Harbin is the capital city of Heilongjiang province in northeastern China. It stands as the largest city within the province and holds the distinction of having the largest metropolitan population in Northeast China. According to the 2020 census, it ranks as the eighth most populous city in the country.
The city serves as a primary political, economic, scientific, cultural, and communications hub for the region, while also functioning as a significant industrial base for the nation. Harbin maintains direct jurisdiction over nine metropolitan districts, two county-level cities, and seven counties. The total metropolitan population of the area reaches up to 10,009,854 inhabitants.