Harbin History

As far back as the end of the Paleolithic Age, there were people living on this fertile spot. Harbin was the site of the earliest ancient civilization in the region, when the Shang dynasty reigned there. This period coincides with the Bronze Age.

In 1115, Nuchen made Harbin the capital of Jin dynasty. In 1636, the reign of the Ming passed into the hands of the Qing dynasty and Harbin continued its illustrious run as capital.

At the end of 1800s, the local economic factors such as increasing population, better transportation, and expanding trade successfully laid the foundations of the city’s modern development. From 1896 to 1903, the Zhongdong Railway was constructed by China and Tsarist Russia. This development helped to increase the population and, thus, drew more business to the city. Harbin began to develop into a modern city, a process which was aided in the 1900s when it became an international commercial port.

In 1923, Harbin established the first Chinese Communist Party organization in Northeastern China. The city became the command centre for local people’s revolutionary struggles and their fights against the Japanese. In 1945, the city was liberated from the puppet regime supported by Japan.

After the establishment of New China, Harbin entered a period of economic recovery and changed into a new industrial city. With the permission of the State Council, Harbin together with the Huai Songhuajiang area formed the New Harbin City in 1996.