Changchun, city in northeastern China, the capital of Jilin Province, an important industrial and rail center. Its major industries produce motor vehicles and railroad equipment; other manufactures include rubber goods, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, electrical products, processed food and wood, textiles, and motion pictures. Changchun is a spacious, modern city, with broad avenues. Jilin University and several colleges are here. The city was founded by Chinese settlers in the 1790s. As Hsinking, it served (1932-1945) as the capital of the former Japanese-controlled state of Manchukuo and suffered heavy damage and looting during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945). It became a major industrial center after 1949 and replaced the city of Jilin as provincial capital in 1954. Population (1991) 2,583,890.
