Changchun Park, also known as Laodong (Labour) Park, is one of the oldest parks in the city, dating to the Manchukuo period when it was developed as a public recreation ground for the planned capital's population. The park occupies a central location and has mature planting — trees that have been growing for over eighty years — that gives it a different quality from newer developments.
The park is busy on weekend mornings with retirees doing group exercise, families on the paths, and the social life that Chinese urban parks generate and sustain. In spring the cherry and peach blossoms are a city-wide event. The park's central position makes it an easy stop during a day of city exploration — a place to sit, watch, and decompress between museums and historical sites.