Food
Deer's tail
Although perhaps not as famous as the pilose (deer) antler, that is one of Dongbei's
(northeastern China's) most famous herbal medicines for health and strength,
the tail of deer (Lujiao) is considered a fine delicacy in Changchun. The powers
that this dish gives are also considered of more importance, since a potent
tail is said to have a similar affect as the pill Viagra! Many a wedding night
involves the consumption of these once fluffy tails.To make the dish, Changchun
chefs first submerge the tail in lukewarm water for defurring. After about two
hours the tail is removed and then stewed in a pot, with many Chinese seasonings,
including Chinese cinnamon, for a whole day. The tail over this period gradually
turns to mash, and the final dish is a sort of reddish brown.
Ginseng Chicken cooked with Maotai Wine
Ginseng chicken cooked with Maotai (rice) wine (Renshen maotai ji) is one of
the popular specialties of Changchun. The reason why the Maotai wine, among
the top-tier brands and the most expensive wines in China, is used is to relieve
the originally unpleasant medical taste of ginseng, while enhancing the aroma
of the chicken. This dish is said to be not only delicious in taste but, more
importantly, nutritious as well.
Hotpot
Although plain looking and easy to make, hotpot (Zicai bairou huoguo) still
remains on of the most popular forms of eating for young and old, rich and poor.
The pot boasts an illustrious past: two centuries ago it was the favorite of
the imperial family. In addition, when having hotpot, people tend to sit close
together, which imparts the meaning of unity, that has been gradually disappearing
among an increasingly estranged world. In Changchun, people do not lay so much
emphasis on the ingredients (mainly cabbage and pork meat) as those in other
places, but rather, varieties of seasonings are deemed more essential, such
as sesame sauce, leek, shallot, onion, preserved beancurd and mustard.
As the largest processing and trading city of local produce and handicrafts within Jilin Province, you can find all the shopping specialties of Dongbei here, including such exotic products as quality wine, Changbai ginseng, sable, pilose antler and frog oil. As for handicrafts, wood carving, bark painting and straw-woven wares are famous in and beyond the province.The two largest stores in town are the Changchun Department Store at Dajing Lu and the People's Department Store near the Shangri-La, where you may find good leather shoes and fur hats at a reasonable price. More culture-related is the Antique Center at Qingming Da Lu, with odds and ends including ancient coins, stamps, vases and cameras. And if you really believe in Chinese herbal medicine, the Ginseng and Pilose Antler Market at 27 Tongzhi Da Lu is a must.
To be frank, there is not much entertainment in Changchun, capital city of the province though it is. From time to time, there are spontaneous folk dance show (Dayangge) in the very center of town, on or by Xinmin Square and the Friendship Department Store. When a day for such occasion comes, people invariably put on their Sunday's best, all dolled up.In recent times things seem to have been getting a little better on the bar and nightclub scene. The Again Pub at 72 Changchun Lu is probably the best in town, with live music and trendy crowds. The Second Home, opposite the Shangri-la, is also nice and especially popular with foreigners. Friday's Bar at 3 Xi'an Lu is the best looking of the bars, and is also popular for its live music and busy weekend evenings.Recent years have also witnessed growing popularity in sauna among the locals here, like their peers in Scandinavia. It is considered the ultimate in refreshment to recline in a steaming sauna after a spicy hotpot banquet, letting the fats and toxins flow from your pores!The city also holds various festivals throughout the year. As a national center of the film-making industry, a Film Festival takes place every two years in August, which is said by the locals to be comparable to those in Cannes and Berlin, though sadly this is far from the truth. For those with a liking for wine, the Port Wine Festival in August-September is not to be missed. If you are more sport oriented, the Mongolian Festival in Baicheng, a small town 400km from the city, offers you everything from horse riding and archery to wrestling. Winter is the prime time for festivals--like its northern neighbor, Harbin, Jilin also boasts a large-scale Ice lantern Festival in Jiangnan Park on the southern side of Songhua River. For ice sports, you should head to the various ski resorts around the city, including the Songhua Qingshan Ski Resort, which is 25km southeast of Jilin and Beidahu Ski Resort, which is 5km nearer.