Changchun, capital of Jilin province, is a city of migrants, which means it has various kinds of cuisine from all over China, including Sichuan, Shandong and Guangdong styles. Local food in Northeast China is definitely a must-try here.

Food

Changchun used to be home to multiple ethnic groups including the Manchu people, Korean people and Mongolians, so roasting food is a tradition.

Barbecuing is now a must in Changchun's summer days.

In addition to barbecues, there are many other local dishes in the streets of Changchun. Traditional Chinese medicines such as ginseng and antler tablets are added to delicious dishes made with chicken and fish.

Deserts like cold noodles, tofu shashlik and glutinous rice cake can also be found.

Transportation

Railways connect Changchun to the rest of China.

The city is located on the Beijing-Harbin railway. Harbin, Heilongjiang province, and Shenyang, Liaoning province are only an hour away. Travelers from Beijing need only six hours and 20 minutes to get to Changchun.

Similarly, it takes only three hours and 20 minutes to go from Changchun to Dalian, Liaoning province, on the Harbin-Dalian line.

The main train stations in Changchun are Changchun Station and Changchun West Railway Station.

Getting to Changchun by air is another choice. Located about 31 kilometers from Changchun's city center, Changchun Longjia International Airport is one of the important transportation junctions in the Northeast Asia region.

The departure hall of the airport is connected with Longjia High-speed Train Station which makes travelling much easier. Public transportation within Changchun is also highly convenient. There are more than 200 bus routes covering the city center and the suburbs, where the main scenic spots are located, and three Metro lines connect the main urban daily travel destinations.

Tourism

Changchun, capital of Jilin province, is located at the center of the Northeast Asia region and covers 20,604 sq km.

The average temperature of the city is 22.2 degree in summer and -11.3 degree in winter. Both natural sightseeing and historic relics can be found there.

The rich forest and ice and snow resources are the main engines of the city's tourism industry. Hot springs and rare wild animal appreciation are also popular choices among tourists.

History

The area of Changchun has had well-developed agriculture since the Neolithic Age and an organized governmental regime for at least 2000 years. The name Changchun first appeared in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

The city is in the central area of the Songliao Plain where fertile land is the foundation of prosperous agricultural development.

Changchun's industrial growth also contributed to China's prosperity in the early days of the country's establishment.

To date, the city is nourishing its tourism industry and at the same time making efforts towards industrial transformation and upgrading.

Changbai Mountain, Jingyuetan National Forest Park, Siblerian Tiger Park and Beihu Wetland Park are all popular destinations.

The local government now is working hard to develop a new tourism mode -- relaxation-oriented travel -- which combines natural sightseeing, historic learning and relaxation activities to improve tourists' travelling experience.