Changchun, China
Region: Jilin
Geographic Coordinates: 43.900000, 125.200000
Temperature Range: -50.0°C to 35.0°C (-58°F to 95°F)
Climate: Cold and dry winters, warm and rainy summers.
Population: 4408154
Language: Mandarin
Changchun is a sprawling city located in the northeastern region of China. It is the capital of Jilin Province and has a population of over 7 million people, Making it one of the largest cities in China. The city is known for its rich cultural heritage, Stunning natural scenery, And modern amenities. One of Changchun’s most famous landmarks is the Puppet Emperor’s Palace. This palace was built by Japanese invaders during their occupation of Manchuria and served as a residence for their puppet emperor, Puyi. Today, Visitors can explore the palace’s ornate halls and gardens while learning about its history.
Another popular attraction in Changchun is Jingyuetan National Forest Park. This park covers an area of over 200 square kilometers and features stunning lakes, Forests, And mountains. Visitors can hike through scenic trails or take a boat ride on one of the park’s many lakes. Changchun also has a thriving arts scene with several theaters and museums to explore. The Changchun Film Studio Museum offers visitors an inside look at China’s film industry with exhibits on movie production techniques and famous films that were shot at the studio.
For those interested in shopping or dining out, Changchun has plenty to offer as well. The city boasts several large shopping centers like Chongqing Road Commercial Street where visitors can find everything from luxury brands to street food vendors serving up local specialties like jianbing (a savory pancake) or chuan’r (grilled skewers). Overall, Changchun offers visitors a unique blend of history, Culture, Nature, And modern amenities making it an ideal destination for travelers looking to experience all that China has to offer.’
- Jingyuetan National Forest Park
- Puppet Emperor’s Palace (Shenyang Imperial Palace)
- Changchun World Sculpture Park
- South Lake Park
- Changchun Film Studio
- Confucius Temple (Wenmiao)
- Zoological and Botanical Garden of Changchun
- Meteorite Museum of Jilin University
- The Museum of the Imperial Palace of Manchukuo
- Songhua River Cableway
- Automobile manufacturing: Changchun is home to some of the largest automobile manufacturing centers in China. FAW Group, BMW Brilliance, and Changan Ford are among the companies with factories here.
- Electronic Information Industry: The city has a well-developed electronic information industry that includes Lenovo, Inspur Group, and Neusoft Corporation.
- Biotechnology: Changchun’s biotechnology industry is on the rise with companies like Changchun Huayang High-Tech Co., Ltd., specializing in vaccine production.
- Petrochemicals: Sinopec Jilin Petrochemical Company Limited operates within the large petrochemical industry present in Changchun.
- Food processing: A thriving food processing industry produces dairy products, meat products, beverages and more.
- Tourism: Scenic spots such as Jingyuetan National Forest Park and World Sculpture Park attract visitors to the city generating revenue for tourism sector.
- The founding of Changchun: In 1800, a small village named Kuanchengzi was established in what is now Changchun. It gradually grew into a town and was officially designated as the capital of Jilin Province in 1932.
- Japanese occupation: During World War II, Changchun was occupied by the Japanese army from 1931 to 1945. The city became an important industrial center for Japan’s war effort.
- Manchukuo: In 1932, Japan established the puppet state of Manchukuo with Changchun as its capital. The city became a showcase for Japanese imperialism and modernization.
- Soviet occupation: After World War II, Soviet forces occupied Changchun until their withdrawal in 1946.
- Cultural Revolution: During China’s Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), many historic buildings and cultural relics were destroyed or damaged in Changchun.
- Jilin University: Founded in 1946 as Northeast College of Agriculture and Forestry, Jilin University is one of China’s leading universities with over 70,000 students enrolled today.
- Zhang Xueliang: A prominent Chinese general known as the Young Marshal, Zhang Xueliang lived in exile in Changchun from the late 1950s until his death in 2001.
- Wang Guangmei: Wife of former Chinese President Liu Shaoqi, Wang Guangmei spent several years under house arrest at her home near Changchun during the Cultural Revolution before being released and rehabilitated by Deng Xiaoping in the late 1970s.
- Jing Junhai: Current governor of Jilin Province, Jing Junhai has been instrumental in promoting economic development and investment opportunities for foreign companies interested in doing business with China through initiatives like One Belt One Road.
- Northeast Tiger Forest Park: A famous tourist attraction located in Changchun, the Northeast Tiger Forest Park is home to over 1,000 Siberian tigers and other wildlife species. It is one of the largest tiger breeding centers in the world.
