Jilin Travel Guide

Jilin, the only one city owns the same name with a province, is the second largest city in Jilin Province. The name "Jilin" probably originates from Girin ula, a Manchu term meaning "along the river"; this was transcribed into Jilin wula in Chinese, then shortened to Jilin. The literal meaning of the Chinese characters for "Jilin" is "auspicious forest".
 

History

In Western Han Dynasty, this area used to be the early capital city of Fuyu Kingdom. At that time, it was the most developed city in Northeast China. During World War II the city was badly damaged and then plundered by the conquering Russian troops. After the Communist victory, the cities fortunes began to improve a little, as the city transformed itself into an industrial powerhouse. Today it specializes in the manufacturing of chemicals, pharmaceuticals and machines, as well as electricity from its hydroelectric power plant.
 

Attractions

Jilin tourism is composed of natural sceneries, historical sites and human remains. Every winter, more and more people will travel Wusong Island for it showing a snow world with spectacular rimes. Jilin Rime is regarded as one of the Four Wonders in China. Meteorite Museum hosts the largest Meteorite in the world and the impressive planetarium. Jilin Wen Miao Confucian Temple is the largest Confucian Temple in Northeast China as well as one the Top Four Confucian Temples in China.

Other highlights include Mt. Changbaishan, Jilin Catholic Church, Songhua Lake, Jilin Beishan Park, Wula Street Manchu Town, Zhuqueshan Ski Field, Longtan Mountain, Meteor Shower Exhibition Hall, Xituanshan Ruins, Zuojia Tourist Park, etc.
 

Transportation

Getting into and around Jilin is convenient due to its well-developed transport net.
By air: Jilin has several airports offering planes to Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Shenzhen, Xi’an, Hangzhou, as well as Seoul, Sendai and so on. The CAAC Booking Office lies on No.2288 Chongqing Road. Phone Number: +86 432 62454260.

By train: Jilin Railway station is located at Chongqing Road. Inquiry Number: +86 432 2552132. Jilin North Railway Station is at Zhengzhou Road. Inquiry Number: +86 432 3038053. They provide routes to Beijing, Tianjin, Ningbo, Dalian, etc.

By bus: Jilin Passenger Transport Terminal is situated at Zhongkang Road, serving passengers to Changchun, Tonghua, Harbin, Jiamusi and so on.

City Transport: Within the city, several city buses serve passengers to each tourist spots. And the flag-fall rate of taxies is CNY5.
 

Weather

Jilin has a temperate continental climate, with four distinct seasons: a short, dry and windy spring, a hot and rainy summer, a fine and cool autumn and a long and cold winter. The annual average temperature stays at about 4 degrees, and the annual precipitation averages 650mm.

Travelers will have many different reasons for a trip to Jilin City, but, if you are physically prepared for the bitter cold, a city tour in the ice-and-snow winter is probably best.
 

Food and Restaurants

Jilin cuisine is based on Northeast China Food and Korea Cuisine. Local delicacies include Deer's tail, Ginseng Chicken, Fuchun Garden Hot Pot, Qingling Active Fish, Water Lily Frog Oil, Three Sets of Bowl and some more. The food street is at Jiefang Road with local flavors. Here are some recommended restaurants:

Fuyuan Guan
Address: No.117 Henan Street
Tel: +86 432 20265341
Price: CNY17

Liliangui Xunrou Restaurants
Address: opposite to Gumao Dasha, No.88 Shanghai Road
Tel: +86 432 2487888
Price: CNY30
 

Accommodation

Jilin provides plenty of hotels for passengers!
Super 8 Jilin Beijing Road
Address: No.132 Beijing Road, Chuanying District, Jilin

Home Inn Jilin Tianjing Street
Address: No.1789 Tianjin Street, Changyi District

Wuzhou Garden Hotel
Address: No.10 Liaoning Road, Jilin
 

Shopping

Jilin is the main producing area of "three treasures of the Northeast”, which are ginseng, mink and pilose antler. Apart from that, local specialties also include rhodiola rosea, boschniakia rossica, fiddlehead, vetch and something else. Some handcrafts such as Songhuahu root carving, Jilin Paper-cut, Jilin bottle gourd carving should be on your shopping list as well.

Henan Street is the renowned commercial street for passengers to exploring what they want.
 

Tips

1. The best time to touring Jilin Rime is around the Spring Festival.
2. Keeping warm is very important if you are traveling here in winter.
3. Due to their hospitality, locals in Jilin always serve passengers with large bowl of wine and big dish of meat.
4. Jilin Central Hospital lies on No.4 Nanjing Street, Chuanying, Jilin. Inquiry Number: +86 432 6245 6181.