A PLACE, A STORY / Changchun
Museum of the Imperial Palace of Manchukuo
Puyi’s former residence preserves evidence of Japanese occupation and a puppet state. Its buildings invite careful reading beyond their palace appearance.
© xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Resized and compressed. · Original source · License
© xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Resized and compressed. · Original source · License
This Changchun museum occupies the former palace used by Puyi as ruler of the Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo. The site combines buildings with Chinese, Japanese and Western architectural elements, reflecting its complicated twentieth-century history. It is a place to connect rooms and objects with the power structures behind them.
Read a label before judging a room by its decoration. Afterwards, exchange one question with a companion that the visit has made you want to understand.
Editorial sources
- Jilin Provincial Local Chronicles · Imperial Palace museum
- Jilin Provincial Local Chronicles · Changchun Jingyuetan
Editorial review:
Before travelling, check current access, opening times and entry requirements with the relevant official sources.
