Harbin, located in the northeast of China, in the southwest of Heilongjiang Province, is the capital of Heilongjiang Province, a sub-provincial city in China. It is the centre of politics, economy and culture in Northeast China. Harbin is also a megapolis holding the leading position in terms of number of lands under jurisdiction of China. Harbin is the third city in registered population among the provincial cities in China. Interestingly, that Cossacks from Kuban were among founders of Harbin. From the 1920's to the 1930's Cossacks emigrated to the Chinese city of Harbin and formed Cossack villages. Its special historical course and geographical location have created the exotic beautiful city of Harbin, which has not only brought together the history and culture of northern ethnic minorities but also integrated Chinese and foreign cultures.
The whole city covers an area of 53,100m2 (including the urban area of 10,198 m2).
The population of Harbin is 6 387 195 (2020). (https://worldpopulationreview.com/world-cities/harbin-population/)
45 ethnic minorities live in Harbin, bringing a variety of religious cultures together and making it the only city in China where Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, Catholicism, Islam and Orthodox Christianity coexist.
Official website: http://www.harbin.gov.cn/col/col16587/index.html
Economy
Harbin is a large economic centre. It took the 23rd position among Chinese cities in terms of GDP (610 billion yuan) in 2016. Harbin depends on heavy machinery and processing industries, i.e. old industries, so it is included in China's so-called “Rust Belt”. Recently, trade, tourism, production of composite materials and pharmaceuticals have become new impulses of growth.
Harbin has a well-developed industry. Harbin Aircraft Industry Group, located in the city, is China's major manufacturer of helicopters and light aircrafts (except drones). Harbin is one of the leaders in creating energy equipment in China, including turbines for power stations and wind generators.
The automotive industry is represented by the brands: "FAW", “Ford " and "Hafei".
Several companies are engaged in the production of composite materials: "HIT composite equipment"," Harbin Topfrp Composite"," Harbin Hafei Airbus Composite Manufacturing Centre" (for Airbuses).
Machinery, including agricultural industry, production of equipment for oil and chemical industries, shipbuilding (river), instrumentation, machine tool construction, wagon construction, production of ball bearings are well developed. Also, chemical, textile, leather, food production (sugar, butter, flour, canning), woodworking, paper industry, production of building supplies.
There is a brewery In Harbin that produces the brand of beer of the same name. In terms of production volume, it ranks fourth in China.
Harbin International Economic and Trade Fair (HTF) is one of the largest trade and economic fairs in China, supported by the Chinese government. The fair is held annually since 1990 June (June 15). Representatives from more than 50 countries and regions participate in the fair. Currently, Harbin International Economic and Trade Fair ranks first among all exhibition events for trade with Russia. Heilongjiang province has become a successful bridge for economic cooperation between Russia and China, and also with other foreign countries.
Transport
Harbin is an important transport hub of Northeast China. The city is connected with other cities of China by road and railway network. There are the airport and river ports in Harbin. The cableway runs across the Songhua River from Harbin to Sun Island. There is a Harbin Taiping International Airport to the west of the city. International flights are carried out to cities of Russia (from Yekaterinburg to Vladivostok), to South Korea, Japan, Singapore and other countries. Domestic flights are carried out to big cities of China and small airports of Heilongjiang.
Harbin is crossed by Chinese Eastern Railway. Other important railways lead to Heihe and Jiamusi. Recently there has been a construction boom of high-speed lines in the city.
Harbin Metro was opened on September 26, 2013.
Public transport is presented by buses and taxis. A new autonomous trackless tram ART (Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit) without rails is being tested.
Science and technology
Harbin has a significant technical and scientific potential. There are about 33 educational institutions in Harbin including colleges, higher education universities, technical and scientific organizations in which over 390 000 researchers are working.
The Cartographic Society of China is located in Harbin. One of its main tasks is promotion and expansion of geographical knowledge in China and all over the world.
Harbin Institute of Technology and Harbin FRP Research Institute produce spacecrafts, composite materials for aerospace industry and other manufacturing industries.
Local company «Anti Labs» developed a new anti-virus AVL SDK that became one of the best anti-viruses for Android.
In addition, Harbin scientists together with colleagues from the U.S. are researching medical nanorobots.
Many foreigners, primarily from Australia, USA, Japan, South Korea, Germany, Swiss and Russia are studying in Harbin (mainly students from Yakutia and Primorsky Territory).
