Harbin

Population:	9.63million
Geography:	located between 4545' north latitude and 12638' east longitude; at the southwest of Heilongjiang province; at the bank of the Songhuajiang River; in Southern Songnen Plain
Neighboring Areas:	Jilin province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
Physical Features:	low and plain, with average altitude of 150 to 200 meters

Geography:Nationalities: Han, Hui, Manchu, Korean, Dawoer, Elungchu, Hezhe, Keerkezi, Elunchun and Mongolian Climate:Climatic Features: located in the temperate zone; continental climate; long winters and short summers Average Temperature: 4C annuallyRainfall: annually average precipitation of 600mm; concentrated on June, July and August Nature:Mountains: Mt. Erlongshan, Mt. Songfengshan, Mt. Daqingshan, Mt. Xiaoxing'anling and Mt.Yilehulishan Rivers: Songhuajiang River, Arshihe River, Majiagouhe River, the Mudanjiang River, Mayihe River, Wokenghe River, Tong River and kenhe River

Local Highlights: ginseng, edible fungus, mushroom, sculpture of ice and snow

History:the cradle of the Jin and Qing dynasty; used to be a international commercial city early in the 20th century Harbin Tourism:Songhua River Known as Huentong River in ancient times, it rises from the Tianchi Lake atop the Baitou Mountain. The water rolls down the mountain as if it fell from the heaven, hence also known as Tianhe River (River from Heaven).

Taiyang Island Facing the busy urban area across the river, this famous scenic and resting spot is a sand bar embraced by lapping waters, edged by willow-lined embankments. Here leafy trees shade into different greens, flowers show off various colors, fragrant scents permeate the fresh air over undulating sand dunes that alternate with carpet-like lawns and flower beds. Zhaolin Park

Originally named Daoli Park, it covers 7 hectares at the northern end of Zhaolin Dajie in Daoli District. It was renamed on August 15,1946 after a national hero in the Anti-Japanese War General Li Zhaolin, who was buried in the park after his assassination by the Kuomintang reactionaries.

Harbin Zoo The Harbin Zoo is one of the large-scale zoological gardens in Northeast China. It occupies 42 hectares on the west skirt of the city, and has on display over 2,800 animals of some 150 species, most of which are rare local species, such as Northeast china tiger, redcrowned crane, sika, moose, reindeer, sable, black bear and swan.

Attractive points

Shandong province has a long, rich history (before the First Empire it was the state of Qi; it was also the birthplace of Confucius,) but Qingdao, with a population of 6.6 million, is almost a century old and surprisingly European. A picturesque city surrounded on three sides by the Yellow Sea, it was a German possession for 16 years after 1898, and still features startling examples of Bavarian style architecture, particularly the railway station, the twin-spired Catholic Church and the former German Governor's residence. Another colonial legacy is the famous brewery, which produces beer labelled with the city's former name, Tsingtao. Qingdao's visitor attractions include six sandy beaches and some excellent museums. The weather is generally mild with four distinct seasons, the most pleasant being spring and autumn.