China’s Coldest Major City — Harbin Explained

Harbin might be the coldest major city in China. In winter, temperatures drop to -30°C… sometimes lower. And somehow, millions of people just live their normal lives like it’s no big deal.

In this video, I travel to Harbin to see how a city this size actually functions in extreme winter. How do buildings stay warm? How does public transport operate? What does daily life look like when the air literally hurts your face?

We explore Harbin Ice and Snow World — one of the largest ice festivals in the world — where entire structures are built from massive blocks of ice. We walk through Central Street, visit the famous Saint Sophia Cathedral, and try to understand how this northern Chinese city blends Russian history, modern skyscrapers, and brutal Siberian-level winters.

Harbin feels like a place that shouldn’t work on paper. Too cold. Too extreme. But when you’re there, you realize it’s surprisingly alive.

Music: Dorogoi Dlinnoyu (Instrumental) by David U
Listen on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/david-u19/dorogoy-dlinnoyu-instrumental-by-david-u

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