Where I Live in China

China is a large country with a enormous population.

I live in NE China (know as Dongbei 东北). For those who are history buffs like my father might know this region as Manchuria. Those who are visual china is the shape of a chicken and I live in the head of the chicken. For several years I lived in Baicheng and  in Changchun in Jilin, China. If you plan on visiting this region be prepared for the weather.Six months out of the year it is Winter with average temperatures of -25C to -30C.

Baicheng百城 : 

Know as the white city. This is a city of 300,000 people. Small for China but for a native Kansan this is the size of the largest city in Kansas. It's the perfect size for me. The city saying in English: Baicheng has two windy season. One that last the first of the years and one that lasts the second part of the year. Instead of "White City" it should be called "The Windy City."

Baicheng is what I call a Frontier city: where old meets new. During the time period that I lived there the city was changing fast like the rest of China. The old ways of  doing things are overtaken by the new way. My first year they still had the small blue tri-cabs and rickshaws. Within 8 months those became nonexistent. The other change I saw of those years were the taxi cabs. When I first arrived you had to barter your cab fare. You better know the cost or you'd get ripped off. Other changes included the massive building...buildings upon buildings. The skyline is forever changing just like the rest of China.

Changchun 长春:

The capital of Jilin Provence. Is the largest city in the Provence with a population around 7.5 Million. Very different from small Biacheng.

Life is busy and hectic. Taxi's, buses, lightrail, and the construction of a ring-road and subway makes traveling around town difficult. The bus system is nice, but slow because of the road construction. Taxi's are nice, but if someone is going your way be prepared to share your taxi ride.The light rail is nice if your going around the outskirts of town, but the only way to the city center is taxi or buses. When the subway is finished it will help relive this congestion. The building of the ring-road will increase the cities status throughout China. 

Such a great place to live with so many different places to see and things to do such as: Sculpture Park, Jingyutan Park, Zoo, Imperial Palace, Shopping at Hongqi or Guilin, outdoor adventures at Changbai mountain or Xiangha nature reserve. 

Winter in Changchun, China
Sharon's Photo