Polish Expatriates in Harbin

Abstract At the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, with the construction and opening of the Chinese Eastern Railway (CER), a significant number of Polish expatriates from Russian Poland arrived in Harbin. At its peak, their number exceeded 7,000. The proportion of Poles among the railway’s designers, suppliers, and engineers was notably high. After arriving in Harbin, the Polish community gradually engaged in various social activities, such as building churches, establishing consulates, forming expatriate associations, publishing periodicals, and setting up schools and charitable organizations. These activities left a profound historical imprint on Harbin. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Polish expatriates gradually left Harbin to return to Poland or migrate to other countries. The Polish “Harbinian” have become a “blood” bond in the relationship between China and Poland, playing an irreplaceable role. A deep exploration of the historical and cultural resources of Polish expatriates in Harbin and active promotion of research on this subject can enhance the study of Harbin’s expatriate history and culture, while also positively advancing the development of China–Poland relations in the new era.