Jilin City

Jilin City is in northeast China.

It sits near the Songhua River. People call it River City. Many hills and mountains are all around it.

Winters are long and cold. It can be very windy too.

In winter, the river does not freeze. This is special for the area.

Warm air rises from the water. It meets the cold air at night. This makes ice grow on tree branches. People come to see this ice.

Some people like to swim in winter. Others like to go skiing. The city has many places for sports.

It is an old city with much history. It is a big and busy place.

Jilin City is in northeast China. It sits in the middle of Jilin Province.

The city is near the Songhua River. Because of this river, people call it River City.

The city is in a hilly area. Four famous mountains surround it. These are North Mountain, Long Tan Mountain, Zhuque Mountain, and Turtle Mountain. North Mountain is very famous. It is home to many Buddhist temples.

Winters are long, cold, and windy. They last from November to March. The Songhua River is special because it does not freeze in winter. Warm air rises from the water to meet the cold air. This makes rime ice grow on tree branches. Many tourists visit to see this beautiful ice.

People enjoy many sports here. You can go skiing, skating, or sledding. Some people even practice winter swimming.

The city is also a big place for travel. The Jilin railway station connects the city to many other places in China.

Jilin City is a major city in northeast China. It sits in the middle of Jilin Province. It is the second-largest city in that province. Many people live there in its urban areas.

The city is also known as the River City. This nickname comes from the Songhua River that flows around much of it. The city is unique because it shares its name with the province it sits in. It even hosted the Asian Winter Games in 2007.

The land around the city is very hilly. Four famous mountains surround the city in a special pattern. These are North Mountain, Long Tan Mountain, Zhuque Mountain, and Turtle Mountain. North Mountain is the most famous of the four. It is home to several Buddhist temples. The Qianlong Emperor even visited this mountain in the past.

Jilin City has a very long history. It is one of the oldest cities in the northeast. During the Ming dynasty, river fleets sailed from here. Later, the Qing dynasty used the area for military needs. In 1661, a shipbuilding factory was set up there. The city was officially a fort city in 1673. The Kangxi Emperor visited the area in 1682 to go fishing.

The weather in Jilin City changes with the four seasons. Winters are long, cold, and windy. They usually last from November to March. Summers are hot and humid. Most of the rain falls between June and August.

One amazing thing happens in the winter. The Songhua River does not freeze. Warm water vapor rises from the river into the cold air. This creates rime ice on the willow branches. This ice is a beautiful sight for tourists.

Traveling to and from the city is quite easy. The Jilin railway station is a very important place. It connects the city to many other places like Beijing and Tianjin. People also use high-speed rail to reach cities like Harbin.

Many people visit for winter sports. They enjoy skiing, skating, and even winter swimming. The city is a busy and lively place to explore.

Jilin City is a major urban center located in northeast China. It serves as a prefecture-level city within Jilin Province. Interestingly, it is the only major city in the country that shares its name with its province. As of the 2020 census, the administrative area held 3,623,713 people. The built-up or metro area contains 1,895,865 residents living across four urban districts. The city is famously known as the "River City." This nickname honors the Songhua River, which surrounds much of the urban landscape.

The geography of Jilin City is defined by hills and water. The city sits in a hilly region near the Songhua River. Four prominent mountains surround the area in a specific arrangement. These are North Mountain in the west, Long Tan Mountain in the east, Zhuque Mountain in the north, and Turtle Mountain in the south. Together with the Songhua River, these landmarks form a bagua pattern, which is a symbol used in Taiji. North Mountain, also called Beishan, is the most famous peak. It contains several Buddhist temples and was once visited by the Qianlong Emperor.

Jilin City possesses a deep and complex history. It is among the oldest cities in the northeast region. During the Ming dynasty, the Yongle Emperor sought to expand control over Manchuria. Mighty river fleets were built and launched from Jilin City to gain the allegiance of local tribes. Later, during the Qing dynasty, the area became militarily vital. In 1661, the government established a naval shipbuilding factory here. By 1673, the city was officially designated as a fort city. In 1676, the Military Governor of Ninguta moved to Jilin City due to its increasing strategic importance.

The city's importance shifted over the centuries. During the 18th and 19th centuries, it remained a key location beyond the Willow Palisade. However, its prominence declined after Manchukuo established its capital in Xinjing, now known as Changchun. By 1940, Jilin's population was 173,624, while Xinjing had grown to 544,202. Following the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Jilin became the provincial capital. It held this position until 1956, when the capital moved to Changchun.

The climate in Jilin City follows a humid continental pattern, known scientifically as Köppen Dwa. This means the region experiences four distinct seasons influenced by monsoons. Winters are long, lasting from November to March. These months are typically cold, windy, and dry due to the Siberian anticyclone. Summers are hot and humid, driven by the East Asian monsoon. Most annual rainfall occurs between June and August. A unique natural phenomenon occurs during January and February. Because the Songhua River does not freeze, warm water vapor rises into the freezing night air. This causes water vapor to crystallize on willow branches, creating beautiful rime ice.

While beautiful, the city has faced significant environmental challenges. In November 2005, explosions occurred at the No.101 Petrochemical Plant. This event released approximately 100 tons of pollutants, including benzene and nitrobenzene, into the Songhua River. Benzene levels reached 108 times the national safety limit. This forced downstream cities like Harbin to suspend water supplies for nearly a week. In 2010, heavy summer floods caused further issues. Floods washed thousands of barrels containing toxic chemicals into the river. This disaster led to the deaths of three soldiers who were working to control the flooding and remove the barrels.

Today, Jilin City is a hub for tourism and transportation. Visitors come to see the rime ice or visit the Meteorite Museum. The city also hosts various winter sports, including skiing and winter swimming. For travel, the Jilin railway station provides access to major cities like Beijing and Tianjin. The city is part of a large network of high-speed rail connecting it to Harbin and Shenyang. Jilin City also maintains many international connections through its sister city relationships. It is twinned with cities such as Spokane in the United States and Yamagata in Japan.