Jilin

Jilin is a province in Northeast China, part of the Dongbei region. It covers about 187,000 square kilometers and borders Heilongjiang to the north and northeast, Liaoning to the south, and Inner Mongolia to the west. The capital and largest city is Changchun. The name derives from Jilin City, located in the eastern part of the province.

Geography and climate: The province sits largely on the Songliao Plain, with the eastern area including portions of the Changbai Mountains. The Songhua River and its tributaries are among the major waterways. The climate is temperate continental, with cold winters and warm summers; precipitation is moderate and varies by season.

History and administration: The region was part of Manchuria through the late Qing era and early Republic period. Changchun served as the capital of the Japanese-controlled state of Manchukuo from 1932 to 1945. After 1949, Jilin became a province of the People’s Republic of China. It is divided into several prefecture-level divisions, including Changchun, Jilin City, Siping, Tonghua, Baicheng, and the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture.

Economy and demographics: The province has a population of about 27 million. The Han Chinese form the majority, with a notable ethnic Korean minority in Yanbian. The economy combines manufacturing—especially automotive production in Changchun—with agriculture (corn, soybeans, and rice) and forestry in the northern areas.

Culture and transportation: Jilin features Northeast regional culture and hosts institutions such as Jilin University in Changchun. The area has a history in Chinese cinema and is served by Changchun Longjia International Airport, with rail links including high-speed connections to major cities.