The Songhua River embankment — Stalin Park, as it was called under its Russian name — runs along the northern edge of Daoli and is Harbin's principal outdoor promenade. In summer the riverside fills with people strolling, cycling, and buying grilled corn from street vendors. Paddle boats, dragon boat rides, and ferry crossings to Sun Island are available from the embankment.
In winter the river freezes solid and becomes a venue in its own right. Locals race snowmobiles, skate, and fish through holes cut in the ice. The annual Harbin International Ice Fishing Contest draws competitors from across China. Cross the river via the ice road to reach Sun Island (Taiyangdao), a large park with its own snow sculpture festival running concurrently with the downtown ice festival. The walk across the frozen Songhua is an experience in itself.