Oriental Moscow

Often referred to as the“Oriental Moscow”or“Oriental Paris”for its mix of Western and Chinese cultures，Harbin is one of the major cities in Northeast China.Located on the banks of the Songhua River，Harbin is the capital of Heilongjiang Province as well as the biggest city in Northeast China.The city is famous for its moderate weather in summer and its wonderland of ice and snow in winter.Since the founding of the new China，the city has undergone great change and recorded impressive achievements.Having grown up alongside the far-east railway，built here in 1898，Harbin has become a famous historical city as well as being the cradle of Chinese Jin Dynasty（1115-1234）Culture.In the early 20th century，it became as important international business port and distribution centrfor Northeast Asia.Encompassing 53775 square kilometres with a population of 9.27 million，Harbin is one of the most important industrial cities in China and is th country’s largest capital city in terms of area.It is a front-runner industries such as automobile manufacturing，food production，medicine，mechanics an electrical equipment manufacturing.Lying in the hinterland of the Songhua River（1840 kilometres long），with a drainage area of 545600 square kilometres）and theNen River Plains，the city has more than 13.3 million hectares of arable land and has the largest grain provisions in China.Harbin also has an advanced transportation network including five railways and seven main highways that pass through the city.The city contains buildings in European-styles and attracts tourists every year for its ice and snow，forest，Jin-dynasty attractions and traditional customs.In 1998，the city was honoured as one of the best tourist cities in China.The city boasts 24 higher education institutes and more than 400research institutes.The city has so far built trade relations with more than 100 countries and cultivated ties with 11 cities in 9 countries.

Natural Resource

Harbin，with its long history，and the cradle of Jin and Qing Dynasties and the settlement of multi-nationalities.Situated in the belt within 44°04’N to 46°40’N and 120°42’E to 130°10’E，the city is located in the temperate zone with a character of continental climate.The Songhua River，like a shining pearl string，winds through the domain of this distinctive，celebrated city in the northeast China.The well-webbed branches of the river affords a luxuriant vegetation.The black soil here is promisingly fertile and the forest is a symbol of treasury.The Song（Songhua River）Nen（Nen River）Plain well deserves its position as one of the national bases of grains，timber，oil and coal production.Harbin has an area of 53200 square kilometers.Agriculture is famous for top quality rice，soy bean，and corn.Apart from Korean pine，larch and white birth，more than 40 rare animals like Sibera Tiger and bear，and other beasts and birds are in the forest.In the Mountain，there grow some wild economic plants such as ginseng，live in the black edible fungus and mushrooms.There are dozens of mineral deposits such as copper，iron and coal underground.

Nationalities and Population

Harbin has a population of 9.4623 million people，3.2986 million of whom are urban residents.The thriving civilization has been the fruits of common efforts made by the people of more than 40 ethnic groups，including the Han，the Korean，the Manchurian，the Hui，the Tibetan，the Ewen，the Oroken，the Miao，the Zhuang，the Daur，The Xibe，the Hezhe，the Russian，the Tujia，and the Uygur.

Administrative Division

Harbin has 7 districts and 12 counties（cities）.Urban districts include Daolidistrict，DaoWai district，NanGang district，XiangFang district，DongLi district，TaiPing district，PingFang district.The counties（cities）include Wuchang city，Shuangcheng city，Acheng city，Shangzhi city，Bayan county，Hulan county，Bin county，Yilan county，Yanshou county，Mulan county，Tonghe county，and Fangzheng county.

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