Harbin Institute of Technology http://www.hit.edu.cn/
Harbin Engineering University http://www.hrbeu.edu.cn/
Northeast Forestry University http://en.nefu.edu.cn/
Heilongjiang University http://hlju.edu.cn/
Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences http://www.haas.cn/
Northeast Agricultural University http://www.neau.edu.cn/english/
Harbin Medical University http://website.hrbmu.edu.cn/English/index.html
Harbin Normal University http://english.hrbeu.edu.cn/
Harbin University of Science and Technology http://www.en.hrbust.cn
Sport
Winter swimming is a sport activity with rich cultural characteristics in Harbin, demonstrating the strong will of Harbin people. In winter, the outdoor temperature falls to -10°C, or even more than -20°C! Winter swimming enthusiasts break the ice on the Songhua River to open up ice swimming pools.
The annual Harbin International Marathon meets 30 000 participants each year. Not only sportsmen but sport lovers take part in running.
Tourism and entertainments
Harbin is a famous historical, cultural and tourist city in China, also known as “the Ice City”, “Oriental Moscow” and “Oriental Paris”. Tourism is a booming branch of the local economy. For example, in a few years the Harbin Grand Theatre, the Volga Manor, the Harbin Wanda Indoor Ski Resort and a new Aqua Park Marine Palace & Kingdom of Poseidon have been constructed. Yabuli ski resort is located on the territory of the city district. Also you can visit the Sun Island on the banks of the Songhua river, The Sun Island Snow and Ice Art Museum, the Harbin-Niigata friendship Park, the Deer Park and Squirrel island, the Harbin Polarland, the Dragon tower (TV tower and weather centre), and the Siberian Tiger Park.
Harbin is the centre of winter tourism of the country. The most recognizable tourist brand of the city is an annual winter festival the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival. This festival is not only a grandiose show but a place of meeting of creative people from all over the world. Every year sculpture teams from the USA, Canada, Japan, Russia, Singapore and other countries visit the festival. Visitors can see more than 2000 ice compositions. To create them the sculptors use more than 150000m3 of ice and snow. The best works are presented at three sites: The Sun Island, the Park “World of Ice and Snow”, the Zhaolin Park.
Architecture
On the one hand, the architecture of Harbin reflects the world tendencies, on the other hand, it keeps historical traditions.
The layout of the city is rectangular. Russian architecture of the early XX century and Japanese buildings of the 1920s-1940s predominate in the centre of Harbin. Saint Sophia Cathedral and the Church of the Intercession and Soviet Martyrs Monument are located in the city.
Recently, the city has been actively built up with multi-storey building apartment houses (from 30 to 50 storeys high). Harbin is one of the few big cities of China where no skyscrapers of 300 meters and higher are built or being built.
At the beginning of the 21st century, Chinese cities became big construction sites. The most ambitious projects are being implemented here. Construction of large objects that differ in bright stylistic features and imaginative solutions is of interest. Harbin has seen the growth and popularity of Chinese engineering firms. Currently, the rating of the MAD Architects workshop has increased dramatically. It has implemented two projects: "China Wood Sculpture Museum" and "Harbin Grand Theatre" in the Sun Island.
In 2014, the Harbin Planning Exhibition Hall was opened. The building has one facade facing Harbin municipal government, while the other looks at the city embankment. The interiors of the Hall are neutral. This is due to the fact that the designers tried to pay attention to a unique exhibition – a model of the multi-million city, 3D models of historical buildings, etc. The location and size of the halls and unique exposition emphasize that the development of the city has not stopped, and many plans and ideas will be implemented in the nearest future.
Folk customs
In the 1920s and 1930s, Harbin had many foreigners, most of whom were from Russia. Due to the influence of the folk customs of non-local people and foreigners, Harbin people have formed a diverse dietary culture dominated by Northeastern local dishes, Shandong cuisine and Beijing cuisine. Russian food, mainly Sourdough bread (a kind of big bread), smoked sausage and borscht have also become canteen meals of the ordinary people. Due to the influence of the folk customs of ethnic minorities, Harbin people also like to eat sticky rice pancakes, bean bread, corn pancakes, coarse corn porridge and rice.
Beer: Harbin people like beer and many people regard beer as an ordinary drink. Harbin has the earliest breweries in China, ranking first in per capita beer consumption in the country.
Yangge Dance: It is a traditional folk group dance for entertainment and people doing the Yangge dance can be seen in the streets of Harbin throughout the years. During the Lantern Festival, Yangge dance competitions are held in all districts and counties (prefectures).
Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival in Harbin is the annual international festival of ice and snow held since 1963. The festival was interrupted for some time, for example, it happened during the Cultural Revolution, then it started again in 1985. Officially, the festival starts on 5 January and lasts one month.
International relations
Harbin is the city opened to the whole world. Trade and economic ties with more than 100 cities and regions and partnership relations with more than 20 countries have been established. Harbin has 7 city partners in Russia: Sverdlovsk Territory, Khabarovsk, Krasnoyarsk, Yakutsk, Krasnodar, Chelyabinsk and Murmansk.