Changchun, the city of forests, is one of China's four largest garden cities. The temperatures in the summer are not high, making it a good choice for summer vacations. The Jingyuetan National Forest Park on the outskirts of Changchun is home to Asia’s largest artificial forest, where you can walk, ride or take a boat ride to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the lake. In addition, there are historical buildings such as the Museum of the Imperial Palace of Manchukuo and the old site of the Kwantung Army headquarters. The productions made in the Changchun Film Studio have influenced several generations of Chinese people and in Changying Century City, visitors can get a taste of advanced film technology. Changchun is also a famous base of FAW Group, a leading car manufacturer in China.
Changchun currently administers seven districts, two cities and one county, of which the urban area is mainly composed of Nanguan District, Erdao District, Kuancheng District, Chaoyang District, and Lvyuan District. The major attractions in the urban area are scattered, such as the Geological Palace Museum, Banruo Temple, and the Imperial Palace of Manchukuo. Changchun North Station is not far from the Imperial Palace. In the southeastern corner of the city, there are two more remote sites, Jingyuetan and Changying Century City, but they can be easily reached by line three of Changchun’s light rail. There are many major scenic spots in the suburbs of Changchun, including the Shuangyang Lake Scenic Area in Shuangyang District in the southeast of the city, Shuangyang Ice Cave Scenic Area, Nong’an Old Pagoda in Nong’an County in the north of the city, Lotus Mountain Ski Resort in the eastern suburbs, and the Tianyi Hot Spring Resort in the southern suburbs.
The Museum of the Imperial Palace of Manchukuo is the most famous tourist attraction in Changchun and definitely worth a visit. In addition, there are historical buildings such as the former Manchukuo State Building and departments. Most of them have been used as offices and not open for the public now. Tourists who are interested in religion can go to the Banruo Temple. Jingyuetan Park, which is called the garden in the backyard of Changchun and the most recommended natural scenic spot in the city. Boating on the wide lake here is very enjoyable. If you want to experience different scenery, head to the Sungyang Ice Cave Scenic Area in the southeast of the city to climb the first peak of Changchun or explore underground karst and ice caves. In the World Sculpture Park, you can admire sculptures made by artists from all over the world. The Geological Palace Museum displaying many dinosaur fossils and the Northeast Folk Museum are also good choices.
The spring and autumn are the best seasons to travel to Changchun. The climate is pleasant in May, June, September and October. In 2016, Changchun was named “China's best summer tourist city.” Therefore, there are more and more tourists coming in summer. From December to February is the coldest season, but it is the most beautiful time in Changchun. At this time, the city is covered in a blanket of white snow.
Changchun's hotel industry is very developed, and room prices are generally not high. There are a number of economic chain hotels in Changchun. Generally, it is recommended to stay in the People's Square area, where there are many choices for restaurants and entertainment and the public transportation is convenient. The area near the Changchun Railway Station is also a good choice because this is the hub of trains and coaches, also the terminal of light rail lines 3 and 4.
