Harbin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Harbin 哈尔滨市 Ha'erbin, Haerhpin
Prefecture-level and sub-provincial city
Hongjun Boulevard Flood control monument Saint Sofia Cathedral Central Avenue Songpu Bridge Harbin Ice and Snow World
Nicknames:  Ice City, Oriental Paris, Oriental Moscow, The pearl on the swan's neck
Location of Harbin City (yellow) in Heilongjiang (light grey)
Harbin Location in Heilongjiang Show map of Heilongjiang Harbin Location in China Show map of China
Country	China
Province	Heilongjiang
County-level divisions	18 divisions, including 9 urban districts, 2 County-level cities and 7 counties
Settled	before 1115
Incorporated  - Town	1898
- County	1905-10-31
- Municipality	1921-02-05
Municipal seat	Songbei District
Government
• Type	Sub-provincial city
• Body	Harbin Municipal People's Congress
Area
• Prefecture-level and sub-provincial city	53,068 km2 (20,490 sq mi)
• Urban	2,454.5 km2 (947.7 sq mi)
• Metro	10,204.8 km2 (3,940.1 sq mi)
Elevation	150 m (488 ft)
Population  (2020 census)
• Prefecture-level and sub-provincial city	10,009,854
• Density	188.6232/km2 (488.532/sq mi)
• Urban	6,976,136
• Urban density	2,842.18/km2 (7,361.22/sq mi)
• Metro	5,841,929
• Metro density	572.4687/km2 (1,482.687/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Harbinite, Harbinese
GDP
• Prefecture-level and sub-provincial city	CN¥ 575.1 billion US$ 92.3 billion
• Per capita	CN¥ 59,027 US$ 9,477
Time zone	UTC+08:00 (China Standard)
Postal code	150000
Area code(s)	451
ISO 3166 code	CN-HL-01
License plate prefixes	黑A, 黑L
Climate	Dwa
City flowers	Lilac
Website	Harbin Official Website: http://www.harbin.gov.cn/english.htm

Harbin
"Harbin" in Simplified Chinese (top), Traditional Chinese (middle), and Manchu (bottom) characters
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese	哈尔滨
Traditional Chinese	哈爾濱
Hanyu Pinyin	Hā'ěrbīn
Literal meaning	(Manchu) "Place of drying fishnets" or (Jurchen language) "Swan"
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Hā'ěrbīn Bopomofo ㄏㄚ   ㄦˇ   ㄅㄧㄣ Gwoyeu Romatzyh Ha'eelbin Wade–Giles Ha1-êrh3-pin1 IPA [xá.àɚ̯pín] Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Haa1ji5ban1
Manchu name
Manchu script	ᡥᠠᡵᠪᡳᠨ
Romanization	Harbin

This article contains special characters. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols.

Harbin is the capital city of Heilongjiang province in China. It's the largest city in Heilongjiang and has the biggest metropolitan population in Northeast China. This means it includes both city and rural areas.

Harbin is known by many names, like Ice City, Oriental Paris, and Oriental Moscow. The name Harbin might mean "swan" in the Jurchen language or "a place for drying fishing nets" in Manchu. It started as a small fishing village on the Songhua River.

In 1898, the Russians built the Chinese Eastern Railway here, and Harbin quickly grew into a big city. Many people from the Russian Empire moved here. In the 1920s, Harbin was even seen as China's fashion capital. New styles from Paris and Moscow arrived here first before going to Shanghai.

Harbin is famous for its very cold winters. It's called the Ice City because of its amazing ice sculpture festival and other winter activities. The city also has a lot of historical Russian buildings. Today, Harbin is a key center for trade between China and Russia. It's also an important hub for politics, economy, science, culture, and industry in Northeast China. In 2004, it was named "China Top Tourist City".

Harbin is a major center for scientific research. It has many important universities, especially for engineering. Harbin Institute of Technology is one of the best engineering universities in the world.

