Changchun (长春; Chángchūn; lit. Long Spring) is the capital of Jilin Province. With a population of more than 6 million, it is one of the major cities in Northeast China (东北; Dōngběi), and is the largest center for China's automotive industry. Despite its relatively high population and economic importance, Changchun has a lot of greenery, especially stands of pine trees, and though it is a draw for university students and some investors, it is not a major tourist destination, which is probably one of the reasons people who do visit this city a…
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Changchun (renamed at the time to Hsinking) was the capital of the Imperial Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo from 1932 to 1945. In 2007, the city hosted the Asian Winter Games. Changchun in its present form is a new city with only about 200 years of history. But there used to be a city thousands of years ago known by different names. The ancient city changed its name several times, 'Xidu', 'Helong', 'Tiangang' (Han Dynasty), 'Shushan' (Tang Dynasty), 'Longzhou' (Liao Dynasty), and 'Kuancheng' (Jin Dynasty).
Changchun is a very compact city planned by the Japanese with a layout of open avenues and public squares (guǎngchǎng). It is pretty easy to travel from one place to another; however, with the increase in private car ownership, traffic is getting worse by the day. The Changchun Subway&Light Rail consists of 6 lines (1,2,3,4,6,8), as of October 2024, which provide easy access to many parts of the city. Line 2 and 6 serve the Changchun West train station. Lines 1,3 and 4 serve the Changchun train station. T-Union Card is usable; it doesn’t matter where the card is issued. Taxis are by far the best way to get around.
1 Museum of the Imperial Palace of Manchukuo (伪满皇宫; Wěimǎnhuánggōng), 5 Guangfu North Road, Kuancheng District (宽城区光复北路5号) (a short distance from Weihuanggong Station on Metro Line 4), ☏ +86 431 82866611. May 1st to September 30thː 08ː30-17ː20, no tickets sold after 16ː10. October 1st to April 30thː 08ː30-16ː50, no tickets sold after 15ː40. Home of Puyi, the last emperor of China and puppet emperor of Manchukuo, and centre of the Manchukuo administration at the time. Signage is available in English (and Japanese) although many of the artifact descriptions are in Chinese only.
1 Changchun Film Century City (长影世纪城), Intersection of JIngyue Street and Yongshun Road, Jingyue National High-Tech Industry Development Zone (净月国家高新技术产业开发区净月大街与永顺路交汇) (Changyingshijicheng Station, Metro Line 3), ☏ +86 431 84550888, +86 431 84550999. 09ː00-17ː30 (May 1st to October 7th), 09ː00-16ː30 (October 8th to April 30th). A large and very popular theme park owned by the Changchun Film Group Corporation. ¥198 (November to March), ¥240 (April to October). Children between 1.2 and 1.5 m in height pay half price. Children under 1.2 metres in height and persons over 70 are granted free admission on condition that they are accompanied by an adult ticket holder.
Xunrou Dabing (熏肉大饼)：Xunrou Dabing is a traditional snack from Changchun, consisting of a crispy flatbread filled with aromatic smoked pork, scallions, and savory sauces. The bread is golden brown and flaky, while the smoked pork offers a rich, smoky flavor. This dish is a popular choice for breakfast or a light meal. Ginseng Chicken Soup (人参炖鸡)：Ginseng Chicken Soup is a nourishing dish made by simmering tender chicken with ginseng, a prized herb known for its health benefits. The soup is clear and aromatic, offering a delicate balance of flavors.
Beer (啤酒) is probably the cheapest and safest thing to drink - and being Northeast China - comes in many varieties and is available almost anywhere. A big bottle (630 ml) should cost between ¥3-6. In the summer months good draft beer is available from most small restaurants, the black beer (黑啤) being particularly good. Huadan (华丹), Jinshibai (金士百) and Yinpu (银浦) beers are all brewed in Jilin Province.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Jul, Changchun typically sees ~30°C daytime highs and 15 rainy days.
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