Harbin information

For other meanings of "Harbin", see Harbin (disambiguation). (哈尔滨; 哈爾濱; Hāěrbīn; Ha-erh-pin; Russian 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.'
City seat: Daoli District
Population: 9.54 million, of them 4.64 million in the urban area of the cityhttp://www.harbin.gov.cn/english/harbinoverview/nationalitiesandpopulation-index.htm
Area: 53775 km², 7086 km² urban
Geographic coordinates: 125°42′-130°10′ east, 44°04′-46°40′ N
GDP: ¥209.4 billion (ca. US$26.5 billion) in 2006
Competitive Ability: Ranked no. 10 in <2004 Chinese City Competitive Ability Reports>
Mayor: Zhang Xiaolian (张效廉): since February, 2007
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. (...) more....

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