Russian architecture in Harbin

The history of the creation and operation of the Sino-Eastern Railway is of great scientific interest. An important element of its influence was the uniqueness and grandiosity of the large-scale impact of the highway on the development of cities and infrastructure along the railway. Harbin is a classic example of such influence. The development of this city as a large urban settlement, which includes a peculiar layout with the elements of traditional Russian architecture, is a peculiar and unique phenomenon. It is necessary to investigate how Harbin developed in the first years of its existence, what the uniqueness of this city was, and to discuss the influence of Russian architecture on its emergence. There is a concept of "Russian Harbin" – this concept includes the initial historical period in the formation of the city. At that time, Harbin was dominated by a predominantly Russian population; the city was built by the architects and engineers from Russia. The traditions of Russian architecture have manifested themselves both in civil buildings and in the construction of Orthodox churches. All these buildings built by Russian architects have got great historical and cultural value. They influenced the development of urban planning in the city. The buildings constructed in the Russian architectural style in Harbin continue to exist, creating a kind of architectural landscape of the city. The article aims to analyze the process of urban development in Harbin, as well as to reveal the specifics of the city’s construction in the traditional Russian style.