Differences between Harbin and Taipei

張貼日期：Apr 03, 2013 5:34:28 AM

Crystal Cao

Harbin and Taipei are very beautiful cities in my eyes. Everybody knows that both of them are full of the beauty of culture, and they are both well-known with their special local conditions. Beautiful as they are, the differences exist. We can easily perceive the distinction in the following three aspects: the system of transportation, the style of buildings, and the feature of natural landscape.

The transportation is well-established in both Harbin and Taipei, but they still have their own characteristics. In Harbin, taxis appear in every street. When people want to go outside, they are more likely to take a taxi. For taking a taxi can avoid a long time waiting at the bus stop, and it doesn’t cost too much. The bus is another main kind of transportation. Usually, bus tickets in Harbin are very cheap, and one RMB can take you to your destination in the city. There are many bus stops set along the street, and they bring great convenience to people's daily life. Similarly, buses in Taipei are also very common. But when compared with the transportation of Harbin, the comprehensive system of the MRT in Taipei is worth mentioning. Even though today Harbin has almost completed the construction of the subway, it will take some time to put into use. Another obvious distinction is the motorcycles we can see everywhere in Taipei. In Harbin, there are not so many motorcycles on the street.

The style of buildings is another big difference between Harbin and Taipei. Most buildings in Harbin appear to be of the European style. So usually there is a dome on the top of the building, and Harbin is called Paris of the Orient because of this special style. Residential buildings usually have a flat roof. As to the color of the surface of buildings, the main color is yellow. And due to the extremely cold weather, the walls are usually very thick. In contrast, the buildings in Taipei have totally different looks, for many of them have the sloping roof and some have tiles on them. On the rainy day, the sloping roof has the function of drainage.

Thanks to the different climates, Harbin is famous for its snow and ice, while Taipei is beautiful with its colorful vegetation. Thus, if you visit Harbin, you can't miss the place called Ice and Snow World, Where all things are made of ice, and you can visit the igloo to experience the living in it. Even though the average temperature is minus twenty, people don't want to miss the beautiful scenery of this white world. At the same time, when Harbin is still snowing, Taipei is already very warm. Many people like to go to Yangmingshan National Park to enjoy the beautiful flowers and the fresh air. Walking along the path, they can relax themselves and appreciate the attractive sights. One is still in cold winter, while the other is in warm spring. Harbin and Taipei are distinctive in scenery, but both of them are a feast of eyes to most people.

Harbin is a Northern city of ice, and Taipei is a city in the subtropical area. They are so different in so many aspects. Visitors can gain different experiences from them. They are both full of passion and vibes; in the meanwhile, they are classical in their culture to some extent. Maybe that's why both of them are attractive with their unique characteristics.