The old Suifenhe railway station building dates from 1903, constructed as part of the Chinese Eastern Railway — the Russian-built line that crossed Manchuria to link Vladivostok to the Trans-Siberian Railway without the long northern detour. The structure has the characteristic CER style: European institutional architecture transplanted to the Chinese frontier, with a facade of some elegance relative to its surroundings. The station area has been modified considerably since its founding, but the core building remains.
The station is still the operational centre of Suifenhe's rail connection to Russia. Trains cross twice weekly to Vladivostok, a journey of most of a day that includes the extended formalities of international border crossing. The platform and forecourt give good views of both the Russian-gauge rail lines (which are broader than the Chinese standard) and the hills that mark the border. Whether you are crossing or just observing, the sense of being at a functioning international frontier is stronger here than at most land borders in China.