- Changchun World Sculpture Park
- Puppet Emperor’s Palace
- Changchun Movie Wonderland
- Jingyue Pool National Forest Park
- Museum of the Imperial Palace of Manchukuo
- Jilin Provincial Museum
- Changchun Geological Palace Museum
- Shengli Park Ski Resort
- South Lake Park
- Changying Century City Theme Park
- Changchun Yatai F.C.: This is a professional football club based in Changchun, which was founded in 1996. The team has won the Chinese Super League once in 2007 and has also won the Chinese FA Cup twice.
- Jilin Northeast Tigers: This is a professional basketball team based in Changchun, which was founded in 1956. The team has won the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) championship twice and has been runners-up four times.
- Changchun City Ice Hockey Club: This is a professional ice hockey team based in Changchun, which was founded in 1955. The team has won the Chinese Ice Hockey League (CIHL) championship five times and has also represented China at international tournaments.
- Jilin Province Volleyball Team: This is a women’s volleyball team based in Changchun, which was founded in the 1950s. The team has won several national championships and has produced many national players for China’s women’s volleyball team.
- Jilin Province Speed Skating Team: This is a speed skating team based in Changchun, which was founded in the 1960s. The team has produced many Olympic champions and world record holders such as Wang Meng, Yang Yang (A), and Li Jianrou among others.
Overall, sports have played an important role not only as entertainment but also as a source of pride for the people of Changchun city and Jilin province at large over the years with these teams being some of their most notable representatives on national platforms within their respective sporting disciplines.
- Changchun International Film Festival is a prestigious event that takes place every September, showcasing both Chinese and international films.
- Jingyue Snow World is a winter festival that honors the snow and ice culture of Changchun, featuring exciting activities like skiing competitions, ice sculptures, and other winter-themed events.
- The Changchun International Sculpture Symposium brings together sculptors from all over the world to create large-scale sculptures in public spaces throughout the city.
- The Northeast Asia Expo is an annual trade fair held in August that promotes economic cooperation between China and neighboring countries such as Russia, Japan, and South Korea.
- The Changchun Beer Festival is an annual event held in July celebrating local beer culture with music performances, food stalls, and beer tasting events.
- The Yanbian Korean Ethnic Minority Culture Festival celebrates the unique culture of the Korean ethnic minority group living in Yanbian Prefecture of Jilin Province which includes cities like Changchun.
- The Jilin Rime Ice & Snow Festival is another winter festival celebrated at various locations across Jilin Province including Songhua Lake Scenic Area near Changchun where visitors can enjoy ice skating on frozen lakes or watch performances on natural ice stages.
- Guo Bao Rou (锅包肉) – deep-fried pork belly served with a sweet and sour sauce.
- Jiaozi (饺子) – dumplings filled with meat or vegetables.
- Bing Fen (冰粉) – a dessert made from shaved ice, fruit, and syrup.
Some popular restaurants in Changchun include:
- Dong Fang Jiao Zi Wang (东方饺子王) – a chain restaurant specializing in Jiaozi.
- Hongqi Shuijiao Dian (红旗水饺店) – a restaurant serving traditional Chinese dumplings and other dishes.
- Tian Xia Di Yi Lou Restaurant (天下第一楼餐厅) – a high-end restaurant serving local cuisine such as Guo Bao Rou and Bing Fen.
- Jingyuetan National Forest Park is a vast park that offers hiking trails, a lake for boating and fishing, and winter activities like skiing and ice skating.
- Nanhu Park is a well-known park with a lake for boating, walking paths, gardens, and playgrounds.
- The World Sculpture Park is an open-air sculpture museum showcasing works from all over the world.
- Changchun Zoo houses more than 200 animal species including pandas, tigers, and giraffes.
- Beidahu Ski Resort is located around an hour away from Changchun and provides slopes suitable for skiers of all levels.
- Songhua River Rafting is an exciting activity where visitors can raft down the Songhua River while taking in the stunning views of the nearby mountains.
- Changchun Movie Wonderland is an amusement park inspired by Chinese cinema that features rides and attractions based on popular movies.
- Puppet Emperor’s Palace Museum is a historical museum dedicated to China’s last emperor during World War II puppet state era.
- Jingyue Ice City hosts an annual winter festival where visitors can admire intricate ice sculptures or participate in winter sports such as skiing or ice skating.
- Changying Century City Theme Park is a movie-themed amusement park offering rides based on popular Chinese films along with live performances and shows.