History of Harbin

Ancient Beginnings

People have lived in the Harbin area since at least 2200 BC, during the late Stone Age. A long time ago, in 1115 AD, the first emperor of the Jin dynasty, Wanyan Aguda, was born here. He made this region the capital of his empire.

Later, the capital moved, and the old city was left behind. For a long time, the Harbin area was mostly small villages. By the late 1800s, there were about 30,000 people living in what are now the city's main areas.

Becoming an International City

A small village became the modern city of Harbin in 1898. This happened when the Russian Empire built the Chinese Eastern Railway. The Russians chose Harbin as their main base for managing this railway. Many Russian engineers and workers helped build the railway. Harbin quickly grew into a busy city.

People from all over the Russian Empire moved to Harbin. This included Russians, Ukrainians, Poles, and Jews. Harbin became a very Russian-looking city with European-style buildings and parks. It was a major point for shipping food and goods out of Manchuria.

During the Russo-Japanese War (1904–05), Russia used Harbin as a military base. After Russia lost, its influence lessened. People from 33 different countries, including the United States, Germany, and France, came to Harbin. Many countries opened consulates. Businesses, banks, and churches were built. Harbin became an important economic center and a global city.

A serious health challenge happened in 1910. A type of pneumonic plague spread to Harbin. It killed many people. Dr. Wu Lien-teh was sent to investigate. He found a way to stop the plague by cremating victims. This was a big step for medicine in China. Harbin Medical University has statues of Dr. Wu Lien-teh to honor his work.

By 1917, Harbin's population was over 100,000. More than 40,000 of them were ethnic Russians. After the Russian Revolution in 1917, many Russians who opposed the new Soviet government came to Harbin. The city became a major center for these Russian émigrés. They kept their Russian culture alive with schools, newspapers, and theaters.

The Harbin Institute of Technology was started in 1920. It was first called the Harbin Sino-Russian School for Industry. It trained engineers for the railway using Russian teaching methods.

During Japanese Occupation

In September 1931, Japan took over Manchuria. Japanese forces soon captured Harbin. The city became a base for a Japanese research unit called Unit 731. This unit was involved in developing biological weapons. Sadly, many people suffered and died during these experiments.

Chinese heroes like Zhao Shangzhi and Yang Jingyu fought against the Japanese in Harbin. They led the anti-Japanese guerrilla army.

Many Russians in Harbin faced difficulties under Japanese rule. In 1935, the Soviet Union sold the Chinese Eastern Railway to Japan. Many Russians left Harbin. By the late 1930s, the Russian population in Harbin had dropped. Many Jewish people also left Harbin during this time.

After World War II

The Soviet Army took control of Harbin in August 1945. In April 1946, they handed the city over to the Chinese People's Liberation Army. Harbin became the first large city governed by the communists. Many Russians who had opposed communism were sent back to the Soviet Union. By 1964, only a few hundred Russians remained in Harbin. Most other Europeans also left the city.

Harbin became an important industrial city in China during the 1950s. The Soviet Union helped with many construction projects. However, during the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s, many foreign and Christian things were destroyed. For example, a Russian Orthodox church was burned down. The city's economy also faced problems. Some factories and universities were moved away from Harbin for safety reasons.

Since 1979, after China's economic reforms, Harbin has grown a lot. The city hosts the China Harbin International Economic and Trade Fair every year. This fair brings in many businesses and visitors from around the world. Harbin also used to have a large Jewish community before World War II. In 2004, the former Prime Minister of Israel, Ehud Olmert, visited his grandfather's grave in Harbin's Jewish Cemetery.

In 1996, Harbin became a sub-provincial city. This meant it had more control over its own development. Harbin hosted the 1996 Asian Winter Games and the 2009 Winter Universiade, which are big international sports events.

Geography and Climate

Harbin's Location

Harbin is in the southern part of Heilongjiang province. It's located on the southeastern edge of the Songnen Plain. The city center is on the southern bank of the Songhua River. Harbin is called The pearl on the swan's neck because Heilongjiang province looks like a swan on a map.

