国际学生在哈尔滨：俄式建筑与航空航天工程

Harbin Institute of Technology

HIT is a C9 League member and the principal engineering university of the north-east, unusually strong in aerospace, robotics, control engineering, materials, welding technology and cold-region civil engineering. It is the largest single source of engineers for China's space programme.

The university also has campuses in Weihai and Shenzhen — the Shenzhen campus is now one of the most competitive in China. Check which campus your programme uses.

Living in the cold

The single most important thing to understand is that Harbin is genuinely cold: -25 °C in January is normal. Buildings are heated to 20 °C+, campuses have covered corridors, and winter clothing is cheap to buy locally. Students adapt quickly, and the winter is also the city's best season socially because of the Ice and Snow Festival.

A dormitory budget of CNY 2,200–2,800 per month makes Harbin the cheapest C9 university city in China.

Russian influence and food

Central Street (Zhongyang Dajie), Saint Sophia Cathedral and the Songhua River promenade give Harbin a European feel unique in China. Russian bread, sausages and ice cream are local staples, and there is a significant Russian-speaking community and a large Korean ethnic population.

Harbin is also a major hub for students from Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, South Korea and Japan.

Logistics and seasons

Harbin Taiping Airport has international flights across East Asia and Russia. High-speed rail reaches Beijing in about 5 hours and Shenyang in 2. Summers are warm and short at 20–28 °C, making June to September very pleasant.