Travel In China: Harbin: China’s Northern Outpost

China's northernmost big city, Harbin in Heilongjiang Province, has a rich history as a regional trading center, but development has been slower than elsewhere in the country due to its remoteness. Pictured: a sunset over downtown Harbin

Despite its population of about 10 million, the pace of life in Harbin is slower than in some of China's better known cities. Pictured: Men play xiangqi, or Chinese chess, along a city street

Located near the Russian border, Harbin's architecture and culture reveal influences from its northern neighbor, which is closer to the city than Beijing. Pictured: People walk past Harbin's St. Sophia Church

Harbin is one of the world's coldest major cities, with winter temperatures that regularly can dip to -25°C (-13°F). Pictured: A worker uses a machine to cut ice from Harbin's frozen Songhua River in preparation for the city's biggest event

Harbin's annual ice sculpture festival is the largest scale event of its kind, and is the major draw for other Chinese to visit the often frigid city. Pictured: People visit massive structures of ice illuminated by colored lights during the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival in 2015.