The city's area is very large. It borders other cities like Yichun and Mudanjiang. Most of Harbin's land is flat and low, about 150 meters above sea level. The eastern parts have mountains and wetlands.

Harbin's Weather

Harbin has a humid continental climate. This means it has warm summers and very cold winters. Because it's so far north, winters are dry and freezing. The average temperature in January is about -17.3°C (1°F). It doesn't snow much in winter, and it's often sunny.

Spring and autumn are short. Summers can be hot, with an average July temperature of 23.7°C (74.7°F). Most of the rain falls in July and August. Harbin gets about 2,340 hours of sunshine each year. The average yearly temperature is 5.2°C (41.4°F). Temperatures have ranged from a very cold -42.6°C (-44.7°F) to a hot 39.2°C (102.6°F).

To help with climate change, Harbin uses "sponge city" ideas. For example, the Qunli stormwater park collects and filters rainwater. This helps protect nature.

City Divisions

Harbin is a large city with many parts. It has 9 city districts, 2 county-level cities, and 7 counties.

Map
Daoli Nangang Daowai Pingfang Songbei Xiangfang Hulan Acheng Shuangcheng Yilan County Fangzheng County Bin County Bayan County Mulan County Tonghe County Yanshou County Shangzhi (city) Wuchang (city)
Division code	Division	Area in km2	Population(2010)	Seat	Postal code	Subdivisions
						Subdistricts	Towns	Townships	Ethnic townships	Residential communities	Villages
230100	Harbin	53,523.5	10,635,971	Songbei	150000	131	107	62	12	850	1879
City proper
230102	Daoli	479.2	923,762	Fushun Subdistrict	150000	20	3			116	37
230103	Nangang	182.9	1,343,857	Dacheng Subdistrict	150000	18	1	1	1	169	20
230104	Daowai	618.6	906,421	Daxing Subdistrict	150000	22	4			114	38
230108	Pingfang	98.0	190,253	Youxie Subdistrict	150000	6	2			25	11
230109	Songbei	736.3	236,848	Songbei Subdistrict	150000	150000	7	2			33	48
230110	Xiangfang	339.5	916,408	Xiangfang Avenue Subdistrict	150000	20	4			117	46
Suburbs
230111	Hulan	2,185.9	764,534	Limin Subdistrict	150500	16	7	3		48	170
230112	Acheng	2,452.1	596,856	Jincheng Subdistrict	150300	12	7			76	108
230113	Shuangcheng	3,112.0	825,634	Xinxing Subdistrict	150100	10	6	11	5	18	246
Satellite cities
230183	Shangzhi Ct.	8,824.9	585,386	Shangzhi Town	150600		10	7	2	21	163
230184	Wuchang Ct.	7,502.0	881,224	Wuchang Town	150200		12	12	3	21	261
Rural
230123	Yilan Co.	4,616.0	388,319	Yilan Town	154800		6	3	1	12	132
230124	Fangzheng Co.	2,968.6	203,853	Fangzheng Town	150800		4	4		15	67
230125	Bin Co.	3,844.7	551,271	Binzhou Town	150400		12	5		5	143
230126	Bayan Co.	3,137.7	590,555	Bayan Town	151800		10	8		35	116
230127	Mulan Co.	3,600.0	277,685	Mulan Town	151900		6	2		7	86
230128	Tonghe Co.	5,675.5	210,650	Tonghe Town	150900		6	2		6	81
230129	Yanshou Co.	3,149.6	242,455	Yanshou Town	150700		5	4		12	106

Harbin's Economy

Harbin has the biggest economy in Heilongjiang province. In 2013, its total economic output was about 501 billion Chinese Yuan. This was an increase of almost 9% from the year before.

The rich soil in Harbin is great for growing food and crops used for textiles. This makes Harbin a key area for farming and agricultural businesses in China.

