At least four people were injured in the blast, CCTV reported.
Authorities have issued a warning for locals not to approach the plant, Chinese Sina news reported.
There have been no immediate reports of toxic leaks.
The incident reportedly happened around 8pm local time on Wednesday, with a large fire starting after the explosion. A video emerged online showing an orange glow lighting up the sky and emergency crews rushing to the scene.
Earlier this year, China suffered from a major blast at a warehouse storing hazardous chemicals in Tianjin, also in the country's north-east. More than 170 people were killed and nearly 800 injured in a series of explosions. Staggeringly high cyanide levels were registered in the area following the incident.
#BREAKING Blast hits pesticides factory in Jilin city in NE China, triggering fire. Residents warned to stay away pic.twitter.com/VX5s2uhbjk
— CCTVNEWS (@cctvnews) December 9, 2015
In 2005, explosions at a Jilin chemical plant caused a massive evacuation of the area. Tens of thousands of residents were forced to leave their homes. Six people were killed and dozens injured in the explosions. Following the incident, an 80-kilometer (50 miles) toxic slick appeared in the Songhua River, which for weeks flowed into the Amur River, one of the world's longest rivers.
I have read many articles which blame the explosions in China and the U.S. on a covert war between the two countries that is steadily gaining momentum. If this is true, I wonder how long it will be before there is an 'accident' at a U.S. nuclear facility which poisons a few thousand people?