'Louvre of Northeast China' opens in Heilongjiang

Visitors line up to enter a former office building of Harbin Pharmaceutical Group Holding Co, which has been converted to an art museum. (Liu Yang/China Daily)

A former office building of the No 6 factory of Harbin Pharmaceutical Group Holding Co in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, opened for free on Tuesday in its new mode as an art museum.

Owing to its resplendent appearance, the building — which was designed with European flair — has been called "the Louvre of Northeast China" by local residents.

The building has been divided into exhibition areas to display works of art.

Visitors can also appreciate the decorative details of the building itself, including its Roman-style columns, Baroque reliefs and crystal chandeliers.