- Wade-Giles romanization:
- Chi-lin
- Conventional and Japanese:
- Kirin
Jilin
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Where is Jilin located in China?
Jilin is a province in the Northeast region of China, also known as Manchuria. It shares borders with Russia to the east, North Korea to the southeast, Liaoning province to the south, Heilongjiang province to the north, and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to the west. The capital of Jilin is Changchun, situated in the west-central part of the province. Jilin province can be divided into three parts: the eastern mountains, the western plains, and a transitional zone of rolling hills between them.
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What is the capital city of Jilin Province?
The capital of Jilin province is Changchun. It became the provincial capital in 1954, before which Jilin City held the status. Changchun is a major industrial center in Northeast China, known for its automotive industry and film production.
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What kind of climate does Jilin have?
Jilin province has a transitional climate between northern and southern Northeast China. Winters are cold and extended, with rivers freezing for about five months. In Changchun, the average January temperature is 2 °F (-17 °C), and the average July temperature is 74 °F (23 °C). Annual precipitation averages around 25 inches (630 mm), with over 80% falling during the warmer months from May to September. Precipitation varies across the province, increasing to over 40 inches (1,000 mm) in the Changbai Mountains area but decreasing westward to about 16 inches (400 mm) on the Northeast Plain.
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Which major rivers run through Jilin?
Jilin Province is located in Northeastern China (Manchuria). The Sungari River is Jilin's primary river, flowing for approximately 500 miles (800 km) within the province and draining an area of more than 30,000 square miles (78,000 square km). The Yalu and Tumen rivers run along the Sino-Korean border in opposing directions. The Huifa River, a tributary of the Sungari, and the Tumen River are navigable by wooden vessels.
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What are some important industries in Jilin?
Jilin province is highly industrialized, with industry concentrated in Changchun and Jilin. Key industries include:
* Automobiles Jilin is a major producer of automobiles.
* Chemicals The development of hydroelectric power in the 1960s enabled the growth of chemical and ferro-alloy industries.
* Machine Tools Jilin produces machine tools.
* Power Jilin is a major power producer.
* Forest Products Originally a lumbering and food-processing center, Jilin is still a major producer of forest products.
* Food Crops Jilin is a major producer of food crops, including rice, corn, grain sorghum, millet, and beans.
* Timber Timber production is a major economic activity in the upper Sungari River basin.3 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
How does Jilin's history influence its culture today?
Jilin's culture is influenced by its diverse historical tapestry. Originally home to steppe and forest dwellers, the region saw the rise and fall of the Hurka tribe before Manchu dominance in the 17th century. Despite policies discouraging settlement, Han Chinese farmers migrated to the area in the 18th century, leading to an agricultural economy. The late 19th century brought economic development via railways and industry, attracting more settlers but also causing conflict between Russia and Japan.
As is the case in other Chinese provinces, Jilin has dozens of cultural centers, public libraries, and popular arts centers. Jilin's artistic heritage includes peasant drawings, folk dances from Korean, Mongol, and Manchu groups, and a major film producer in Changchun. The province's historical layers—from Manchu administration to Japanese occupation—contribute to its cultural richness today.
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Jilin, city, central Jilin province (sheng), northeastern China. It is a prefecture-level municipality (shi) whose territory was enlarged in the early 1970s to encompass the former Yongji prefecture. Situated on the left bank of the upper Sungari (Songhua) River, it lies among surrounding hills about 60 miles (100 km) east of the provincial capital, Changchun.
Jilin is one of the most ancient cities in Northeast China (Manchuria). Originally it was a small village in the territory of the Ula (a Juchen tribe of Manchuria). In 1651 the Manchus, concerned about Russian incursions into the Amur River region, set up a shipyard there to construct boats for defense and transport on the Sungari River (a tributary of the Amur). In 1673 Jilin was fortified, and in 1676 the headquarters of the Manchu military governor was transferred there from Ninguta (now Ningʾan in Heilongjiang province). The town was temporarily constituted as a regular civil prefecture in 1726–34 but remained under military governorship until 1882, when it was walled and given the status of a superior prefecture (fu). Although a government postal relay system was established in the area in the late 17th century, Jilin had poor land communications until the construction of the railway to Changchun in 1913. That line was later extended to Tumen on the Korean border, and other main lines joined Jilin with Mukden (now Shenyang) and Harbin.
After rapid colonization of the surrounding area, Jilin became a commercial and collecting centre for agricultural products and timber. Various light industries such as oil extraction, flour milling, brewing, and the manufacture of lumber and matches also developed. At the time of the Japanese occupation of Manchuria in 1931, it had a population of about 100,000 but was to some extent overshadowed by the rapid growth of the new capital of the Japanese state of Manchukuo at Changchun. After the outbreak of war between Japan and China in 1937, large-scale industrial growth began. The Japanese constructed an enormous hydroelectric station at Fengman, on the Sungari River above Jilin, and established various industrial plants in the city, the most important of which manufactured synthetic rubber, petroleum, chemicals, and paper.
The city was much damaged during the Soviet occupation of the Northeast at the end of World War II and the civil war between the Nationalists and communists. Since 1949, Jilin has continued to expand as an industrial centre. The Fengman Dam was repaired and connected by a grid to Harbin and Shenyang. A large thermal generating plant, using coal from the nearby Yingcheng and Jiaohe fields, was constructed to support the electricity network for the Northeast region. Huge chemical plants—producing dyestuffs, chemical fertilizers, calcium carbide, and chemical fibres—an oil refinery, and petrochemical works were also installed. In addition, a large papermaking plant, textile mills, and farm-product processing factories have been constructed.
Jilin is a hub of rail communications in the area, with connections to Harbin, Yanji, Changchun, and Tonghua. Expressways link it to Changchun and farther to Shenyang and Dalian. The water flowing from the Fengman hydropower station does not freeze in the winter, and rime fog accumulating on the riverside trees there presents a fascinating sight and has become popular with tourists. Winter sports, such as skiing and ice skating, also bring many visitors to Jilin. Pop. (2002 est.) city, 1,242,280; (2007 est.) urban agglom., 2,396,000.