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Evening

Golden Light at the Tiger Park

Harbin’s Siberian Tiger Park offers a rare chance to see hundreds of tigers up close, and on clear evenings, the setting sun casts a dramatic glow over the enclosures.

Best time: sunsetAbout 120 min

Timeline

  1. 13:14

    Siberian Tiger Park

    Arrive at the Siberian Tiger Park well before closing. The park opens at 08:30 and closes at 16:00. Take the open bus with metal caging for the hour-long ride through the tiger pens. You can purchase strips of meat for ¥10 to hand-feed the tigers from the safety of the bus.

  2. 15:14

    Siberian Tiger Park

    Stay inside the park as the light begins to fade. The golden light starts about 26 minutes before sunset, offering a soft, warm illumination on the animals and the landscape. This is the best time for photography before the park closes.

  3. 16:14

    Siberian Tiger Park

    Watch the sunset. The sun sets toward the WSW. The park closes at 16:00, so you must be prepared to exit as the sun dips below the horizon. The closing time is strict, so do not linger past the moment.

  4. 17:14

    Head back toward the city center for dinner and a drink. The park is located in a remote area, so you will need to take a taxi. A ride from the city center costs around ¥40, and you can expect a similar fare back. Check the route for the best way to return to the downtown area where restaurants are open late.

Local tip

The park closes at 16:00, which is very close to sunset time in winter. Plan to arrive early enough to complete the bus tour before the gates close. The taxi ride back to the city center is the best way to transition to an evening meal.

Check before you go

  • The Siberian Tiger Park closes at 16:00. Sunset varies by season but is often around this time. Ensure you have enough time for the bus tour before closing.
  • The park is remote. Taxis are available for ¥40 from the city center, but you must arrange your return ride carefully as you cannot wait for a taxi inside the park.

Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Harbin (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

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