The modern flavour of Changchun:

Outside in the Changchun cold, back in 2000, tens of thousands of red 80's style sedan taxis crammed onto the broad streets. Ragged donkey carts darted across the paths of long black limousines. A child, fearful of ever-watchful Fagin, begged for money from passersby under a stark leafless tree. Tomorrow might be different.

Single cylinder diesel three-wheelers belched black smoke as they thumped and banged along the road. Lopsided minibuses charged toward their waiting punch-clocks. Cross the road, look both ways. Look up and down, look all around, take a deep breath, look again.

The northeast has a largely agricultural economy based on wheat, corn, rice and forestry among others including oil, coal and gas, augmented by tourism, art, film, education, light and heavy industry.

Traditional natural medicines, wine, chemicals, technical equipment, cars, trains, maritime vessels and steel are made here.

A cultural heartland of the communist revolution, the northeast was protected from the first wave of the new free market economy. The opening up began in the 80's and has until recently largely only influenced the south. The northeast was initially spared the experiment with market reforms because much strategic industry is based here, like the huge First Automobile Works, now in partnership with Volkswagen.

Historically important, the large Changchun Film Studio was until recently still busy creating more art and less propaganda, defunct now in name, the people and facilities who made it what it was still exist and are still busy. Along with the city and provincial television stations their labour and modern facilities are competitive and open to hire. A steady stream of production companies are opting to have part or all of their filming and post-production done in Changchun. The already expansive film studios have been refurbished and enlarged.

The Jilin Provincial Opera Troupe also tours overseas and offers lessons to the willing.

Traditional martial arts are taught here, tai chi and traditional medicine.

The universities offer a wide range of competitive courses ranging from physical education, languages, nursing, graphic design and many others through to computer programming.

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