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Brief description |
Qing Dynasty (AD 1644-1911)
Site of Capital: Beijing
China's last dynasty, established by the Manchus from the northwest. The three great Qing emperors were Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong, who ruled successively from 1661 to 1796. Later imperial rule was weak, and China was shaken by internal and external conflict. The 1911 Revolution ended the feudal era forever. [ Dynasties ] |
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| Changchun is the capital of Jilin province located about an hour and a half by plane northeast of Beijing, in the centre of the northeast plain. |
 Changchun means “eternal spring“ , but is the city's many nicknames that give the best indication of the breadth of experiences available to anyone visiting the city. Known variously as “Forest City“ and “Spring City of the north“ ,Changchuan has a pleasant climate in the warmer months and very cold winters with a thriving winter sports industry: the city was host to the 2007 Asian Winter Games. All of this makes Changchun a popular destination year-round. Nearly 40% of the ground within Changchun is made up of public parks and forests: enough to satisfy even the most avid nature lover. The Nanhu Park (South Lake Park) and Jingyuetan National Forest Park are particularly beautiful, and travelers to the magnificent reserve at Changbai Mountain, 270 km to the southeast, are rewarded by a lofty crater lake set in unforgettable scenery close to the border with North Korea.
Changchun is also an important agricultural and industrial center of the northeast, with a booming automotive sector, formidable expertise in photo-electronics, and huge capabilities in food processing, based on the region's massive corn production. The Chinese Film Industry is also synonymous with Changchun in the eyes of many Chinese, who refer to it as “the City of Film“. Changchun Film Studio (China's biggest) and Changchun Film Century City offer tours and allow visitors to get close to the action. The bi-annual Changchun China Film Festival, held in late summer, is a must for any visiting film enthusiasts. 
During the Japanese military occupation of northeast China during the 1930s and 1940s, Changchun was the capital of the puppet state of Manchukuo, and Pu Yi (the deposed last ruler of the Qing dynasty) was made “emperor“ of Manchukuo. He was installed in a palace to the northeast of Changchun, which is now a museum. Other aspects of Jilin's past are on display at Jilin Provincial Museum, Jilin Provincial Natural Museum and Changchun Geologic Palace Museum.
Changchun has a large Korean population, and the area around Guilin Lu has become a great place to buy Korean nicnacks and food. Much of the food in Changchun is a fusion of Korean and Chinese northeast food. Dishes such as Changbai Zhen Yan are available, though this one in particular (made from grilled bear paw, frog eggs, grilled deer tendon, ginseng and snow toad) may not quite hit the spot for many. Souvenirs are easy to pick up, particularly in the area around the Puppet Emperor's Palace, where paintings, calligraphy and local handicrafts are sold in abundance, alongside traditional medicines such as ginseng and deer antler. |
Location /Climate |
 Changchun City sits in the centre of Songliao Plain in northeast China, positioned at 124'18" - 127'02" east longitude and 43'05" - 45'15" north latitude.
The city's seasons are clearly-defined: Spring is dry and windy, leading into a short and relatively cool summer with average July maximums of 27C (81F). During Autumn it's mainly sunny and warm during the day but the temperature starts to drop at night, paving the way for a cold, snowbound winter with average January minimums of -23C (-9F). Average annual rainfall is around 600mm (24 inches), with the wettest months being July and August.
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Area & Population |
| The total area of Changchun is 20,571 square kilometers, the urban areas of which cover 2,583 square kilometers. At the end of 2005, the total population of Changchun was reported to be 7,240,000 with an urban population of about 3,150,000. Over 40 distinct ethnic groups live and work in Changchun, including Han, Manchu, Korean, Hui, Mongol, Xibo and Zhuang. |
History |
| In terms of Chinese History, Changchun is a very young city. There has been a settlement on the banks of the Yitong River for around 2000 years, but it was only when Emperor Jiaqing of the Qing Dynasty |
| Qing Dynasty (AD 1644-1911)Site of Capital: BeijingChina's last dynasty, established by the Manchus from the northwest. The three great Qing emperors were Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong, who ruled successively from 1661 to 1796. Later imperial rule was weak, and China was shaken by internal and external conflict. The 1911 Revolution ended the feudal era forever.??? [ Dynasties ] |
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decided to promote this tiny village by renaming it Changchun Ting in 1800 (later Changchun Fu), that the city was born. It has packed a great deal into 200 years: the peaceful industrious city it has become hides a tumultuous past.
The city grew quickly in the years after 1800 due to its strategic position between the Japanese South Manchurian Railway and the Russian Chinese Eastern Railway. In 1931, the Japanese attacked Chinese forces in northeast China, and quickly occupied the whole of Manchuria (the area covered by modern-day Jilin, Liaoning and Heilongjiang provinces). In 1932, the Japanese proclaimed the region an independent state called Manchukuo, and made Changchun the capital (giving it the name “Xinjing“). The city underwent rapid expansion in both its economy and infrastructure: indeed there are still many historic buildings standing today. The city was severely damaged when it was invaded in 1945 by the Soviet Red Army, who looted the city of everything they could. Kuomintang forces occupied the city in 1946, but were unable to hold the countryside against Chinese Communist forces. The city fell to the Communists in 1948 after a 12-month siege that resulted in a heavy civilian death toll. Renamed Changchun by the People's Republic of China government, the city became the capital of Jilin Province in 1954. |
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