Tourists have fun at an indoor ice-and-snow theme park within Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 27, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)
HARBIN, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Harbin is often described by its residents as a city that emerged in tandem with the railway. Iconic buildings such as the St. Sophia Cathedral stand as evidence of European migration, trade and culture that dated back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries after the construction of the Chinese Eastern Railway in 1898. Records show Harbin was once home to people from over 30 countries.
The city, with over 9 million residents, now boasts 16 different architectural styles -- Byzantine, neo-classical, art deco, baroque -- and its number of historical buildings accounts for over 1,000.
Harbin, like many Chinese metropolises, has seen significant cultural development in recent years, which reflects the city's growth and increasing global outreach. Such development has further shaped the city's identity and enriched the lives of residents.
People visit the building of a pharmaceutical company in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei)An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 9, 2024 shows people visiting the Central Street in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 26, 2022 shows a view of Harbin Grand Theatre in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 17, 2024 shows the buildings of a pharmaceutical company in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei)An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 26, 2025 shows a night view of a Songhua River bridge in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. (Xinhua/Wang Song)People have fun by the Songhua River in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, April 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei)People in costumes pose for photos at the Central Street in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, June 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)People visit a historical and cultural district in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, June 7, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)People visit the Central Street in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, June 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)People visit the St. Sophia Cathedral in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei)People leave a historical building in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, June 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)People visit a historical and cultural district in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, June 7, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)■
