The Automotive Culture: the Firstborn of the Republic

Jilin Province is named after the city of Jilin, yet its capital is Changchun. At the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Changchun was the heart of heavy industry in Northeast China—and arguably the entire country. With its rich industrial heritage, Changchun embraced a critical mission, and among its many achievements, the automobile industry stands out as its most illustrious legacy.

Dawn in the Motor City (Xinhua News Agency)

In 1956, the first automobile—the “Jiefang” (meaning “liberation”)—slowly rolled off the production line at the First Automotive Works (FAW) in western Changchun. This milestone ended China’s long history of being unable to mass-produce its own vehicles. From that point on, FAW expanded its production to include a wide range of vehicles such as cars, trucks and vans.

At that time, the automobile symbolized national pride, advanced industrial capability and modern innovation. The establishment and success of FAW was a monumental event in Chinese industry, inspiring a nationwide drive toward progress. Along with the Jiefang automobile, a fervor for improving life and building the nation swept across the country.

Today, Changchun leads China’s automobile industry. It is not only home to renowned national brands like FAW but also hosts many of the world’s top automobile and parts manufacturers, who have set up production facilities in the city. Moreover, Changchun is the venue for the China (Changchun) International Automobile Exposition—a show that has grown over 23 years from a modest local exhibition into an event of international significance.

The Changchun International Automobile Park, the city’s largest theme park, features a performance plaza, automobile brand displays, an automobile museum and other attractions. Visitors to the museum can learn about Western automotive giants such as Ford and Karl Benz, as well as appreciate the contributions of Rao Bin, a pioneer in China’s automobile industry. Spanning a vast area, the park embodies the speed and determination of China’s automotive sector.

Auto cultural tourism has emerged as a major focus in Changchun’s cultural tourism initiatives. With its long and celebrated history in the automobile industry, along with attractions like factories and theme parks, the city offers car enthusiasts and tourists a unique opportunity to experience its legacy as the automobile capital of China.

Over nearly 70 years, Changchun has been the birthplace of many automotive “firsts” in China. In today’s era of revitalizing the old industrial regions of Northeast China, the automobile—a transformative invention that has profoundly shaped human civilization—continues to play a pivotal role in the region’s development.