How to get there
Note: The US State Department urges Americans to "reconsider travel" to China, while Canada urges its citizens to "exercise a high degree of caution." The UK has not issued a travel advisory for China.
With a population of more than nine million residents, Changchun is by far the largest of the forgotten capitals. This means that it is well served by both national and international airlines. There are nonstop flights, often several a day, from Seoul, Tokyo, Beijing, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Xi’an, and a host of other Chinese cities.
What do to once there
Emperor Puyi’s palace and museum are certainly the top attraction in Changchun for readers of Forgotten Capitals, but locating the remnants of Xinjing in the 1930s and 1940s certainly reward as well. The South Lake Park and the eight remaining department buildings highlight the list of options. There is also an amusement park built around the city’s historic movie industry (think an unsophisticated Universal Studios) which also provides a certain throughline. The zoo and geological museum certainly have their advocates, but this isn’t the reason one comes to Changchun. In the end, it all comes back to Puyi.
(Image courtesy of wanghongliu and Wikimedia Commons.)
Accommodations
The Hyatt Regency (to the south of People's Square) and the Shangri-La (to the northeast of People's Square) are certainly the city's finest, offering all of the amenities luxury travel affords. Other international hotel chains, such as Holiday Inn and Ramada are less expensive but still of high quality. For those wanting something with more local flavor, the Chunyi Hotel is one of best options as it was built in 1909 and sits across from the rail station.
(Image courtesy of Z4498CG and TripAdvisor)
