Shenyang: Modern Tourism City

Shenyang, a historically and culturally famous city, is the center of politics, economy, culture and tourism in Northeast China. Shenyang's tourist industry is heading towards industrialization. Through efforts of all, the city functions have been greatly improved, and the solid basis for Shenyang's tourist industry to develop towards internationalization is laid.

Rich tourist resources, excellent geographical advantages, improved tourist productivity level and huge potential for development facilitate the growth of its tourist industry. There are, in Shenyang, a total of 68 international and domestic travel agencies; 63 foreign-related hotels (guest-houses); 48 star-rated hotels and more than 30,000 full-time employees in tourist industry. Its overseas tourist markets extend to more than 130 countries, and its domestic market extends throughout the country. Shenyang has 5 international airlines, and a periodic charter flights to Southeast Asia, Russia and Europe, etc. Shenyang has become one of the top tourist cities of China, which gives Shenyang a brighter future for the development of its tourist industry. And Shenyang will make a unique presentation to the whole world. Shenyang in the 21st century will be a famous tourist city in the North, which is highly civilized, highly developed and well known throughout the world.

Basic Facts

Location: located between 122D 25' - 123D 48' east latitude and 41D 11' - 43D 2' north latitude, in the southern part of northeast china, and the inland area of Liaodong peninsula, north of the Bohai Sea and southwest of the Changbai Mountains, is the center of Liaoning province

Neighboring Areas: Jilin and Hebei provinces; Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
Physical Features: situated and betwee the Changbai Mountain and Pohai; on the alluvial plains of the Liaohe and Hunhe Rivers; mostly covered by plain, small hills in the southeast

Population: 7,369,000
Urban Population: 4.76 million
Area: 13,000 sq. km (about 5,019 sq. miles)
Area code: 024
Postal code: 110000
Nationalities: Han, Hui, Manchu, Corea, Xibo and Mongolian
History: the Manchu capital from 1625 until 1644
Climatic Features: located in the North Temperate Zone with continental climate; 4 distinct seasons
Average Temperature: 8.6C with the lowest of -23.0C and the highest of 31.4C.

City tree: Chinese pine

City flower: The Rose

The rose, which has been regarded as the symbol of good will and noble wishes, is widely cherished by people all over the world. Many countries select is as their national flower. It is widely planted throughout our country and Shenyang, in particular, has a long history of raising rose. In June every year, when rose is in full blossom, the roses in clusters are brightly colored, graceful and fragrant.

Besides, the rose can grow in clod weather and even in unfertile soil, therefore, Shenyang selects the rose as its city flower.

City Logo: The Sunbird

The Universe develops through competition, yet today's inner meaning is the same as the past.
The Sun Bird is a charred piece of ancient woodcut which is unearthed at Shenyang Xinle Relics in 1978. According to research, it is more than 7,200 years old. The original was 45 cm long, in a very beautiful configuration, like a bird, like a fish, like a sheep, yet was none of these. It is an invaluable asset of China.
Birds are singing and flying. The Sun Bird was the totem of tribes in the Neolithic Age. The Xinle Tribe regarded it as a saint patron and worshipped it generation after generation.

One city and one country should have its own origin, and have vigorous life in its own. The Sun Bird is the symbol of the start of Shenyang City, and it is also the symbol of the city's spirit and civilization.

The Sun Bird is young forever and leaves its good name for thousands of generations.

Local Sights Briefing

Shenyang has some great examples of uncompromising Soviet-style building, and you may well find yourself staying in one. The giant Mao statue in Zhongshan Square at the city's centre, erected in 1969, is by far the most distinctive landmark, its base lined with strident, blocky peasants, Daqing oilmen, PLA soldiers and students, though the Little Red Books they were waving have mostly been chipped off. Above them, the monolithic Mao stands wrapped in an overcoat, a bald superman, whose raised hand makes him look as if he's directing the traffic which swarms around him. Head in the direction he's facing (today, he faces ads for Long March tyres and Coca-Cola), and you'll hit the city's shopping district, centred around Zhongshan Lu, Zhonghua Lu and Taiyuan Jie, which abound with department stores. South of here, the Nan River marks the southern boundary of the downtown area, with the larger Hun ("Unclear") River just farther south.

