The four seasons in Changchun are clearly defined and distinct from eachother. In Spring the weather in Changchun is mostly dry but very windy.
Summers in the North-East are generally short and cool, but can count very hot days with temperatures of over 35 degrees Celcius.
In autumn Changchun remains sunny and warm during the day untill early November. However in this period nights can already be frigid.
Winters in Changchun and throughout Jilin Province are bitterly cold, harsh and see lots of snow. The Winter season starts in early November and last well into April with the coldest temperatures reached in January. Daytime temperatures easily drop below minus 10 to 15 in the deep of winter. Nights can be much colder.
The average annual temperature of Changchun is about 4.8 Degrees centigrade. January is the coldest month with an average temperature of -17.2 Celcius and according to source, the lowest recorded
Population: The Total Population of Changchun City is around 7.2 million of which some 3.1 million live in the urban center of the City.
Geographic & Historic Maps on Changchun and immediate area of Jilin Province.
This page was last updated on: April 9, 2014
The Changchun Report
Introduction to Changchun
Changchun City Landmarks & Monuments
Changchun & Area Maps
Changchun is the Provincial Capital City of Jilin Province in North-East China (Manchuria). The City of Changchun is located roughly at the Center of the Songliao Plains along the banks of the Yitong River. The name of the City Changchun derives from the Jurchen Language and means "Long Spring".
Although Changchun counts only a relatively short history of importance, today it is the largest City in the Province with 3.1 million inhabitants. As a provincial Capital Changchun has its own International Airport and is one of two main railway hubs in Jilin Province.
A heavily industrialized City, Jilin Provinces' Capital is known throughout China as the Car Capital of China. Apart from China's National car brand, both Volkswagen and Toyota have a factory at Changchun. Other products of the Cities industry include all other transportation equipment production, including motor vehicle parts, Railroad cars and locomotives, buses, tires. There is an aluminium factory due West of the
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Please browse around the Changchun and wider Area using our Geographic & Historic Maps.
Find out more about the City and Area through our many Photographic Reports on the main historic landmarks and Monuments and their rich history.
A Full listing of Changchun City Landmarks, Monuments, Hotspots and other sites of importance in alphabetical order. Search through the list to find your Full Report and Photo-Virtual Tour of each monument or landmark within the City.
Public Transportation in Changchun
Changchun is a large City with no less than three passenger railway stations. Most trains however only stop at the Changchun Zhan (长春站), the Central Railway Station of the City. The Main Railway Station of Changchun is a large facility that sees many daily departures. Connections run North to through Songyuan to Harbin the Capital of Heilongjiang Province, Eastward through to Jilin City to Yanji - the Capital of Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, South to Shenyang and Dalian in Liaoning Province, and from there on Beijing and Beijing Main Railway Station.
Finally connections link directly Westward to Baicheng or via the North to Songyuan and Da'an, then to Baicheng. Baicheng is the gateway into Inner Mongolia AR.
The City of Changchun today is the largest City and Capital of Jilin Province. Administratively organized as a Sub-Provincial City (Prefecture Level City), Changchun and City Province count around 7.2 million inhabitants. Its urban districts alone count a total population of 3.2 million.
The prefecture-level city of Changchun administers 10 county-level divisions, and includes 6
Changchun City Hotels
Complete Listing and Reviews of the Main Hotels in Changchun City, Jilin Province. The Most Famous and luxury hotels in the City are the Shangri-La, the Swissbelhotel located adjacent to First Automobile Works Park and the Paradise Hotel Changchun across from Changchun Victory Park.
Changchun has its own International Airport at Longjia village, at quite a distance, some 31 kilometers due East of the City. The Airport lies at 71 kilometers from Jilin City which City is served along with the City of Changchun by Longjia International Airport.
temperature in the history of Changchun was -39.8 Celcius. July is the hottest month with an average temperature about 23 Degrees Celcius with the highest recorded temperature at 39.5 Degrees Celcius.
The best time to visit Changchun City and Jilin Province however depends on the purpose of the visit. Most visitors pass through in the warmer months, either traveling to Changbai Shan and its largest Nature Reserve in China, or to Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in the East, or to Chagan Lake and Moon Reservoir in the West.
