Changchun is the capital of Jilin Province, a sub-provincial city, a first-class big city, and the central city of Northeast Asia economic circle. It is also one of the central cities in northeast China located by the State Council, an important industrial base in China, a national historical and cultural city and a comprehensive transportation hub in China.

Changchun is the earliest automobile industry base and film production base in New China, and is known as "Detroit in the East". It is also the cradle of the development of rail cars, photoelectric technology, applied chemistry and biological products in New China, and the famous China FAW, changchun film studio, Changchun Bus Factory, Changchun Institute of Optics and Mechanics of China Academy of Sciences, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry and Changchun Institute of Biological Products were born.