Puppet Emperor Palace and Exhibition Hall also known as the Museum of Imperial Palace of Manchu State is situated in the north-eastern corner of Changchun. Formed by the Imperial Japanese Army, the palace was created as the official residence of Puyi who was the last emperor of China.
Puyi played an interesting role during China’s most unstable periods of history, since he was the final leader of the Qing Dynasty. Puyi ascended the throne at a very young age of just 8 years. During the same year he ascended the throne he was removed from the post due to the Republican Revolution that took place in 1911. Therefore Puyi never really got the chance to reveal his real emperor skills. The child emperor lived for a few years in the Forbidden City as merely a breathing relic and was thereafter expelled by the Nationalist Party.
The Japanese came forward to provide ‘immunity’ to the young child who was given a new home in Jilin Province. Puyi known as the Puppet Leader lived in Manchukuo Imperial Palace from 1932 to 1945. He resided at the palace as a head in name only for the freshly established Manchukuo State. This state was mainly established by the Japanese in order to make easy their legitimize claim of north-eastern China and thereafter the rest of the country.
With the victory of the communist, Puyi’s residence at the Manchukuo Imperial Palace came to an end. The palace which was once an open prison for the young emperor is today an important museum better known as the Puppet Emperor Palace and Exhibition Hall.
The palace was built as a smaller version of the Forbidden City in Beijing and was separated as an inner court and outer court. The front palace was mainly utilised for administrative functions while the rear palace was used as the royal residence. The entire palace occupies an area of 43,000 square meters and reveals beautiful Japanese, Chinese and European architectural styles. The biggest and most imposing feature of the complex is the Tonde Palace.
This superb residence and the life of its former occupier can be further explored by staying at a nearby Changchun luxury hotel. Guests can easily plan their stay at a nearby Luxury accommodation in Changchun that offers warm hospitality, friendly service and world class facilities. For example, Shangri-La Hotel, Changchun is the city’s sole international luxury hotel.