The rainy season in Changchun starts in May and most rain falls in the Month of June , which is the least advisable month for a visit.
In late summer the bi-annual Changchun China Film Festival is held drawing a totally different crowd to mainly Changchun City. In the Deep of Winter most visitors head through Changchun to witness the Changchun Jingyuetan Ice & Snow Festival which is held every winter. Business Travelers stay in the City or pass through around the Year but Changchun is not on any major tourist route or itenerary, so far.
Due to the heavy industry in the Western Jilin Province concentrated around SongYuan and Changchun smoke may reduce visibility in Changchun in daytime.
Initially established established on Imperial Decree as a small Trading Post and frontier village during the JiaJing Reign of the Ching Dynasty (1644 AD - 1911 AD), until the end of the 18th century Changchun was only a small village located on the Jitong River in a sparsely populated area in the un-developed North-East.
Trade mainly involved the furs and other natural products of the wild region.
At the End of the 18Th Century a new Era dawned on the small village of Changchun as poor peasants from overpopulated Shandong Province began settle in the region growing the village into a small city. In 1889 AD, the village was promoted into a city known as Changchun Fu. Fu, designating a reinforced City and District Capital.
Following World War II, the city of Changchun again suffered severely in the fighting between Communist and Nationalist forces, becoming the Center of a Major Battle for Control over the North-Eastern Regions between 1946 and 1948 AD.
After the establishment of the Peoples Republic of China in 1949 AD, Changchun, as did many Cities including the Capital at Beijing, saw a fenomenal influx of new citizens as well a baby-boom, greatly enlarging the number of Citizens.
The new Communist Government made practical use of the former Government buildings available in the City, converting many former offices into University buildings. Eversince Jilin University, a polytechnical university, Changchun's medical college, and several technical institutes are housed in the Old City Center.
Changchun became the Capital of Jilin Province in 1954 AD.
Since 1985 AD Changchun has seen entirely new developments, the City emerging as the National Center of Car Industry as well as center for other industrial expansion. As a result the City became a magnet for migrant workers trading the Rural Life for one as a worker in one the Cities' massive factories. In 1994 AD the estimated population of Changchun was a mere 1 Million 810,400. By the Year 2003 AD it had risen to an estimated 2 Million 283 thousand and 800. Currently the number has stabilised around 3 or 3.1 Million (urban) citizens.
In 2007 AD Changchun was the proud host of the Winter Asian Games, the second Chinese City in history to do so. Held between January 28 to February 4, 2007 AD the 6Th Asian Winter Games in Changchun were a sports celebration involving the entire province of Jilin. The Games were opened by none other than President Hu Jintao, Secretary General of the Communist Party of China.
Events taking place in Changchun were held at the Changchun Municipal Skating Rink,
Fu'ao Ice Skating Rink, Jilin Province Skating Gymnasium and Jilin Province Speed Skating Gymnasium. The Beida Lake Skiing Resort south-east of Changchun was the venue for Alpine skiing, the biathlon, freestyle skiing and the spectacular snowboarding events.
For More on the History of Changchun City, please Read: Full History of Changchun - Click Here ! (Coming Soon !)
Last Emperor Pu Yi amidst Japanese Generals during the Manchukuo Period of the 2nd World War, known in China as the Great Antifascist War. Pu Yi was later rightly condemned as a collaborator and a War Criminal and imprisoned for Years.
During the Manchukuo period the City was known as the new Capital (Hsinking or Xinjing), vaguely referring to the retreat of the Ching Dynasty Emperor to his homelands in Manchuria, the official cover story used to legitimize Japanese Control inside the nominally independent new Nation ruled by Pu Yi as Stooge President of Manchukuo. (initially Aisin-Gioro Pu Yi had been led to believe he would become the "Emperor of Manchukuo" however much to his dismay these were empty promises and the Japanese were not about to raise him to the Level of their own Emperor in Tokyo).
