Advertising in Harbin

They have GOT to be reacting to something not pictured, 'cause I just can't see Red Bull being this exciting! What's more amazing is how much space (hallways, elevators, walls, buses, et cetera) is taken up by advertising in this Communist country - this particular ad is from my apartment building's elevator.

International Hotel in the Spring

In between all the air pollution and dust storms we do also have some incredibly beautiful days here in the spring! Pictured is the International Hotel building on Hongbo Square. (Note the tree front right - things don't really come back to life here till May.)

First Dust Storm of Spring

You know spring is well and truly sprung in Manchuria not by the buds on the trees or the blooms on the flowers (which likely won't come till May!), but by that first rush of gale-force wind bringing dust and sand from the Gobi!

Both of these pictures are from Qunli, one of the newer districts of Harbin on the southwest side of the city. I did see anyone sent flying there, but there's some crazy footage of what the wind did elsewhere in Harbin here.