Jilin, which translates to "Auspicious Forest" in English, is a province in northeastern China. The geographical features of Jilin are summarized in a Chinese saying as "one mountain, three rivers."
Similar to the provincial capital Harbin in Heilongjiang province, Jilin is nationally renowned for its unique winter landscape. The province experiences a northern continental climate influenced by monsoons, characterized by long cold winters and short warm summers. Winter begins early in October and lasts until April. Despite the cold, people flock to the province to admire the famous Ice Lantern Festival. Jilin is also a well-known winter sports area and boasts some of the best ski resorts in China. Naturally, Jilin is home to many other natural and historical attractions.
Changchun is one of the most important industrial cities in northern China. The city is home to steel mills and a variety of metal processing plants. The First Automotive Works was once the largest car manufacturer in China and has operated two major joint ventures with Volkswagen/Audi and Toyota in the city since 1991.
Another economic factor is agriculture. The area around Changchun encompasses 1.1 million hectares of cultivated land. Additionally, Changchun is the film capital of the People's Republic. Since 1992, the Changchun Film Festival has been held there.
A notable attraction is the Imperial Palace, where Pu Yi, the Emperor of Manchukuo reinstated by the Japanese, resided. Moreover, the landscape around Changchun is extremely scenic.
Changchun Longjia International Airport is located 31 kilometers from the city center and serves both Changchun and the city of Jilin, which is 71 kilometers away. It opened in 2005, replacing Changchun Dafangshen Airport. In October 2005, it also took over the passenger traffic from Jilin Airport. The airport has exceeded its expected passenger numbers by more than double and, since 2021, offers a direct flight to Europe with Air China to Frankfurt am Main.
There is a train connection and an intercity link between Changchun and Jilin, as well as bus lines that take passengers directly to the main attractions. Additionally, there are plans to integrate the airport into Changchun's public transport system.