Autumn bestows Changchun with crystal-clear skies and vibrant atmosphere. In the western part of the city, a modern International Aviation Expo City is rapidly taking shape. It represents Changchun's vision for deeply integrating aviation culture with urban growth and will soon present to its citizens an "everlasting air show".

"The construction of the Changchun International Aviation Expo City represents a crucial decision made by the Jilin Provincial Committee and Government, as well as the Changchun Municipal Committee and Government. It aims to drive high-quality urban development, revitalize the western region, and better fulfill the people's aspirations for a better life," as underscored at the press conference for the 2025 Changchun Air Show. The project not only highlights strategic considerations for urban growth but also demonstrates a commitment to enhancing people's well-being, showcasing Changchun's firm resolve to foster a seamless blend of aviation culture and urban life.

Breaking New Ground: Making the Air Show "Take Root" in Changchun

Since 2019, Changchun has held three air shows on a biennial schedule, attracting both local citizens and visitors. However, the event previously faced temporary challenges, lacking sustained collaboration with peripheral industries.

In past air shows, Changchun has always been the focus of aviation enthusiasts nationwide. Crowds flocked to the airport, while tourism, dining, and accommodation industries enjoyed short-lived booms. However, as soon as the event concluded, the fervor swiftly diminished, making it challenging to maintain the momentum of aviation culture's impact on urban development.

To meet the public's expectations for in-depth experiences of aviation culture, regular science popularization, and distinctive cultural tourism consumption, Changchun actively planned and constructed the Changchun International Aviation Expo City after the third air show. It aims to create a new urban space themed around aviation that integrates exhibitions, experiences, science popularization, and cultural tourism, while turning the "everlasting air show" into a shining emblem of Changchun.

Today, the exhibition function zone of the Expo City is taking shape at speed, which will transform the Changchun Air Show from a "five-day biennial event" to a year-round, regularly operated "daily routine". This allows the event to truly "take root" in Changchun, evolving from a "periodic event" into a "perennial highlight".

For local citizens, what used to be a biennial experience will soon become part of their everyday lives. For tourists, beyond classic 5A-level scenic attractions such as Jingyuetan National Forest Park and the Palace Museum of the Manchurian Regime, the Expo City will become a must-visit aviation cultural landmark, further enhancing Changchun's tourism appeal.

Strengthening the Wing: Activating a New Engine for Western Changchun

Western Changchun, rich in space resources and with significant late-mover advantages, has long faced challenges such as weak infrastructure and insufficient industrial clustering. The establishment of the Expo City injects strong momentum into this area, becoming a key lever for the rise of the city's "western wing".

This project is poised to effectively drive infrastructure upgrades, foster industrial clustering and attract population inflow, aiming to address urban functional deficiencies, establish a new paradigm for the rise of Changchun's "western wing," and promote more balanced and resilient urban development. Currently, efforts to improve the transportation network around the Expo City are accelerating, with multiple bus routes optimized and adjusted to shorten the travel time and distance between the western area and the city center. Supporting facilities such as healthcare and education are also under planning and construction, which will significantly improve the living quality and public services in this area. Moreover, industrial clustering effects are emerging. As the construction of the Expo City advances, a number of enterprises specialized in aviation equipment manufacturing, aviation services, cultural tourism, and cultural creativity are turning their attention to western Changchun. Enterprises related to the low-altitude economy, aviation-themed education institutions, and specialty catering and accommodation brands are actively negotiating to establish a presence. In the future, this area will form an industrial cluster centered on aviation culture, creating numerous job opportunities, optimizing the regional industrial structure, and turning the "western wing" into a new engine for Changchun's high-quality development.

Benefiting the People: Creating a Shared Space for All

The Expo City is not merely a venue for exhibitions but also an open space shared by all. Its most fundamental purpose is to enhance citizens' quality of life and sense of fulfillment. From the outset, this aviation-themed project was designed with a strong people-centered focus, aiming to become an ideal destination for local citizens to enjoy leisure and the charm of aviation. The Blue Sky Park, nestled within the Expo City, stands as a testament to its people-oriented design. 

Based on a 5-kilometer loop, the park features a themed route called "Ten Miles of Aviation Trail, a Century of Aviation History", with must-visit spots blending green spaces and aviation elements along the way. It also offers a camping area, café, and parent-child playground. "It is not a traditional municipal park, but a themed, content-rich, and dynamic aviation cultural leisure hub," said the park operator. Since its official opening on September 6, the park has welcomed tens of thousands of visitors daily for sightseeing and educational activities. People stroll along the "Aviation Trail" to learn about aviation history, enjoy weekends with family in the camping area, or spend quality time with children in the playground. 

In the future, with the planned eastern reserve land, more cultural tourism functions will be integrated into the park, allowing citizens to immerse themselves in the charm of aviation. Moreover, the Expo City will serve as an important base for aviation-themed educational activities. On weekends or holidays, children can participate in aviation science popularization courses, make model aircraft by hand, get up close with aviation equipment, and plant the seeds of a "blue-sky dream" in their hearts. For aviation enthusiasts, regular exhibitions and professional lectures will satisfy their desire to explore aviation culture. "It belongs to every citizen of Changchun and to all who love aviation and dream of the blue sky," said a representative of Changchun Cultural and Tourism Development Group.

From breaking the limitation of the air show to activating development momentum in western Changchun and creating a shared aviation cultural space, the construction of the Expo City is a vivid practice of Changchun's commitment to high-quality development and public well-being. As the project progresses, low-altitude economy industries gradually take shape, and cultural tourism offerings expand, this place will emerge as a new growth pole in western Changchun, an aviation cultural tourism belt, and a cluster of distinctive industries and new quality productive forces. In realizing the goal of "serving development and benefiting the people", it will make the "everlasting air show" a source of pride for every citizen of Changchun and write a new chapter in the development of the Spring City in Northeast China.

Source: Changchun Government Affairs  Editor: Liu Jiadi