Harbin

Harbin is a sub-provincial city and the capital of the Heilongjiang Province in Northeast China. It lies on the southern bank of the Songhua River. Harbin is ranked as the tenth largest city in China, serving as a key political, economic, scientific, cultural and communications center of Northeastern China.

Harbin is originally a Manchu word meaning "a place for drying fishing nets". Harbin bears the nicknames "The Pearl on the swan's neck" because the shape of Heilongjiang resembles a swan, and "Ice City" for its long and cold winter.

Harbin in Worldwar
Harbin was a strategically important city to the Imperial Japanese Army with their war against The Race, as it anchored their line of defense. During the early winter of 1942, the Race launched an offensive that captured the city. Its fall pushed the Japanese off the Asian mainland.