the city centre.
• 🍙 Food options and luggage storage are very limited, so bring a snack and keep your luggage with you.

Harbin East Railway Station

Harbin East Railway Station mainly serves conventional trains rather than high-speed services, with routes primarily heading towards the northern parts of Heilongjiang Province.

Located in Daowai District, the station dates back to the 1930s and was renovated in 2016. Its waiting hall is spacious and rarely overcrowded. If you have some time before your train, Daowai's historic Baroque district is around a 20-minute journey away.

How do you get there?

Metro Line 1 terminates right outside the station, on its western forecourt.

Facilities at Harbin East Railway Station

• 💺 A spacious waiting hall with a section featuring cushioned seats.
• 🧳 No luggage storage inside the station, but private luggage storage is available around 200 metres away (CNY 10 per suitcase per day).
• 🚇 A metro station right outside, making it easy to reach the city centre.

How to get to Harbin Ice and Snow World from the railway stations

The main venue of the Ice and Snow Festival, Harbin Ice and Snow World, is accessible via Metro Line 2. Here are the routes from Harbin's main railway stations:

Metro timetables may vary. Check the last train times before your visit, especially if you plan to stay at the park into the evening.

New for 2026: Harbin to Yichun by high-speed train

This is the big travel news for early autumn. Officially opened on 28 September 2026, the Harbin–Yichun high-speed railway covers 318 km at speeds of up to 250 km/h, connecting Harbin with the forests of the Lesser Khingan Mountains. The journey used to take around seven hours on a conventional train. Now, the fastest service takes just 1 hour and 46 minutes!

The line has nine stations, including Harbin, Harbin North, Suihua South, Tieli and Yichun West. The latter is China's northernmost high-speed railway station, located near the 47th parallel.

👉 There are around 38 trains a day, with fares starting at approximately £8. Most services depart from Harbin Railway Station.

💡 Trip.com tip: Yichun is ideal for nature lovers, with pine forests, summer blueberries and snow-covered villages in winter. Almost 40% of passengers on the opening day were tourists, so book early if you're travelling at weekends.

Getting from Harbin Airport to the railway stations

The airport is 38 km from Harbin Railway Station and 31 km from Harbin West Railway Station. The easiest way to reach either station is by airport shuttle bus, which costs CNY 20 per journey.

• To Harbin Railway Station: The airport shuttle drops you directly outside Tianzhu Hotel, opposite the station.
• To Harbin West Railway Station: Take Line 2, which serves the station.

Airport shuttle buses run from 7.30 am until the last flight of the day. They depart when full, with a maximum wait of 30 minutes. Allow plenty of extra time if your train leaves shortly after you land.

Harbin train stations: Which one should you use?

• Beijing, Shenyang, Dalian or Changchun → Harbin West Railway Station, which handles most high-speed trains.
• Qiqihar, Mudanjiang or Yichun → Harbin Railway Station is often the most convenient option, as it is in the city centre.
• Staying in Songbei or visiting Harbin Ice and Snow World → Harbin North Railway Station is the best choice.
• Taking a conventional train to northern Heilongjiang → Check whether your ticket lists Harbin East Railway Station.

Allow plenty of time for your journey, as the stations are spread far apart. In winter, snowy roads can also slow down traffic.

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