Harbin (Chinese: 哈尔滨) is the capital and largest city of Heilongjiang Province in Northeast China, as well as the tenth
most populated city in the People's Republic of China. According to the 2010 China census data, the city's municipal
area has 5,878,939 inhabitants, while the total population of the sub-provincial city is 10,635,971. Harbin serves as a
key political, economic, scientific, culturals and communications hub in Northeast China.
Harbin is originally a Manchu word meaning "a place for drying fishing nets". It is known for its bitterly cold winters and
is often called the "Ice City". Lying on the southern bank of the Songhua River, Harbin is well known for its beautiful ice
sculptures in winter and its Russian legacy, and still plays an important part in Sino-Russian trade today. In the1920s,
the city was considered China's fashion capital as new designs from Paris and Moscow reached there first before
arriving in Shanghai.
Harbin Facts
Heilongjiang Province, the most northeast part of China, when viewed on a map has the shape of a swan. Its capital city
is Harbin, which is located south of Heilongjiang. Not only for its special position, but also as the center of Heilongjiang's
political, economic, educational and cultural life, Harbin is described as the pearl beneath the swan's neck.
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Galloping Economy
But apart from its scenic appeal, Harbin is also one of the important industrial centers in China. Its strategic industries –
the automotive sector, electronics and information technology, the electro-mechanical sector and foodstuffs and pharma-
ceuticals – have lifted Harbin to number 22 on the list of industrial cities in terms of the value of output and production,
reaching 209.4 billion RMB in 2010, an increase of 13.5% over the previous year.
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Tourism Destination
St. Sophia Church is one of the most easily recognizable landmarks in China. It is the largest Eastern Orthodox Church
in Asia, standing 53.3 meters (175 feet) high, and is said to be so beautiful it is "as if it had been made by God's hands".
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