Colorful history

Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang province, has a population of 9.47 million and covers 18,000 sq km. Its urban area is 1,637 sq km with urban population of 3.9 million.

Located in eastern Songnen plain, it is a rolling land crossed by the Songhua River with low hills and shallow valleys. It has a semi-humid climate with an annual average temperature of 3.5 C, rainfall of 530 mm and a frost-free period of 140 days. Its average summer temperature is 18 C and minus 12 C in winter.

Harbin's industrial mainstay is manufacturing machinery. Foodstuffs, petroleum, chemicals and textiles are also key to its economy, while the output value of its pharmaceutical industry ranks first in China. Its main agricultural products are wheat, soybeans, beet, flax, tobacco and poultry. It is among China's major beet growing areas.