Changchun Travel Attractions

South lake (Nanhu 南湖公园), a large park which is a favorite picnic and recreation spot for locals. In the summer, the lake is used for boating and water sports, and there is a stand of huge lotus plants near one part of it. In the winter, the lake freezes over and serves as a natural skating rink; one can also play ice hockey here. The park almost feels like it is not part of a city, except that there is a good view of the skyscrapers in downtown Changchun across the lake. This park is not particularly beautiful, but it is extremely large, and an incredibly busy place in the summer. It is a very safe place to wander around in the early evening. People are friendly, but generally quite shy and reserved with visitors.

Culture Square (文化广场) starting north of the crossroads of Xinmin Dajie and Jiefang Dalu, is another, more urban hangout. Vendors sell kites and various other products. Many people fly kites from this square, while others play traditional Chinese instruments or just sit and relax. More formal performances are sometimes held on a temporary stage set up near the high school. For casual visitors to Changchun, this is probably a good place to visit by taxi. Crossing the street to get to this location is a skill and best done with locals.

No guide to Changchun is complete without a mention of Pu Yi, the Last Emperor who acted as a puppet of the Japanese when Changchun was capital of the puppet state of Manchukuo. The old capitol building of Manchukuo is of more historical than aesthetic interest, but there is also a Puppet Imperial Palace(伪皇宫) that might merit a visit while you are in town.

Chrystal Moon Pond or Jingyuetan(净月潭)is 45 mins from downtown to the south east of the city. It is the largest man-made forest park in Asia, and a great place for skiing in the winter. The admission is a rather steep 30元; or you could, like the locals, just climb through one of the many holes in the fence.

People's Square (人民广场 rénmín guǎngchǎng is located in the Chaoyang District around the cross streets of Xi'an Liu, Renmin Dajie, and Changchun Dajie. It is one of the focal points of Changchun. It is close to Baishan park, and a mini "Culture Square" of sorts. The site commemorates the Russian soldiers, and specifically Russian pilots that died to save Changchun during the second world war.