Thinking of it as primarily an industrial base, many people assume that Changchun isn?t the sort of place where you?d want to go sightseeing. If you think this, then please forgive me if I say you are totally wrong, for the city has some great attractions that won?t disappoint you.

Upon first arrival, most visitors are impressed by the city?s tidy, clean appearance and lush vegetation. I certainly was. The broad tree-lined streets are like green corridors stretching afar, and flower-covered parks and public squares can be found in many areas around the city. With over 40 percent of the city covered by grass and trees, Changchun is one of the greenest cities in China, and attractive in all seasons.

But if you want to further explore the beauty of the city, one good place to go is Jingyuetan, a forest park a dozen kilometers southeast of the city center.

Covering an area of 200 square kilometers, the park is blessed with picturesque scenery of mountains and water, and has the largest man-made forest in Asia.

The forest park is a kaleidoscope of colors, changing as Mother Nature dons different gowns with the changing of the seasons. It is a wonderful place for a bracing hike midst the exuberant fresh green of spring, a leisurely picnic with fluttering butterflies on warm summer evenings. The burnished bronze and yellows and golds of autumn send the absent-minded rushing back to get their cameras. But the locals say winter is the best time to go there. The dazzling pure snow and ice sparkling on somber dark trees in the weak winter sun, the monochrome nights of black forms on a silvery whiteness under the cold bright moon in a star studded velvet sky .... I was spellbound. The scene is a poem of stark beauty, the perfect backdrop for quiet contemplation. But quiet contemplation isn?t going to keep you warm. No problem! The park is great for skiing and skating.

The beautiful lake in the middle freezes into a huge skating rink. The ski resort here is one of the best places to ski in the whole country, and has one of the longest skiing trails in Asia. In recent years, the local government holds an ice and snow festival here from December to February every year, which attracts thousands of people to come and join in the fun.

Another wonderful place for sightseeing in Changchun is the Diaoshuihu Scenic Area, noted for its imposing peaks, clear streams, deep valleys and caves and grotesquely shaped rocks, as well as abundant wild plants and animals.

The Diaoshuihu cave in a mountain slope covers a total area as big as a football field, and is the largest limestone cave in northeast China. Going down a 32-meter-long spiral ladder deep into the cave one enters a magical fairyland. Glistening rose-hued veined stalactites take on wondrous shapes, limited only by the imaginations of those who gaze upon them. There is a silence one can almost touch, broken only by the drip drip drip of seeping water.

Of course, there are many other scenic areas in Changchun that are worth visiting, such as the Xianghai Nature Reserve, Nanhu Park and the Shuangyanghu Holiday Village.

As a young city with a history of only 200 years, Changchun offers few places of historical interest. But it does have that you simply mustn?t miss - the Puppet Emperor's Imperial Palace.

Located in the northeast corner of the city, the place once served as the imperial palace of Puyi, the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty, who was dethroned in 1911. In 1932, Changchun was made capital of the puppet state Manchukuo, founded by Japanese invaders after their military occupation of northeast China, and Puyi was enthroned as the emperor of this state. He lived in the palace for 14 years, until the end of the Second World War. Of course, if you?ve seen the film The Last Emperor, then you know this already.

The palace complex is divided into two parts. The inner palace was the living area for Puyi and his family, and the outer palace was where the emperor conducted his official state duties. Today, part of the buildings are a museum with permanent exhibits showing the history of Japan?s occupation of northeast China.

I?ve already mentioned that Changchun was the cradle of China?s automobile industry. But it was also the cradle of New China?s film industry. It was home to the very first film studio to be built after the founding of New China, and for decades it has played a significant role in promoting the development of the country?s film industry.

The Great Movie World in downtown area is a must-see for all film fans. There are exhibitions of the art of cinema and displays of props and costumes for film making. Visitors can also take part in all kinds of interesting and exciting activities concerning film shooting, and maybe even be a film star for a few minutes.

As the capital of Jilin Province, Changchun is a major transportation hub in northeast China. You can get there by plane or train from any big city in the country, and there are also international air routes linking Changchun with South Korea and Russia.

(CRI December 18, 2002)