Harbin ( ; Russian Харби́н Kharbin) is a sub-provincial city and the capital of the Heilongjiang Province in Northeast China. It lies on the southern bank of the Songhua River. Harbin is ranked as the tenth largest city in China, serving as a key political, economic, scientific, cultural and communications center of Northeastern China.

Harbin is originally a Manchu word meaning "a place for drying fishing nets". Harbin bears the nicknames "The Pearl on the swan's neck" because the shape of Heilongjiang resembles a swan, and "Oriental Moscow" or "Oriental Paris" for the architecture in the city. Harbin is also known as "Ice City" for its long and cold winter. This city is most famous for its beautiful display of ice sculptures in the winter.

Subdivisions

• Daoli District (lang: 道里区)
• Nangang District (lang: 南岗区)
• Xiangfang District (lang: 香坊区)
• Daowai District (lang: 道外区)
• Pingfang District (lang: 平房区)
• Songbei District (lang: 松北区)
• Hulan District (lang: 呼兰区)
• Acheng District (lang: 阿城区)

3 county-level cities:

• Shangzhi City (lang: 尚志市)
• Shuangcheng City (lang: 双城市)
• Wuchang City (lang: 五常市)

7 counties:

• Fangzheng County (lang: 方正县)
• Bin County (lang: 宾县)
• Yilan County (lang: 依兰县)
• Bayan County (lang: 巴彦县)
• Tonghe County (lang: 通河县)
• Mulan County (lang: 木兰县)
• Yanshu County (lang: 延寿县)

Economy

Industrial zones

• Harbin Development Zone
• Harbin Economic and Technological Development Zone
• Harbin High and New Technological Development Zone

• Daqing High-tech Industrial Development Zone

History

Human settlement in the Harbin area dates from at least 2200 BC (late Stone Age). It was formerly called Pinkiang.

The modern city of Harbin originated in 1898 from a small village, with the start of the construction of the Chinese Eastern Railway (KVZhD) by Russia, an extension of the Trans-Siberian Railway, shortcutting substantially the distance to Vladivostok and creating a link to the port city of Dalny (Dalian) and the Russian Naval Base Port Arthur.

Following the Russian defeat in the Russo-Japanese War (1904-5), Russia's influence declined, and several thousand nationals from 33 countries including the United States, Germany, and France moved to Harbin. Sixteen countries established consulates and set up several hundred industrial, commercial and banking companies in Harbin. The Chinese also established their own businesses in brewing, food and the textile industry. Harbin had established its status as the center of northeastern China and as an international metropolis.