Harbin also has many different industries. These include light industry, textiles, medicine, food, aircraft, and cars. Big companies like Harbin Electric Company Limited and Harbin Aircraft Industry Group are based here. Harbin is a major producer of power equipment in China. Harbin Pharmaceutical Group is one of China's biggest drug makers.

Since 1990, the Harbin International Trade and Economic Fair has been held every year. This fair helps Harbin connect with businesses from over 80 countries. It brings in a lot of investment. In 2013, China and Russia agreed to rename it the "China-Russia EXPO".

In banking, Longjiang Bank and Harbin Bank are major banks in Northeast China. Harbin Bank is one of the top city banks in China. For shopping, Qiulin Group owns Harbin's largest department store.

Economic Development Zones

Harbin has special zones to help its economy grow:

• Harbin Economic & Technology Development Zone (HETDZ): This zone focuses on things like telecom equipment, chemicals, cars, electronics, and medical supplies.
• Harbin High and New Technological Development Zone: This area works on advanced technologies. These include optics, biology, medicine, and information technology.
• Harbin Pingfang Automobile Industrial Zone: This zone is mainly for making cars and car parts.
• Harbin Limin Economic Development Zone: This area focuses on trade, food processing, medical supplies, and logistics.
• Harbin Port: This is an important port for shipping goods.

These zones help Harbin be a leader in science and technology. Many big companies and research centers are located here.

Population and People

Harbin's Population Growth

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1934	500,526	—
1944	711,818	+42.2%
1953	1,162,962	+63.4%
1964	1,962,000	+68.7%
1982	2,542,832	+29.6%
1990	4,219,516	+65.9%
2000	9,413,359	+123.1%
2010	10,635,971	+13.0%
2020	10,009,854	−5.9%
Population size may be affected by changes on administrative divisions.

In 2020, Harbin's total population was about 10 million people. Most people (over 70%) live in the city areas.

Harbin has an older population compared to other parts of China. About 10% of people are under 14, and about 14% are over 65. There are slightly more males than females. The city has a lower birth rate than the average for China.

Different Ethnic Groups

Most people in Harbin are Han Chinese. There are also other ethnic groups living here. These include the Manchu, Hui, and Mongol people. There is also a small community of Russians.

Demographic Profile of the Harbin

Ethnicity	Han	Manchu	Korean	Hui	Mongol	Sibe	Duar	Uyghur	Zhuang	Tujia	Other
Population	9,550,738	296,221	91,706	29,435	18,707	3,418	2,763	2,317	2,124	1,939	10,486
%	95.41	2.96	0.92	0.29	0.19	0.03	0.03	0.02	0.02	0.02	0.10
% of ethnic minorities	–	64.52	19.97	6.41	4.07	0.74	0.60	0.50	0.46	0.42	2.28

Religions in Harbin

Harbin has different religious groups. There are Catholics, served by the Apostolic Administration of Harbin. There is also an Eastern Catholic church. The Daowai Mosque is the largest mosque in Heilongjiang province. Harbin also had a small Jewish community in the past.

Harbin's Culture

Harbin's local culture is a mix of Han, Manchu, and Russian cultures. This blend can be seen in the city's buildings, food, music, and customs. In 2010, Harbin was named a UNESCO City of Music.

Delicious Harbin Cuisine

Harbin is famous for its food. The local cuisine combines European and Northern Chinese dishes. These often use rich sauces and are deep-fried.

One very popular dish is Guo Bao Rou. This is a sweet and sour pork dish. It started in Harbin in the early 1900s. It's made with crispy, deep-fried pork pieces. These are coated in a sweet and sour sauce with honey and ginger.

Other famous dishes include Demoli Stewed Live Fish. This dish comes from a village called Demoli. Stewed Chicken with Mushrooms and Braised Pork with Vermicelli are also popular local foods.

Because of its Russian history, Harbin also has many Russian-style dishes. You can find authentic Russian restaurants, especially on Zhongyang Street.

