However, Jilin's economy, characterized by heavy industry, has been facing economic difficulties with privatization.

The name "Jilin" originates from girin ula,[b] a Manchu phrase meaning "along the river", shortened to Kirin in English.

[6] In ancient times, Jilin was inhabited by the Xianbei, Sushen, the Mohe, Jurchens, and the Wùjí (勿吉).

After the defeat of Japan in 1945, the Red Army captured Jilin after Operation August Storm.

Manchuria was the staging ground from which the communists eventually conquered the rest of China in the Chinese Civil War.

In recent times Jilin has, with the rest of heavy industry-based Northeast China, been facing economic difficulties with privatization.

Jilin lies in the central part of northeastern China, bordering Russia and North Korea in the east and southeast respectively.

[10] The province is rich in large reserves of oil, gas, coal, iron, nickel, molybdenum, talc, graphite, gypsum, cement rock, gold and silver; its reserves of oil shale are the largest in the country.

Jilin has a northerly continental monsoon climate, with long, cold winters and short, warm summers.

[1] The politics of Jilin is structured in a dual party-government system like all other governing institutions in mainland China.

[21] Compared to other provinces of China, Jilin has extensive deposits of Kieselguhr, wollastonite, floatstone, and molybdenum.

[11] Traditionally, Jilin has been known as a major pharmaceutical center, with yields of ginseng and deer antlers among the largest in China, being used extensively in the field of Chinese medicine.

The leading industries in the zone are new materials, refined chemical products, integration of photoelectron and mechanism, electronics, medicine and bioengineering.

The latter specializes in the development of traditional Chinese pharmaceuticals, mini molecule medicine, bio-pharmaceuticals and health products.

By the end of 2006, the total fixed assets investment of the Changchun Economic and Technological Development Zone reached 38.4 billion yuan.

In November 2016, CRCC Changchun unveiled the first bullet train carriages in the world that would have sleeper berths, and would be capable of running in ultra low temperature environments.

Nicknamed Panda, they are capable of running at 250 kmph, operate at -40 degrees Celsius, have Wi-Fi hubs and contain sleeper berths that fold into seats during the day.

The four railway projects were estimated to cost RMB13 billion, and the province urged foreign investors to invest in them.

From Jilin Province, it can go directly to Harbin, Shenyang, Dalian, Beijing, Tianjin, Xi'an, Shijiazhuang, Wuhan, Jinan, and so on.

In 2007, Jilin started construction on a two-phase RMB60 million comprehensive river port; the first phase is finished.

The port is on the Songhua River, has an annual throughput of two million tons, and will connect to the waterways of Northeast China.

It can go directly to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Haikou, Ningbo, Dalian, Kunming, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan and so on.

The Manchu people were once the majority in the area of Jilin, making it part of their historical region.

[39] Jilin is part of Northeast China and shares many similarities in culture to neighbouring regions, such as Errenzhuan and Yangge.

Paektu Mountain, especially Heaven Lake on the border with North Korea, are popular tourist destinations due to their natural scenery.