Changchun in its present form is a new city with only about 200 years of history. It expanded rapidly as the junction between the Japanese-owned South Manchurian Railway and the Russian-owned Chinese Eastern Railway, which had different rail gauges and permit licenses, from 1905-1935. Changchun had railway repair shops, and branch lines originating in Changchun extended into Korea and Inner Mongolia.In 1932, moving from Jilin (city)|Jilin City (Kirin city) 200 km. to the east, Changchun became the capital of Manchukuo, a state in Manchuria led by '''Pu Yi''' with the help from Japan, and which existed from 1931 to 1945. Then known as '''Hsinking''' (?? Xinjing), the capital was a well-planned city with broad avenues and modern public works. The city underwent rapid expansion in both its economy and infrastructure, and many historic buildings from those times are still standing today. Severely damaged during World War 2, it was invaded by the Soviet Red Army in 1945, which looted the city of everything they could. The Russians maintained a presence in the city after the Chinese Civil War until 1956. Kuomintang forces occupied the city in 1946, but were unable to hold the countryside against Chinese Communist forces. The city fell to the communists in 1948 after a 12-month-long siege by the PLA that resulted in a massive famine with a civilian death toll of 100,000 to 300,000. Renamed Chángchun (Long Spring ??) by the People's Repubic of China government, it became the capital of Jilin Province in 1954.You are strongly advised to learn some Mandarin before visiting Changchun, as not much English is spoken here. But in general, Changchun people are friendly and will do their best to help you even if your Mandarin is very rudimentary. http://wikitravel.org/en/Changchun