A special local food is Harbin-style smoked savory red sausage. It tastes like mild sausages from Lithuania and Germany. This sausage became popular when many Europeans came to Harbin.

Another popular food is 大列巴 dà liě ba, a large round Russian-style bread. It's a sourdough bread with a sour and chewy taste. It has been sold in Harbin bakeries for over a hundred years.

Kvass, a Russian drink made from fermented bread, is also popular. And don't forget Madier ice cream on Zhongyang Street! It's a little salty but very sweet and creamy.

Harbin: A Tourist Hotspot

Harbin is a popular place to visit. It's known for its mix of foreign cultures and its amazing snow and ice. Summer is cool and pleasant, while winter turns the city into a magical ice kingdom.

Harbin has many European-style buildings. These include the famous Saint Sophia Cathedral and the buildings on Central Street. In winter, Harbin displays thousands of ice sculptures. It also offers many fun ice and snow activities.

Harbin hosts the world's biggest Ice and Snow Festival. It also has the world's largest indoor ski park. This park is inside the Wanda Harbin Mall. It has six ski slopes, some up to 500 meters long!

Winter Wonderland Culture

Harbin is in northern Northeast China. It's one of the coldest major cities in China. Winters are very cold, with average daily temperatures around -19.7°C (-3.5°F). Temperatures below -25°C (-13°F) are common. Because of this, Harbin is called the "Ice City." Every year from December to March, the city is decorated with beautiful ice and snow sculptures.

The annual Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival has been held since 1985. While ice sculptures are all over the city, there are two main areas. One is Sun Island, which has huge snow sculptures. The other is "Ice and Snow World." Here, full-size buildings are made from clear ice blocks taken from the Songhua River. These buildings are lit up at night. It takes 15,000 workers 16 days to create the sculptures.

Winter activities at the festival include skiing, snowmobiling, and winter swimming in the Songhua River. There's also a traditional ice-lantern exhibition in Zhaolin Garden. This festival is one of the four largest ice and snow festivals in the world. The others are in Japan, Canada, and Norway.

Harbin: The Music City

The Harbin Symphony Orchestra, started in 1908, is China's oldest. Harbin No.1 Music School, founded in 1928, was China's first music school. Many famous musicians have studied there.

Every year, young people in Harbin pursue their musical dreams. The "Harbin Summer Music Concert" shows off the locals' love for music. In 2010, UNESCO recognized Harbin as "The Music City."

Harbin Summer Music Concert

The Harbin Summer Music Concert is a big music festival. It happens every two years in August. It lasts for about 10 to 11 days. During the concert, there are many performances, competitions, and activities. Artists from all over the world come to perform.

The first official concert was held in 1961. In 2006, a concert with 1,001 pianos was held in Harbin. This set a new Guinness World Record for the largest piano ensemble!

Media in Harbin

• Heilongjiang Television (HLJTV) broadcasts on seven channels. It also has a satellite channel for other provinces.
• Harbin Television ^[zh] (HRBTV) is the city's station. It has five channels for different programs.
• Long Guang, or Dragon Broadcast, is a radio station group. It serves the whole Heilongjiang region with seven channels, including one in Korean.
• Harbin People's Broadcasting Station ^[zh] (HPBS) broadcasts news, music, and information about Harbin.

Harbin's Architecture

Harbin is famous for its unique mix of Chinese and European building styles. Many Russian and other European buildings are protected. This is why Harbin is called "Oriental Moscow" and "Oriental Paris."

Historic Buildings

Central Street is a main shopping street. It shows how busy Harbin was with international trade long ago. This 1.4 km long street is like a museum of European architecture. You can see Baroque and Byzantine styles, along with Russian bakeries and French fashion houses.

The Russian Orthodox church, Saint Sophia Cathedral, is in the central Daoli district. It was built in 1907 and expanded later. It was closed for a while but became a museum in 1997. This 53.35-meter-tall church is a great example of Byzantine architecture.

