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Shenyang, the capital city of Liaoning Province, is at the center of politics, economy and culture. Currently holding sub-provincial administrative status among 15 sub-provinces, the city is also one of the top 10 cities in China. In the 17th century, Shenyang was conquered by Nurhachi, the founder of the Qing Dynasty, who moved its capital to Shenyang and built an imperial palace in the city.

Along with its nearby eight cities famous for basic industries and the processing industry, located about 150km from Shenyang, the city is an important economic hub of three provinces in the northeast portion of China and serves as a gateway to North Korea. It boasts abundant natural resources and plays a role in complementing adjacent cities and transferring technologies as well.

Following the 2006 International Horticultural Exposition, the first subway line in the city was opened in 2010. From August 31, 2013 to September 12, 2013, an athletics competition of the 12th National Games was also held in the Olympic Sports Center Stadium.

Climate

Shenyang has a temperate climate characterized by four distinct seasons, such as frequently rainy summers. In fact, nearly half of the annual rainfall occurs in the summer. In 2012, the average temperature was 8.3℃, with the lowest temperate of －28.5℃，and the highest 36.1℃. The city receives 183 days of bring sunshine with precipitation of 501.1mm annually, which is a typical continental climate.

Tourist Attractions

• Shenyang Imperial Palace

  Along with the Forbidden City, also known as Beijing Palace, the Mukden Palace or Shenyang Imperial Palace remains remarkably intact. It is the former imperial palace of the early Qing Dynasty of China. The palace also exhibits hints of Han Chinese, Manchurian and Tibetan architecture styles. It is only one-twelfth the size of the Forbidden City. It was built in 1625 and the first two Qing emperors, Nurhachi and Huang Taiji, lived there. After the end of the Qing Dynasty, the Mukden palace was converted into a detached palace. In 1961, the palace was declared a national heritage in China and in 2004 was included on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites as an additional imperial palace of the Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty in Beijing and Shenyang. More recently, Mukden palace was converted into the Shenyang Palace Museum.

• Beiling Park

  Originally known as Zhaoling (昭陵), Beiling Park has the tomb of the second Qing emperor and empress, the construction of which took place between 1643 and 1651.The government of Liaoning Province established the park in 1927. Covering an area of 3,300,000m², it is the largest park in the city. The location of the park in the northern part of the city is why the park is called Beiling (Northern) Park. It is especially built in harmony with many historic buildings and natural surroundings. The park features about 1km of marble paths stretching from the main gate. West of the tomb are flower gardens and to the east are several lakes, which perfectly serve as a cultural place for citizens in Shenyang.

• Benxi Shuidong (Benxi Water Caves)

  Located in the northeast portion of Liaoning Province, the city of Benxi is 70km southeast of Shenyang, where the Taizi River flows through the city. The Benxi Water Caves are a giant 450,000-year-old limestone cavern system. A river 5 kilometers long flows inside the cave, but it is about 3 kilometers that visitors can access by boat, which is unlike Gosu Cave in Danyang and Sunglyu Cave in Uljin, Korea.

• Tanggangzi Spa

  Located 7.7km south of the Anshan urban area in Liaoning Province, the Tanggangzi Spa is one of the four hot spring rehabilitation centers of China. With a heritage of the Tang Dynasty, the spa covers an area of 450,000㎡. After the foundation of the Republic of China, extension work was undertaken to convert it into the site of the largest hot spring rehabilitation therapy center in China, including a total of 18 hot springs with temperatures between 57 to 65℃. The water contains more than 20 kinds of mineral elements that have a very good curative effect on various arthritis and skin diseases.

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