Harbin, often celebrated for its European allure, stands out with its distinctive Baroque, Byzantine and Gothic architecture, marking it as one of China’s most iconic historical and cultural cities (ranking #41 in our Museums subcategory). With its extreme winters, where temperatures routinely plunge below -20° F, the city is forging a unique climate identity (and a #9 ranking in our Heat Stress subcategory) that has become a powerful draw for domestic tourists fleeing the increasingly warming Chinese capitals, with the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival emerging as a must-visit event. Local delicacies like Guo Bao Rou (sweet and sour pork) and frozen pears are a bonus. The growing visitor numbers speak for themselves—over the 2024 New Year holiday, the city welcomed a staggering three million visitors. Looking ahead, Harbin is set to host the 9th Asian Winter Games in February 2025, a high-profile event that will invigorate its tourism-driven economy even further. This surge in visitor numbers has propelled Harbin to #50 in our Prosperity ranking. Despite its long, harsh winters, the city enjoys mild summers complemented by an impressive forest coverage rate of 41.5%, helping the city rank #34 in our Tree Cover subcategory.