Many citizens built a Chinese Buddhist monastery, the Ji Le Temple, in 1921. Before 1949, Harbin had over 15 Russian Orthodox churches. Many were later destroyed or abandoned. Today, about 10 churches remain, but only one still holds regular services.

Modern Buildings

The Harbin Grand Theatre is a famous modern building in Harbin. It's located in the Songbei District. The building's design looks like it fits right into the surrounding wetlands and waterways of the Songhua River.

The Grand Theatre is a landmark. It offers different spaces for visitors to enjoy the theater, the landscape, and the views. Architect Ma Yansong designed special viewing platforms. From here, visitors can see the beautiful natural wetlands of Harbin. The theater hosts operas, symphonies, ballets, and plays.

Sports in Harbin

Harbin is a big center for winter sports in China. It has hosted the 1996 Winter Asian Games and the 2009 Winter Universiade. Many famous winter sports athletes come from Harbin. These include Olympic medalists in short track speed skating, long track speed skating, and figure skating.

Harbin has an indoor speed skating arena called the Heilongjiang Indoor Rink. It opened in 1995.

Harbin is also becoming a center for bandy, a sport similar to ice hockey. The national team is based in Harbin. The city hosted part of the 2018 Bandy World Championship.

Heilongjiang Ice City Football Club plays its home soccer matches at the Harbin International Conference Exhibition and Sports Center. This stadium can hold 50,000 people.

KRS Heilongjiang is a professional ice hockey team in Harbin. They play in a Russian-based league.

An indoor ski resort opened in Harbin in 2017. It's said to be the largest of its kind in the world. This means people can enjoy downhill skiing all year round!

Major Events in Harbin

Harbin hosted the 1996 Asian Winter Games. The ice events were in Harbin, and skiing events were at the Yabuli ski resort. Harbin also hosted the 2009 Winter Universiade. The local government spent a lot of money to build and improve sports facilities for this event.

In 2003, Harbin hosted the Asian Basketball Confederation Championship. China's men's national basketball team won the championship at home.

Harbin tried to host the 2010 Winter Olympics, but Vancouver, Canada, was chosen instead.

In December 2017, Harbin held the second China-Russia University Winter Sports Carnival. This was the first international bandy event in Harbin.

Transportation in Harbin

Trains and Railways

Harbin is a very important railway hub in Northeast China. It has many train lines connecting it to other major cities. Five main lines go from Harbin to places like Beijing, Suifenhe, and Manzhouli.

Harbin also has high-speed rail lines. One connects Harbin to Dalian, a seaport in the south. In 2012, China opened its first high-speed rail line that can run in extremely cold winter temperatures. This line uses special CRH380B bullet trains.

Other high-speed lines connect Harbin to Qiqihar, Jiamusi, and Mudanjiang.

The city has several main train stations:

• The Harbin Railway Station: First built in 1899, it's currently being rebuilt.
• The Harbin East Railway Station: Opened in 1934.
• The Harbin West Railway Station: Built in 2012 for high-speed trains.
• The Harbin North Railway Station: Opened in 2015.

You can take direct passenger trains from Harbin to many big cities across China. High-speed train service to Shanghai started in 2013, making the trip much faster.

• Harbin railway system
• 

  North terminal of Harbin Railway Station

• 

  Harbin West Railway Station

• 

  Harbin East Railway Station

• 

  Harbin South Railway Station

• 

  A CRH High-Speed train enters Harbin West railway station.

Roads and Highways

Harbin has a modern highway system. Major highways that go through or end in Harbin include:

• G1 Beijing–Harbin Expressway
• G10 Suifenhe–Manzhouli Expressway
• G1001 Harbin Ring Expressway
• G1011 Harbin–Tongjiang Expressway
• G1111 Hegang–Harbin Expressway
• G1211 Jilin–Heihe Expressway
• China National Highway 102
• China National Highway 202
• China National Highway 221
• China National Highway 222
• 

  Edmonton Rd at Kang'an Rd, Harbin 2024
  China National Highway 301

Air Travel

Harbin Taiping International Airport is about 35 km from the city. It's the second largest international airport in Northeast China. It can handle all kinds of large and medium-sized planes. There are flights to over thirty major cities in China. There are also international flights to Russia, Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea.

