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Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang Province in northeast of China, is located in the middle reaches of the Songhuajiang River in the south of the province, which borders Russia in the north. The urban area is composed of seven districts. The whole city covers 1,637 square kilometers, with a population of 3.2 million.
Unlike most provincial capitals in China, Harbin has a very short history. It used to be a fishing village, and its name, in Manchu dialect, means drying fishnets. And it was incorporated as a town in 1898. Since the founding of the People's Republic in 1949, it has rapidly evolved into an industrial city.
The Songhuajiang River flows through the city from west to east, providing an ideal place for summer swimming together with its Sun Island Park. The island is in the Songhuajiang River and contains many sanatoriums, pavilions, villas and kiosks surrounded by trees and flower beds. Winter is cold and long, usually lasting seven months from October to April. The long winter make up the famous art of ice sculpture. You can see the Russian influence on this city from the Church of St. Sophia. For those are interested in history, the Japanese Germ Warfare Base Museum will provide you with some details of the brutality of Japanese army in the 2nd World War. Other major attractions include Stalin Park, Yabuli International Ski Resort, Manchurian Tiger Park and Harbin Zoo.
With several highways and railways converging at Harbin, the city is an important transportation hub in northeastern China.
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