The Puppet Emperor’s Palace Museum (伪满皇宫博物院, also known as Museum of the Imperial Palace of Manchukuo), located in Changchun, covers an area of 250,500 square meters, with a building area of 137,000 square meters. It features 50 original displays of the Puppet Manchukuo court, including significant buildings such as Jixi Building, Qinmin Building, and Tongde Hall. The museum hosts two large permanent exhibitions, three themed exhibitions, and has organized 33 temporary exhibitions, along with 17 domestic touring exhibitions and 11 international exhibitions. Its collection includes a vast array of artifacts from the Puppet Manchukuo court, modern Japanese artifacts, northeastern modern relics, folk items, and notable works of art, including representative paintings, sculptures, and works from intangible cultural heritage inheritors.
Originally, the Puppet Emperor’s Palace served as the official office of the Jilin-Heilongjiang Salt Administration during the Republic of China period. On March 9, 1932, with the support of Japanese invaders, Puyi was appointed the “ruler” of the newly established Manchukuo. Puyi moved to the palace on April 3, 1932, making it the seat of the Manchukuo government. On March 1, 1934, Puyi held his enthronement ceremony in Qinmin Building, transitioning from “ruler” to “emperor,” and the government was subsequently renamed the “Imperial Palace,” commonly referred to as the “Puppet Emperor’s Palace.” Following this, significant expansions were made to the palace.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Exhibitions in Puppet Emperor’s Palace Museum
- Vlog about the Puppet Emperor’s Palace Museum
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 – 2 hours |
| Ticket Price | 70 RMB |
| Opening Hours | 8.30 – 17.20 (16th April – 15th October) 8.30 – 18.00 (16th October – 15th April) |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0431-82866611 |
Location and Transportation
The Puppet Emperor’s Palace Museum is located at No. 5 Guangfu North Road, Kuancheng District, Changchun City, Jilin Province, China. To get there, you can choose one of the following ways:
Bus: Take bus 264 and get off at the Puppet Emperor’s Palace stop (伪满皇宫站).
Metro: The closest metro station to the attraction is Puppet Emperor’s Palace (伪满皇宫站) on line 3 and line 4. After getting out of the station from Exit D, walk about 300 meters to the west to reach the museum.
Exhibitions in Puppet Emperor’s Palace Museum
The Life of Aisin Gioro Puyi
This exhibition hall is divided into five stages of Puyi’s life: the Last Emperor, Tianjin Resident, Puppet Emperor of Manchukuo, Special War Criminal, and Ordinary Citizen. Covering an area of 680 square meters and featuring a display length of 240 meters, the exhibition showcases 421 historical photographs and over 260 artifacts. It presents Puyi’s legendary journey from the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty to the puppet emperor, war criminal, and finally, a reformed citizen of New China. By focusing on one individual’s story, the exhibition reflects historical changes and critiques the decay of the feudal system. It reveals the crimes of Japanese invaders who manipulated Puyi’s puppet regime to impose brutal colonial rule over the Northeast. Additionally, it praises the broad-mindedness and humanitarian policies of the Communist Party of China.
Restoration of Tongde Hall
The “Restoration of Tongde Hall” exhibition presents the architectural remains of the palace in their original state. Completed in 1938 during the Republic of China, Tongde Hall covers an area of 5,758 square meters. The exhibition restores the hall’s historical appearance based on historical photographs and documents, following the principle of “repairing the old as the old.” It recreates various rooms and scenes, including the Grand Hall, Worship Room, Meeting Room, Chinese Room, Piano Room, Billiard Room, Cinema, Horse-Racing Corridor, and living areas for Puyi and Li Yuqin. The architecture and interior decor reflect colonial characteristics, with the restoration showcasing the rich historical and cultural significance of Tongde Hall, which exemplifies the unique features of the Puppet Emperor’s Palace.
History of the Northeast’s Occupation
Established in 2005, the Exhibition Hall of the History of the Northeast’s Occupation is an important part of the Puppet Emperor’s Palace Museum’s efforts in cultural education and patriotism. Located in the eastern area of the old Puppet Emperor’s Palace site, the hall spans 26,000 square meters with over 8,000 square meters of building space, comprising four levels—one underground and three above. The top floor serves as an exchange exhibition hall with approximately 1,200 square meters of exhibition space. It has hosted various special exhibitions, including the “Commemorative Exhibition of the 75th Anniversary of the September 18 Incident” featuring works from one hundred generals, collections of Japanese paintings, and exhibitions of war cartoons depicting the Japanese invasion of China. The remaining three levels function as the main exhibition halls, covering about 4,200 square meters, featuring a large permanent exhibition titled “Never Forget September 18 -The Historical Facts of Japan’s Invasion of Northeast China.”
