Changchun is not a big city – only 3 million inhabitants or so… But it is the capital of the Jilin province and I found here the palace of the last Chinese Emperor.
This was at the beginning of 20th century. After revolution in China the emperor escaped from Beijing. When Japanese got Manchuria in 1931 they offered him a throne in a new “puppet” country under their protectorate.
The capital of the country was here and he ruled until the end of the second world war,
They charge hefty 80 Y for entry, but what you can see there is quite interesting. In the inner palace rooms of the empress and concubines, great throne halls, Buddhist temple, saloons. There is a swimming pool (the emperor himself did not swim because his majesty cannot show his body), anti- aircraft shelter, limousines ets. I spent there about 3 hours studying old pictures, paintings, and objects of art…
Then I found somebody to share the cost of the taxi to the distant aiport (they charge 80 Y per car). Charming ladies from the Lei cafe gave me the password to their net…
I am waiting for the late flight to Beijing and then there will be night flight to Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia.
I do hope that the next message I will send to you from
Borneo…