It was a period of harsh suppresion, brutal warfare on the civilian population, forced conscription and labor and other Japanese sponsored Government brutalities. The only good that came from the Manchukuo Government as far as the City of Changchun was concerned was the rebuilding of the City along modern lines that still leave their mark on the City Center of today. During the Manchukuo Period Changchun became a modern and well to do City, with wide boulevards and a City Tram System of which only one Line, line 54, is still in operation as a Tram and historic Gem.
Battle for Russia and China during World War II. Full Documentary.
Buy it at Movie Universe - Click Here
After 1924 Japan maintained control of the strategic southern spurline of the trans-siberian railway (the South Manchurian Railway) running through Changchun.
Soon after the Japanese crossed the Yalu River in 1931, capturing large parts of Manchuria in, the capital of the Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo was moved North from Mukden (Shenyang) to Changchun in Jilin Province. As a result, Changchun functioned as the Political Capital of the Japanese Puppet State of Manchukuo from 1933 AD to the summer 1945 AD, when the advance of the Russian Army forced the Government to flee.
districts - Nanguan, Kuancheng, Chaoyang, Erdao, Luyuan and Shuangyang Districts, 3 county-level cities - Jiutai, Yushu and Denghui, and 1 county - Nong'an County.
Situated on a strategic location in North-East China Changchun is a important transportation and communication hub in the wider Region. The main industry in Changchun City and Area is the manufacturing of transportation facilities and machinery. Although Changchun is known as the Car Capital of China, only 20% of all automobiles produced in China are produced in Changchun. Both Audi/Volkswagen and Toyota have a Factory in the City. Apart from these Changchun and Industry produce 50%, and 10% of all passenger trains (carriages), and 10% of all tractors and agricultural machinery in China.
As an important and large City Central to life in the North-Eastern Provinces Changchun City has a bright and vibrant Cultural Life. Among things, Changchun is hosts of the yearly Changchun International Automobile Fair, the bi-annual Changchun China Film Festival, the Changchun Agricultural Fair, an Education Exhibition and the Changchun Sculpture Exhibition.
Furthermore Changchun is the home of 4 Universities : Jilin University (吉林大學) , China Northeast Normal University (東北師范大學), Changchun University of Technology (長春工業大學) and the Changchun University of Science and Technology (長春理工大學).
The Main Historic Tourist Attraction of Changchun City is the former Imperial Palace (帝宮) now known as the Museum of the Manchu State Imperial Palace (偽滿皇宫博物院). The former Residence is located in North-Eastern Changchun, covers an area of 43,000 square meters, and served as the Home of Last Ching Emperor Aisin-Gioro Pu Yi between 1932 AD and 1945 AD. Interestingly, The Manchurian Imperial Palace in Changchun was designed as a miniature version of the Forbidden City in Beijing. Hence, it was divided into an inner court and outer court.
Although damaged by the Russian capture of the City in 1945 AD, the Palace Residence has been restored to its essentials and now serves as a Memorial to the History of the City and the Brutality of Japanese Rule with active Chinese cooperation. Apart from the glamour of the restored Palace and relics from the Manchukuo Period and Ching Dynasties' last ruling family, there are extensive exhibits on war crimes committed in world war 2 by both Manchukuo and Japanese Troops. Details include the exploits of the infamous Unit 731, equipped for germ warfare.
The Palace and Museum were last renovated in the year 2004 AD.
Apart from the Imperial Palace and the former government offices of the Manchurian State established by the Japanese invaders during World War II, Changchun further counts the attraction of Jingyuetan Forest Park or Jingyue Pond of Changchun. Jingyuatan is a national forest park somewhat famous as the biggest of the man-made forest in Asia.
City Monuments include the Monument to the Martyrs of the Soviet Red Army, the Automobile Town, and the nationally famed and historic Changchun Film Studio, established in the early 1950's.
Public Transportation in the City of Changchun is centered around many Bus-Lines, Taxi Cabs, the Light Railway and the one remaining traditional tram-route, Line 54. There is no subway/metro or underground train system in Changchun today.
Line 54 Tourist Tram is a historic tram route that was once part of the extensive Changchun Tram System first established by the Japanese sponsored Manchukuo government. The First tram line in Changchun opened on November 11, 1941 AD. Only four years later, and regardless of wartime woes, in 1945 the Changchun tram had expanded to 7 lines and operating a total of 73 trains. At its peak in 1960, the Changchun traditional tram had 6 lines and 88 trains and city tracks covered almost 53 km.