A new T2 Terminal was built to handle more cargo and passengers. Harbin is also planning a T3 terminal shaped like a snowflake. This will represent Harbin as the "Ice City."

Metro System

Construction of the Harbin Metro started in 2006. The first part of Line 1 opened in 2013. It runs from the Harbin East Railway Station to the 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University. Much of this line uses old air defense tunnels.

Lines 2 and 3 are currently being built. Line 3 opened its first section in 2017. In the future, Harbin plans to have nine metro lines and a circle line. This will cover about 340 km by 2025.

Ports and Waterways

Heilongjiang province has over 1,900 rivers, including the Songhua River. This makes water travel easy. Harbin harbor is one of China's largest inland ports. From mid-April to early November, passenger ships sail from Harbin. They go up the Songhua River to Qiqihar or downstream to Jiamusi and even to Khabarovsk in Russia.

Education and Research

Harbin is one of the top cities in the world for scientific research. It's also a great place for international students.

Since China was founded, Harbin has been an important military industrial base. It has many key universities that focus on science and technology for military and aerospace industries. Soviet experts helped a lot with education during this time.

Harbin has many major universities in Northeast China. These include:

• Harbin Institute of Technology
• Harbin Engineering University
• Harbin Medical University
• Northeast Agricultural University
• Harbin University of Science and Technology
• Harbin Normal University
• Northeast Forestry University
• Heilongjiang University

Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) is especially famous. It's consistently ranked as one of the best engineering universities globally. HIT was founded in 1920 with support from Russians. It's known for its work in space science and defense technologies. Its students and faculty have invented China's first analog computer and the first arc-welding robot.

Military Presence

Harbin is the headquarters of the 78th Group Army of the People's Liberation Army. This army is one of three groups that protect China's northeastern borders with Russia, Mongolia, and North Korea.

International Connections

Harbin has "sister city" relationships with about 30 places around the world. It also has connections with other cities in China. You can find a list at List of twin towns and sister cities in China → H.

In 2009, Harbin opened an International Sister Cities museum. It has over 1,000 items from its sister cities.

In 2015, China and Russia agreed to reopen the Russian consulate in Harbin. The old Soviet consulate had closed in 1962. China will also open a consulate in Vladivostok, Russia.

Famous People from Harbin

Many notable people come from Harbin:

• Fu Tiegang (born 1953), a former Chinese politician.
• He Xin (born 1996), a Chinese ice hockey player.
• Jia Nailiang (born 1984), a Chinese actor.
• Li Haitao (politician) (born 1963), a former Chinese politician.
• Lin Hu (born 1927), a Russian-Chinese aviator and general.
• Liu He (born 1961), a talented Chinese engineer.
• Simu Liu (born 1989), a Chinese-Canadian actor.
• NingNing (born 2002), a Chinese singer in the K-pop group Aespa.
• Qiao Jie (born 1964), a Chinese doctor and biologist.
• Song Jia (born 1980), a Chinese actress and singer.
• Song Xibin (born 1963), a former Chinese politician.
• Xu Dongdong (born 1990), a Chinese actress, singer, and model.
• Zhang Xiyan (born 1980), a Chinese female boxer.

Images for kids

• 

  Harbin and nearby areas from space, 2010.

• 

  Map of Harbin's administrative divisions.

• 

  Office Buildings around Harbin ICE Center.

• 

  Huang Shan Jewish Cemetery of Harbin.

• 

  People from different backgrounds on Kitaiskaia Street.

• 

  Russian Fascist Party members at Harbin Railway Station, 1934.

• 

  Hexing Road, part of Harbin's 2nd ring road.

• 

  Edmonton Road in Harbin, 2024.

See also

In Spanish: Harbin para niños