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.

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