Jilin is a province in northeast China bordering North Korea and Russia, known for Changbai Mountain and its Heaven Lake crater, Changchun's Manchukuo-era palace and film heritage, Jilin City's winter rime ice, and the Korean-Chinese culture of Yanbian. The Tumen and Yalu rivers form its southern frontier, and Goguryeo tombs at Ji'an are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Winters are long and cold, with excellent skiing.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Changbai Mountain Ginseng (长白山人参)
Jilin's most famous product; Fusong and Jingyu counties grow the bulk of China's cultivated ginseng. Sold as fresh roots, dried slices, red ginseng, tea and honeyed ginseng. Prefer sealed packages with a batch code and invoice for costly roots.
Price: CNY 100-5,000 (approx. USD 15-745)
Where: Fusong Ginseng Market, Changchun Chongqing Road gift shops, Yanji Central Market
Sika Deer Velvet and Deer Products (梅花鹿茸)
Shuangyang (near Changchun) and Dongfeng are historic sika deer farming areas; velvet antler slices, powders and deer-bone wine are sold as tonics. Buy from licensed shops with a quality certificate.
Price: CNY 200-3,000 (approx. USD 30-450)
Where: Changchun department stores and Shuangyang deer-farm shops
Forest Frog Oil (林蛙油, hashima)
A traditional Northeast tonic derived from Chinese forest frogs of the Changbai Mountain region, sold as dried pieces for soups and desserts. Check seller licences and packing dates.
Price: CNY 150-1,200 (approx. USD 22-180)
Where: Erdaobaihe souvenir shops, Fusong Ginseng Market, Yanji Central Market
Songhua Stone Inkstone (松花石砚)
Songhua stone is quarried in the Changbai Mountain area and was prized as an imperial inkstone in the Qing era; carved inkstones, seals and desk sets are sold in Jilin City and Changchun art shops.
Price: CNY 100-5,000 (approx. USD 15-745)
Where: Jilin City Henan Street area, Changchun museum shops
Yanbian Apple Pear (延边苹果梨)
A regional fruit crossing apple and pear, grown around Yanji, Longjing and Helong and sold fresh in autumn or as dried slices and juice.
Price: CNY 10-60 per kg (approx. USD 1.50-9)
Where: Yanji Xi Market, Yanji Central Market
Korean-Chinese Rice Cake (打糕) and Kimchi
Pounded glutinous rice cakes with red-bean or soybean-flour coating and jars of Yanbian kimchi; sold fresh and in vacuum packs suitable for short trips.
Price: CNY 20-100 (approx. USD 3-15)
Where: Yanji Xi Market, Yanji Central Market
Korean-Chinese Hanbok and Fabrics (朝鲜族服饰)
Ready-made and custom hanbok, silk skirts and bridal sets plus bright satin and brocade; tailors in Yanji produce made-to-measure pieces in several days.
Price: CNY 300-3,000 (approx. USD 45-450)
Where: Yanji Xi Market fabric hall, Yanji central shops
Wula Grass Products and Manchu Paper-cut (乌拉草与满族剪纸)
Wula grass (乌拉草) is counted among the three treasures of the Northeast alongside ginseng and mink; insoles and straw crafts are sold, along with Manchu paper-cut and embroidery items in Jilin City and Wula Street.
Price: CNY 20-300 (approx. USD 3-45)
Where: Wula Street Manchu Town, Jilin City Henan Street
Changbai Mountain Linden Honey (长白山椴树蜜)
Pale, creamy honey harvested from Amur linden forests near Changbai Mountain; sold in jars at markets and small shops around the park.
Price: CNY 50-200 per kg (approx. USD 7.50-30)
Where: Erdaobaihe souvenir shops, Fusong market
Tonghua Wild Grape Wine (通化山葡萄酒)
Tonghua in southern Jilin is a historic maker of sweet wild-grape wine, sold in gift boxes and bottles; sweet and dry options are available.
Price: CNY 40-300 (approx. USD 6-45)
Where: Changchun supermarkets and department stores, Jilin City shops
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Changchun Hongqi Street Shopping District (红旗街商圈)
Changchun's largest downtown retail district around Hongqi Street, with the Wanda-style malls, department stores, fashion chains and a busy basement food court; it is the main stop for coats and winter gear.
Where: Chaoyang District, Changchun
Hours: Daily about 9:30AM-10PM
Changchun Guilin Road (桂林路步行街)
A pedestrian shopping strip with fashion boutiques, cosmetics, food stalls and Korean-style cafes popular with students and young families.
Where: Chaoyang District, Changchun
Hours: Daily about 9AM-9:30PM
Changchun Chongqing Road and Ouya Mall Area (重庆路欧亚商圈)
A central retail corridor along Chongqing Road anchored by the Ouya (Eurasia) shopping centre and surrounding department stores, selling clothing, cosmetics, luggage and gift sets of local ginseng and deer products.
Where: Chaoyang District, Changchun
Hours: Daily about 9:30AM-9:30PM
Jilin City Henan Street (吉林市河南街)
A traditional commercial street on the southern bank of the Songhua River, with small shops, old-brand snack sellers and local clothing stores; Jilin locals shop here for winter wear and Songhua stone crafts.
Where: Chuanying District, Jilin City
Hours: Daily about 9AM-9:30PM
Yanji Xi Market (延吉西市场)
A large traditional Korean-Chinese market with kimchi and pickle counters, cold noodle sellers, hanbok fabric, rice cakes, dried fish and Yanbian apple pears; the best place in Yanji to see local life.
Where: Yanji, Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture
Hours: Daily about 6AM-6PM (food stalls to about 8PM)
Yanji Central Market (延吉中央市场)
A city-centre covered market with fresh produce, Korean-style side dishes, ginseng and mushroom counters and clothing; known for its Korean snacks counters and hanbok rental shops nearby.
Where: Yanji, Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture
Hours: Daily about 7AM-6PM
Fusong Ginseng Market (抚松人参市场)
Fusong County is known as the 'Ginseng Town' and is reputed to supply a large share of China's cultivated ginseng; the market and surrounding dealer shops sell fresh and dried roots, ginseng slices, tea and wine.
Where: Fusong County, Baishan
Hours: Daily about 8AM-5PM
Erdaobaihe Town Changbai Mountain Souvenir Shops (二道白河镇)
The gateway town of the north slope of Changbai Mountain, with souvenir shops and small markets selling wild mushrooms, ginseng, honey, forest frog oil and wood crafts; hotels and restaurants are also based here.
Where: Antu County, Yanbian
Hours: Daily about 8AM-9PM (peak season)