Jilin is the only city in China that shares the same as its province. Winter is definitely the time to come to the city for the ski slopes at Songhua Lake and Beidahu Ski Area and the famed snow-crusted "rimy pines" that bring in flocks of local tourists. Like Harbin, tourists visit Jilin in January for the annual Ice Lantern Festival and to enjoy the spectacle of the city transformed into a winter wonderland after snow falls. In Manchurian dialect the city is named "city along the river." Flanked by a waterfront promenade lined with pine and willow trees, the Songhua River cuts through the middle of Jilin making for an easy navigational landmark. For a modern city known to be predominantly industrial, Jilin has a surprising number of large parks, possibly the city's best feature. In spring and summer, pack a picnic lunch and take a walk south across J... more >>