Compared with cities in places south of Dongbei, Harbin has fewer local products to brag about, most probably due to the harsh weather here that makes most goods pretty hard to grow.

Seafood is a popular local specialty and rare fish abound around these parts including dog salmon and sturgeon, which over the years have accustomed to the freezing winter and seem to be thriving! Monkey-Head Mushroom is little known in the west, but has long been deemed a delicacy for its curative effects. Sausage is popular with ordinary households, an influence perhaps of the Russian history here.

Clothes made from Marten (a tiny weasel-like animal) are common here, available at lower prices than in the west. A wide selection of herbal medicines (many of which are becoming pretty popular in the west) are made here. Pilose antler (Lurong) is the Chinese version of Viagra!! Tiger bone is said to relieve pain suffered with rheumatism. As with all medicines, watch out for fakes! It is pretty unlikely they will actually harm, but you may be getting ripped off!