More rewarding are the Manchu structures on its outskirts, starting with the Imperial Palace (daily: July & Aug 8.30am-5.30pm; May, June, Sept & Oct 8.30am-5pm; Nov-April 9am-4pm; ¥25), begun in 1626, a miniature replica of Beijing's Forbidden City, located at the centre of the old city in the east of town (trolley bus #13 from the South station). The complex divides into three sections: the first, the Cong Zhen Dian, is a low, wooden-fronted hall where the emperor first proclaimed the Qing dynasty and which was used by ministers to discuss state affairs. Beyond here, in the second courtyard, stands the Phoenix Tower, most formal of the ceremonial halls, and the Qing Ning Lou, which housed bedrooms for the emperor and his concubines. Passing through to the eastern section of the complex is the Da Zheng Dian, a squat, octagonal, wooden structure in vivid red and lacquered gold, with two pillars cut with writhing golden dragons in high relief. Here the emperor Shunchih was crowned before seizing Beijing - and the empire - in 1644. Just in front stand ten square pavilions, the Shi Wang, once used as offices by the chieftains of the Eight Banners (districts) of the Empire, and now housing a collection of bizarrely shaped swords and pikes. Shenyang's other good shopping area can be found just east of here, at the pedestrian-only Zhong Jie . The street dates back to 1636 when it was known as Siping Jie. Now it's fronted by department stores selling Western clothing and also a laobian jiaozi (meat dumplings) restaurant.

From the Palace, bus #213 will get you to the North Tomb (daily 7.30am-5pm; ¥10) in Beiling Park (park entry ¥7), or you can take bus #220 or trolley bus #6 direct from the South station. Abahai is buried here, and though it was his father who was the real pioneering imperialist, Abahai certainly got the best tomb. The well-preserved complex, constructed in 1643, is entered through a gate to the south, either side of which are pavilions; the easternmost was for visiting emperors to wash and refresh themselves, the westernmost for sacrifices of pigs and sheep. A drive flanked with statues of camels, elephants, horses and lions leads to the Long En Hall, which contains an altar for offerings and the spirit tablets of the emperor and his wife. Their tree-covered burial mounds are at the rear, where you'll also see a fine dragon screen. Winter in Beiling Park sees snow sculptures and ice skates for hire (¥5). Pali are also for hire (¥30 for large ones), wooden sleds with blades on the bottom that you move while seated using two metal ski poles.

The more restrained East Tomb , built in 1629 as the last resting place of Nurhaci, is set among conifers in Dongling Park (daily 8am-4pm; ¥22), in the east of the city, reached by bus #218 from its stop one block north and one block east of the Imperial Palace. The tomb is less monumental in layout and shows more signs of age, but it's still an impressive structure, with fortified walls and a three-storey tower. One hundred and eight steps (the number of beads on a Buddhist rosary) lead into the main gate, while all around the tomb are walking trails into the woods covering Mount Tianzhu - a hill, really.

Shenyang's other sights are hardly worth tracking down unless you have time to spare or are in the area. There were formerly four pagodas and four temples at the limits of the city, one on each side. The only one that remains in a reasonable state is the North Pagoda (daily 9am-3pm; ¥5), just to the south of the long-distance bus station, which contains a sky and earth Buddha (Tiandifu), a carnal image of twin Buddhas rarely seen in Chinese temples. Also in the north of the city is the Pagoda of Buddhist Ashes (daily 8.30am-4pm; ¥4), a thirteen-storey, fifty-metre-high hollow brick pagoda constructed in 1044 AD during the Liao dynasty. It's in good shape, though stained from pollution. On display inside are relics that were found when the pagoda was restored, including a fine, gold-plated, copper Buddha. Bus #205 from the South station will get you nearby; get off when you see the river and walk across the bridge. The Liaoning Provincial Museum (Tues-Sun 8-11.30am & 1-4.30pm; ¥8), in the heart of the downtown area, is one of the largest museums in the northeast. The three thousand or so exhibits within include embroidery, painting, copperware, pottery and porcelain. Perhaps most interesting are the fragments of polished bone inscribed with characters and used for divination, which are some of the earliest extant examples of written Chinese.

Transportation

Shenyang airport , the busiest in the northeast with flights to Irkutsk, Osaka and Seoul plus daily domestic connections to all major Chinese cities, lies 20km south of the city and is linked to the CAAC office in the centre by an airport bus.

Five lines converge on Shenyang's two main train stations . You'll arrive at the South station , the larger and more central one, if you've come from Beijing or farther south. The newer North station , serving destinations to the north of Shenyang, is out of the centre; take trolley bus #5 from here to Zhongshan Square and the South station. (Note that tickets from Beijing say North station on them, but stop at the South one first; getting off there is more convenient.) The long-distance bus station is in the northeast of town. To get into the centre from here, walk east to Wanghua Jie and get bus #325, which terminates at the South station.

Shenyang is very spread out and trying to walk anywhere is frustrating. Taxis are widely available, and are either a new VW or an ageing Lada. Flagfall is ¥7 for 4km, ¥1.5 per km thereafter; a taxi to or between most of the sights is around ¥10, though to the East Tomb from the South station it's about ¥35. Alternatively, the local bus and trolley bus system is extensive and not too crowded. Bus maps can be bought outside the stations.