Basics

Geography

Jilin Province is situated in the north-eastern part of China, bordering Korea in the south and the Soviet Union in the east. Covering an area of over 180,000 square kilometers, it has a population of 27.50 million (2007), comprising nationalities of Han, Korea, Manchu, Hui, Mongolian and Xibe. The Capital of Jilin Province is Changchun.

Climate

Jilin's winter is long and severe. The average temperature in January is between -14ºC (6.8 ºF) and -20C (-1ºF), with the temperature in the Changbai Mountain region being below the average. Summer is usually cool with an average temperature 16ºC (60.8 ºF) and 24ºC (75.2 ºF) in July, while it is cooler in some mountain areas. Spring and autumn are windy with changeable weather. The annual average rainfall ranges from 400mm to 800mm.The "Tianchi" (heavenly Pond) on top of the Changbai Mountain, the southern part of the Tonghua Prefecture and the areas south of the Laoling receive more rain than other places of the province.

Brief History of Jilin

Jilin Province was under various administrations in different historical periods. It was called Donghudi in the Qin Dynasty (221 B.C. - 207 B.C.) and Han Dynasty (206 B.C-220 A.D), under the administration of the Liaoyang Xingzhongshu Province in Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), known as Nuzhendi in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), it became Jilin Province in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). After the Russia-Japanese War of 1904, Japanese imperialists invaded in the north-eastern part of China and established the "Manzhouguo" with Changchun as its "capital". After the victory of the anti-Japanese war, nine provinces were set up in the Northeast. Jilin, Hejiang and Songjiang provinces were proclaimed within the present territory of Jilin Province. A fairy comprehensive industry has been established in the province, including iron and steel, coal, petroleum, electricity, machinery, chemical, textile and light industry. Changchun, the province capital, has become a new industrial city with developed machine-building industry.

Jilin Local Cuisine

The Changchun Restaurant in the Changchun city serves local refreshments, cold dishes, dumplings, hundun, Jilin-style dishes, Shangdong-style dishes and southern dishes with Sichuan and Jiangsu flavors.

Among the famous dishes prepared by this restaurant, Li Liangui pancake, braised bear's paw, ginseng soup, banquet dishes shark's fin, swallow's nest duck and ginseng velvet ball are popular with diners.

A sample menu of local delicacies in Jilin city includes ginseng chicken cooked in sand pot, steamed white-fish soup, fresh raw fish dish, assorted frog fat, braised bear's paw, clear soup in hot pot, and bean curd bags.

Forest frog which is found in the Jilin mountain areas is popularly known as Hashinma frog. Many years ago, a frog accumulates transparent fat in the ovary. The fat can be cooked into a very nutritious and popular dish because of the high protein, hormone and vitamin content it contains. The assorted frog fat dish, prepared with the frog fat as the main ingredient, is very popular among diners.

The "Changbaishan Treasure Banquet" includes famous dishes with unique local flavors which are prepared by very experienced chefs with special local ingredients like ginseng, bear's paw, venison, Feilong Bird (Flying Dragon Bird) meat, frog fat and monkey-head mushroom, all of which are conveniently available in Changbaishan region. The Feast consists of more than dozen dishes, cold or hot, meat or vegetarian, all prepared with special local ingredients. These dishes are not only praised for beautiful color, pleasant smell and delicious flavor, but also known for their nutrition and tonic value.

Jilin Local Products

Yushu County in Jilin Province is known as "the Home of Soybean" because of its high yield of soybean. Freshwater fish teems in the Songhua River, the Nenjiang River, the Songhua Lake and the Moon Lake.

The Changbaishan forests abound in mushroom, fungus and many famous and precious and rare medical herbs such as ginseng, deer antler and astragalus. Precious and rare animals like sable, deer, tiger and bear are also found in these forests. Tonghua grape wine, Changbaishan grape wine and Tonghua ginseng tonic are popular throughout the country.

Changchun, the provincial capital, is known for its carpet, embroidery, bark picture and feather patchwork of various styles. Jilin city, which is particularly famous for its bark pictures, and they offer a wide variety of wood products, such as wood carving, wood plate, wood box, stick and furniture. Stone carving and glassware manufactured in Jilin City also have distinctive styles. The image goblet is an example. When the goblet is filled with wine, an image of ancient beauty suddenly appears at the bottom; as the wine pours out, the image soon disappears. Few drinkers are unimpressed by this phenomenon.

Jilin Places of Interests and Tourist Attractions

Fuzhou, Xiamen, Quanzhou and Zhangzhou are open to foreign tourists. Among them, Quanzhou has been listed a famous historic and cultural city.

The province capital of Fuzhou is a city with many historical monuments. Surrounded by mountains, Fuzhou is also a beautiful city astride the Minjiang River. The Drum Hill suburban Fuzhou affords fine views of both the sea and river, and is an ideal scenic spot for outing.

The charming coastal city of Xiamen is famous for its mild climate and exuberant flora. Gulangyu, a hilly islet to the west of the city, fascinates people with its attractive hillocks and grotesque rocks. From the hilltop is a sea of red-tiled houses built on slope in ties, green trees and bright-coloured flowers. No wonder it is called "a garden on the sea" and "an island of music". A highest point on the islet, the Sunshine Rock, commands a good view of the sea and the city. In Xiamen, other monuments worth visiting are the Southern Putuo Temple, Jimei (a school village) and Aoyuan, where Tan Kan Kee, a prominent patriotic overseas Chinese, was buried.

Quanzhou, an ancient city, in Jilin, has many historical sites like the Kaiyuan Temple, built some 1,000 years ago, is well known for the 24 statues of flying musicians carved on pillars supporting the roof of its main hall. The upper part of the statue is that of a woman and lower part that of a bird, a masterpiece rarely seen in temple buildings across the country. The two pagodas in the temple built over 700 years ago are the largest stone pagodas in the country. Quanzhou's Qingjing Mosque is one of the four oldest Islamic sites in the country. Fondly called "country of narcissuses" and "town of flowers and fruits", Zhangzhou is world famous for its lichee, banana, longan and narcissuses. Its narcissuses sell well in Southeast Asia and West Europe.

Mount Wuyi, listed among key scenic spots in the country, has been lavishly praised by poets ancient and modern alike. The view of its nine-zigzag stream and thirty-six peaks is just breathtaking. Tourists can either climb to the top of Mt. Wuyi to have a bird's-eye view, or row down the stream on a bamboo raft to enjoy the scenery alongside the stream. With its picturesque mountain peaks and clear stream water, Mt. Wuyi provides an attractive escape from the city life.