Changchun Photo Gallery - Japanese Colonial Architecture

In 1932, Changchun became the new capital of Manchukuo, Japan's puppet state in northeastern China. Great transport links to their Korean colony and its central location made it the perfect place to build a grand city with leafy boulevards, large roundabouts, and imposing buildings.
The grandest of the structures are known as the "8 ministries", 6 of which are still standing today. They are clustered around Culture Square and along the wide and leafy Xinmin Dajie leading from it.
Some of these buildings have new uses today, such as this one becoming a university hospital.

Across the street is another grand university building.

A leafy median keeps walking pleasant even if it is -18C cold.

At the southern end of the street is a grand roundabout and a military hospital.

Back at the top end of the street, the Japanese had intended to build a new royal palace on Culture Square, but the end of World War II and the Japanese retreat stopped that plan. Now the site is also part of the local university.

A metro stop away to the east, a sprinkle of colonial buildings line along People's Avenue.

The Central Bank of Manchukuo is now the People's Bank of China.

The Manchukuo Telephone and Telegraph Company is now China Unicom's office.


In 1932, Changchun became the new capital of Manchukuo, Japan's puppet state in northeastern China. Great transport links to their Korean colony and its central location made it the perfect place to build a grand city with leafy boulevards, large roundabouts, and imposing buildings. The grandest of the structures are known as the "8 ministries", 6 of which are still standing today. They are clustered around Culture Square and along the wide and leafy Xinmin Dajie leading from it. Some of these buildings have new uses today, such as this one becoming a university hospital. Across the street is another grand university building. A leafy median keeps walking pleasant even if it is -18C cold. At the southern end of the street is a grand roundabout and a military hospital. Back at the top end of the street, the Japanese had intended to build a new royal palace on Culture Square, but the end of World War II and the Japanese retreat stopped that plan. Now the site is also part of the local university. A metro stop away to the east, a sprinkle of colonial buildings line along People's Avenue. The Central Bank of Manchukuo is now the People's Bank of China. The Manchukuo Telephone and Telegraph Company is now China Unicom's office.

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