Yichun was named after the Yichun River (伊春河), which is a small tributary of Tangwang River (汤旺河).
The word Yichun means "nine" in Mongolian language.
During the Shang Dynasty Yichun was populated by the Sushen (肃慎).
Before the Tang Dynasty, the region was inhabited by several nomad tribes in the northeastern border area of China including Sushen and Donghu.
During the Qing Dynasty, Yichun was under the administration of Qiqihar and Hulan's Deputy Lieutenant-General (Fudutong) before it became a minor town under Tangyuan County's jurisdiction in the 1890s.

The region's real development began after the establishment of Manchukuo after Japanese force seized Manchuria in 1932.
In November 1941, a railway from Suihua to Jiamusi was built before its branch was extended to today's Yichun district from Nancha in July 1942.
In 1945, Yichun was established as Yichunjie (Yichun Street) under Tangyuan County's control.
As a major center of lumber industry, Yichun has grown at an astonishing rate since 1949.
In 1952 Yichun County was established by the PRC Government.
On 13 Feb 1958 Yichun was designated a Prefecture-level city.
However, in order to set up a pilot of the combination of enterprise management and government, The CPC Central Committee and State Council approved to establish Yichun Special District (伊春特区) instead of Yichun City in 1964.
In 1979 the City of Yichun was reinstated.
Jiayin and Tieli were put into Yichun's jurisdiction.
Yichun was named after the Yichun River (伊春河), which is a small tributary of Tangwang River (汤旺河). The word Yichun means "nine" in Mongolian language. During the Shang Dynasty Yichun was populated by the Sushen (肃慎). Before the Tang Dynasty, the region was inhabited by several nomad tribes in the northeastern border area of China including Sushen and Donghu. During the Qing Dynasty, Yichun was under the administration of Qiqihar and Hulan's Deputy Lieutenant-General (Fudutong) before it became a minor town under Tangyuan County's jurisdiction in the 1890s.
The region's real development began after the establishment of Manchukuo after Japanese force seized Manchuria in 1932. In November 1941, a railway from Suihua to Jiamusi was built before its branch was extended to today's Yichun district from Nancha in July 1942. In 1945, Yichun was established as Yichunjie (Yichun Street) under Tangyuan County's control. As a major center of lumber industry, Yichun has grown at an astonishing rate since 1949. In 1952 Yichun County was established by the PRC Government. On 13 Feb 1958 Yichun was designated a Prefecture-level city. However, in order to set up a pilot of the combination of enterprise management and government, The CPC Central Committee and State Council approved to establish Yichun Special District (伊春特区) instead of Yichun City in 1964. In 1979 the City of Yichun was reinstated. Jiayin and Tieli were put into Yichun's jurisdiction.
Yichun, Heilongjiang