Sheraton Harbin Xiangfang Hotel is a large hotel of almost four hundred rooms on Xiangfu Road in Xiangfang District, in the south of Harbin. It offers four restaurants and a bar, an indoor pool, a sauna, a spa and a 24-hour gym, with a shopping centre next door. For travellers who want a big-brand hotel with a broad range of facilities and a more local, less touristy part of the city, it makes a comfortable and practical choice.
Location and getting around
Xiangfang is the university and residential district south of the old centre, home to Harbin Engineering University and the Harbin Institute of Technology, which are about ten and thirteen minutes away by car. The Heilongjiang Provincial Museum is about thirteen minutes by car, and a Wanda shopping centre stands next to the hotel.
Jile Temple and the Harbin amusement park lie further afield. The hotel offers a shuttle to a theme park, a useful extra for families. Central Street and the Ice and Snow World need a longer taxi or metro ride, so plan transport for the main sights.
Facilities
The hotel has an indoor pool, a sauna, a spa and a 24-hour gym, four restaurants and a bar, free WiFi and free self parking, plus laundry and dry-cleaning services and air conditioning. A buffet breakfast is available for an extra charge. With nearly four hundred rooms, the hotel is built for groups and families, and it can feel busy at breakfast and at check-in during peak periods.
A restaurant selection of this size is welcome in winter, when the temptation to stay in is strong, and the connected shopping centre offers more places to eat and shop.
Who it suits
Families who want a pool and plenty of dining choices, visitors with business at the universities or in the district, travellers who prefer a local neighbourhood to a tourist zone, and groups who want free parking. It is less convenient for visitors who want a short walk to Central Street or Saint Sophia Cathedral.
In winter, ice-festival tickets and tours are often arranged through the hotel desk or an app, so ask the concierge about transport. Prices usually rise in the holiday season from December to February, and are lower in spring and autumn.
Making the most of a stay
Spend mornings at the museum or the university campuses, afternoons at the shopping centre, and use the hotel as a warm retreat in the evening. For the main sights, take a taxi or the metro to Central Street, the Russian-style architecture around Saint Sophia Cathedral and the riverside, and arrange a day at the ice festival in Songbei.
In winter dress very warmly, with layers, insulated boots and a face covering, and keep a printed copy of your hotel address in Chinese for taxis. Confirm facilities and opening hours when you book.
Why stay here
- ✓Indoor pool
- ✓Spa and sauna
- ✓24-hour gym
- ✓Four restaurants and a bar
- ✓Free WiFi
- ✓Free self parking
- ✓Air conditioning
- ✓Theme park shuttle
Good questions
Is the hotel near Central Street?+
No, it is in Xiangfang District in the south of the city, so allow a taxi or metro ride to Central Street and the Ice and Snow World.
Does it have parking?+
Free self parking is offered. Confirm the details when you book.
Are there places to eat nearby?+
The hotel has four restaurants and a bar, and a shopping centre stands next to it.