Currently there is only one line, Line No. 54, remaining. Find Line 54, in the City Center running a track of some 7.6 km long, ferrying passengers between Xi'an Road and Gongnong Road (Hongqi Street).
Apart from the above, Changchun City is serviced by its very own International Airport, Changchun Longjia. The Airport is located due East outside of the City
China Report - Colonialism - Growth of Colonies & Japan after 1801 AD
A Map drawing of the Eurasian continent , parts of North-East Africa and the Middle East in the 19Th Century between 1801 AD and 1900 AD. Focal points are the expansion of western colonial posessions of Portugal, Britain and France, as well as Russia moving from West to East. Labeled seperately is the later Rise of the Empire of Japan in the East.
Included in this Map are the main cities across the continent with their brief histories and events during the 19Th Century. Marked in Colors for clarity are the various colonial and imperialist Nations. As relating to China; special attention is payed to so called Treaty Ports. The First Treaty Ports were forced open by Britain in the year 1841 AD, but counted over 80 in total by the end of the 19Th Century. The most important Treaty Ports in China are marked and described with a short history where the map allows.
Not much later a second important event, the construction and completion of the Eastern China Railway (1896 AD -1903 AD), a shortcut of the Trans-Siberian Railway, truly started the development of the Mineral Rich Manchurian Region.
Since 1903 AD, the East China Railway connects Chita in the West via Harbin, North of Changchun in Heilongjiang Province, eastward with Vladivostok in Primorsky Krai (Maritime Province) of Russia on the Sea of Japan Coastline.
The City of Changchun itself only gained its importance in earnest when it was chosen as a vital stop-over on the South Manchurian Railway, a strategic railway which was developed simultaneously starting in 1898 AD. The aim of the South Manchurian Railways was to connect the City of Harbin and the Trans-Siberian Railway in the North through Songyuan and Changchun south to Shenyang and Dalian (formerly Port Arthur or also Ryojun) in Liaoning Province. As Vladisvostok Harbor is a cold water port and only open to shipping several months a year, the connection via Changchun to Lushun (Dalian), a warm water port open all year, was a golden connection. The Gold Coins however had their shadowy side. By unlocking the regions mineral wealth and the construction of these vital strategic transport lines, the importance of- and thus rivalry over- the North-Eastern Provinces was greatly increased.
Soon after the completion of the North-South railway, Changchun emerged as a major population center in the rapidly developing North-East. The City was an obligatory stop-over and the crucial place where both strategic lines connected. In Changchun trains had to be changed out, due to the difference of railway-car axle width between the Russian Railways up North, and the Chinese lines down South. As a result the economy benifitted enormously, seeing revenue from travel permits, hotel stays, as well as the opening of railway repair stores and other railway supporting industries. It was the beginning of a long tradition. Changchun became an industrial city, mainly involved in mining of ore,
transport of raw industrial materials and later, the home of several factories.
Changchun came under unofficial Japanese control following the Sino-Japanese War of 1894 AD – 95 AD, in which the Chinese Navy was utterly crushed. As the Japanese built their strength on the Korean Peninsula, the North-Eastern Chinese Provinces were increasingly infiltrated with Japanese money, infrastructure and military units. Railways from Changchun now connected to Korea as well as into Inner Mongolia.
Meanwhile, Russian threats emerged from the North and West with the construction and advance of the Trans-Siberian Railway between 1897 AD and 1903 AD and the subsequent establishment of a Russian Pacific Fleet Base and harbor at Vladivostok, a city built from scratch.
City of Changchun and Changchun is a manifacturing center for pharmaceuticals and textiles.
Apart from heavy and chemical industries the City of Changchun is home to an impressive Film Industry with a National Reputation, which is why it has its very own Film Festival, the bi-annual Changchun China Film Festival.
Due to its recent dark history as the Capital of the Japanese Puppet Government of Manchukuo nominally headed by Aisin-Gioro Pu Yi, China's Last Emperor, the main tourist venue in the City is the restored Pu Yi ruling Palace in the center of the City.
