The hotel was built in 1954 and is renowned for its architectural style, combining both Chinese and Western elements. There are 233 modern rooms, as well as conference halls and restaurants in the hotel. The air-conditioned hotel welcomes guests into a lobby with 24-hour reception and check-out service, hotel safe, currency exchange facilities, a cloakroom, lift access, newspaper stand and a hairdressing salon. Guests can also make use of the auditorium, café, bar, disco and Internet access. Room and laundry services are provided, and guests arriving by car can use the car park.

As a landmark building of Harbin city, this historical business hotel is situated in the central area of Youyi Road, which is the best place to view the riverside scenery. The Songhua River runs by the hotel, and the city centre and Center Street are just 100 m away. Numerous places of interest can be found in the hotel's immediate vicinity, including the Sun Island Garden (200 m), Harbin Ice and Snow Big World (1 km) and the north-east Tiger Garden.

Dining options include Beijing snacks and local dishes, as well as Russian cuisine. The hotel also provides 4 banquet halls and 40 private dining rooms. All-inclusive packages are offered by the hotel, and a continental breakfast buffet is served each morning. Lunch and dinner are available à la carte or as set menus.