Changchun

Changchun (chäng`chn`), city (1994 est. pop. 1,810,400), capital of Jilin prov., China, on the railroad between Harbin and Dalian. An industrial city, it is one of the country's major center of transportation equipment production, including motor vehicle parts. Railroad cars, buses, tires, pharmaceuticals, and textiles are also manufactured. An aluminum plant is west of the city. Changchun is also a center for motion picture production. As Hsinking or Xinjing [Chin.,=new capital], it was the capital of the former state of Manchukuo (1932–45). During this period the city was rebuilt along modern lines. Many of the large administrative buildings have been converted into universities; these include Jilin Univ., a polytechnical university, a medical college, and several technical institutes.

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Changchun

 or Ch'ang-ch'un

City (pop., 2003 est.: 2,283,800), capital of Jilin province, northeastern China. It was a small village until the end of the 18th century, when peasants from Shandong began to settle in the region. It gained in importance after the completion of the Chinese Eastern Railway. It came under Japanese control following the Sino-Japanese War of 1894–95. At the time the Japanese seized Manchuria in 1931, the capital of the Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo was moved from Mukden (Shenyang) to Changchun. Following World War II, the city suffered severely in the fighting between communist and Nationalist forces but experienced phenomenal growth after 1949. It is now a centre for industrial expansion, as well as the cultural and educational heart of the province.