The Chao’an Court of Jia Qing Emperor established Chanchung on July 8, 1800. Since then, it has transformed to become the capital of the Jilin province and an industrial supercenter. As of 2004, there were 7.24 million registered permanent residents located in Changchun city. The birth rate was 8.94 percent, and the death rate was 4.76 percent. About half of the citizens were urban residents, and the other half rural residents. The average family size was 3.41 members. Changchun also is a multi-ethnic region with 46 minorities totaling 252,000 people, or 3.53 percent of their population.

In 2004, the gross domestic product of Changchun reached RMB 153.5 billion; that was a 13.5 percent increase from 2003. In recent years, Changchun has made great breakthroughs in the strategic restructuring of the local economy. The proportion of the primary, second and tertiary industry has been adjusted to 11.0:48.3:40.7 in 2004 from 21.1:41.5:37.4 in 1997. The total number of laborers employed reached 3,761,000 in 2004. The average annual salary was RMB 15,722, up 13.4 percent from 2003.

Changchun’s main industry is the manufacturing of transportation facilities and machinery. They produce 1/5 of the automobiles, 1/2 of the passenger trains, and 1/10 of the tractors for China. Changchun also hosts many large fairs and exhibitions yearly to expose itself to the world. The Changchun International Automobile Fair, Changchun Agricultural Fair, Sculpture Exhibition, and many more are attractions for millions to visit the city. Furthermore, the Jilin Maize Belt is one of the most important commodity grain bases in China. Maize, soybean, paddy rice and sorghum are Changchun's typical agricultural products with annual grain output up to 7,500,000 tons.

Changchun is a famous "city of film" in China. Changchun is home to the Changchun Film Studio. Since 1949, the Studio has produced over 2,000 films and cultivated many film producing talents for the country. Since 1992, the biyearly China Changchun Film Festival has become a unique gala for film industries at home and abroad.

Changchun has expanded its art and culture exchange activities with foreign countries. In recent years, a large batch of world renowned art groups have come to Changchun for good-will visits. Groups include the Red Army Choir and Little Birch Art Troupe from Russia, Pushkin Corps De Ballet, Philharmonics from Vienna and Germany. All these programs have enriched the public's cultural activities and promoted the culture exchanges between Changchun and other countries and regions.