The Imperial Palace of Puyi in Manchukuo, Changchun

🔵Name: Puppet Regime Palace Museum 🔵Address: No. 5 Guangfu North Road, Kuancheng District, Changchun City 🔵How to get there: Take the Purple Line 4 subway to Puppet Regime Palace Museum station 🔵Opening hours: Peak season (April 16 to October 15) 08:30–17:20, ticket sales close at 16:20; Off-season (October 16 to April 15) 08:30–16:50, ticket sales stop at 15:40. 🔵Price: 70 yuan for an adult ticket Honestly, we’re not huge fans of palaces—Angkor Wat in Cambodia was an exception that truly wowed us—but the Imperial Palace of Puyi in Changchun is undeniably a landmark of the city, so we couldn’t skip it. And we have to say, folks, the place was packed. We waited in line for tickets for at least half an hour, if not longer. Tourists from all over China were everywhere. 🕜 This was once the residence of China’s last emperor, Aisin Gioro Puyi, not as the ruler of the Celestial Empire, but as the "emperor" of the puppet state of Manchukuo. The history of this place is complex, involving Japanese influence, espionage intrigues, and an attempt to create a "new China" under foreign control. It was even a bit moving to realize that Puyi himself once walked these same paths—a man whose life story was depicted in the film "The Last Emperor" (parts of which were filmed here!). But let’s not delve into the facts—you can read those on Wikipedia. Instead, we’ll share our impressions. ⬇️ Let’s just say, if we had a Russian-speaking guide (even in audio format), the experience would have been more vivid. As it was, we blended into the crowd, followed the route, peeked into rooms, and admired the massive chandeliers, antique furniture, ornate mirrors, and portraits. It all somewhat reminded us of Stalin’s dacha in Gagra—the same austerity, the same heavy atmosphere of the era. It seems the taste of those in power at the time was quite uniform. 🔸The palace has a strong "museum smell"—a mix of dust, old wood, varnish, and slightly damp stone. This adds a unique atmosphere, as if you’re stepping into the past for a moment. We explored all the buildings in about an hour, strolled through the garden—the green grounds are well-maintained, with alleys and vintage lanterns. We checked out a mini car museum (there’s only one car, but what a car!—black, shiny, imperial), and then stumbled upon an actual train that once transported Puyi. We also lingered at the stables—they’ve been preserved and are still operational. Nearby, you can even go for a horseback ride.