HARBIN, the chief city of Central Manchuria. It lies on the right bank of the Sungari river in the province of Kirin in 45° 3o' N. lat. and 126° 4o' E. long., 220 miles N.N.E. of Moukden and 25o miles W.N.W. of Vladivostok, with both of which towns it is connected by railway. The growth of the town has been phenomenal. In 1898 Harbin was only a local wheat market. To-day it is a populous industrial city and a centre of keen inter national rivalry. It is the second largest town in Manchuria with a population of about highly composite in character. The largest single element is the 194,000 Chinese, mainly in the Fu-Chia-tien suburb, whilst Russians preponderate amongst the remainder. The city has three distinct sections : the Pristan (or "wharf"), the main business quarter, New Harbin (on the plateau behind the "wharf" district), the administrative quarter, and Old Harbin, now the foreign residential quarter. Harbin is the creation of the Chinese Eastern railway, being administered by a mixed council appointed by the railway and occupying 1,400 acres of the 29,00o acres leased to the company. The surrounding plain, composed mainly of fertile black loam and some yellow clays, is very suitable for the growth of wheat, maize, corn and that very adaptable plant, the soya bean. Harbin is also well situated in relation to markets. By the Chinese Eastern Railway, both the eastern and western frontiers can be reached in five hours, whilst it is only a journey of eight hours to Changchun where connection is made with the South Manchuria Railway leading to Monkden, Dairen and Korea. The Sungari river is navigable during the mon' hs from April to October, but only bulky produce such as timber favours this route. The rapid increase recorded in motor vehicles throughout Harbin, is in itself most significant and provides a welcome relief to the existing pressure on the railway facilities.
Harbin is the focus of movements influencing Manchuria and on the economic side this role is evidenced by the diversified character of its industries. The main industries have an agricul tural basis, such as flour milling, soya bean factories, distilleries, leather, etc. In 1926 there were more than 6o factories manufac turing soya bean products (flour, cake, oil) and in the same year there were 17 wheat flour factories and 7 large firms making alcoholic liquors. In these enterprises the Chinese are now the largest investors, although there is much Russian and Japanese capital involved. To cope with the demands of these firms and numerous other concerns, there are six electric light and power companies. Harbin exports bean products, wheat and wheat flour, soap, dyes, leather products and tobacco. The outlets of Harbin are Vladivostok and Dairen via Changchun. Harbin's exports show an increasing tendency to go along the Suifenho-Vladivostok route, despite the efforts of the (Japanese) South Manchuria railway. The imports of the Harbin district are, however, mainly of Japanese origin, comprising textile goods, tobacco, sugar, cut lery and hardware. The total trade of Harbin district accord ing to the statistics for 1926 was 78,891,478 Hk. Tls. of which 60,698,431 Hk. Tls. were exports and 15,826,851 Hk. Tls. were foreign imports.