From Wikitravel

Shenyang (沈阳; Shěnyáng. Historical: Mukden) is the capital of Liaoning Province.

[edit] Understand

Capital of Liaoning Province and the largest city in the northeast of China. Shenyang may lack the cosmopolitan atmosphere of Dalian, but it serves as an important transport and industrial hub for the region. Of strategic importance during the Warring States period (475-221BC), the town was first called Shenyang during the Yuan dynasty, before rising to greatness during the Qing dynasty in the 17th Century as the setting for the Imperial Palace, a magnificent rival to Beijing's Forbidden City.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

The city is served by the Shenyang Taoxian International Airport (沈阳桃仙国际机场, airport code SHE), as well as by several smaller, regional airports. Direct flights from Shenyang go to Beijing, Changsha, Chaoyang, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Haikou, Hangzhou, Harbin, Hefei, Hong Kong, Jinan, Kunming, Lanzhou, Nanjing, Ningbo, Qingdao, Qiqihar, Sanya, Shanghai, Shantou, Shenzhen, Shijiazhuang, Taiyuan, Tianjin, Ürümqi, Wenzhou, Wuhan, Xiamen, Xian, Xuzhou, Yanji, Yantai, Zahuang, Zhengzhou, and Zhuhai.

Direct international flights go to Seoul and Cheongju, South Korea, Irkutsk and Khabarovsk, Russia, Osaka and Tokyo, Japan with connections to Frankfurt, Germany, Sydney, Australia, Los Angeles, USA and other cities. The airport is located 30 km south of the city. An airport shuttle runs from the airport to the main China Northern Airlines ticket office (Zhonghua Lu 117) and back frequently.

[edit] By car

Shenyang is connected by a major expressway, the Jing-shen 6-lane Expressway, to the city of Beijing, some 658 kilometers away. Expressways also link Shenyang with Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces. The Shen-Da Expressway connecting Shenyang and Dalian was the first expressway ever built in China. It is the fastest highway (8-lane) linking one of the largest port cities to Shenyang.

[edit] By train

Train service is provided through two train stations, the north train station and the south train station. The north train station handles the majority of the long-distance trains while the south train station handles most of the Dongbei (northeast) trains and does local service around the province. Some trains travel to both stations so be aware of which station you need to board your train.

North Train Station (Shenyang Bei Zhan) at Beizhan Lu

• Beijing - takes about 8 hours (or if you are lucky to get a ticket for the new fast train 'D Train', about 4 hours)
• Dalian - takes about 6 hours (express trains take 3 - 4 hours)
• Dandong - takes about 5 hours
• Guangzhou - takes about 30-48 hours
• Harbin - takes about 7 hours
• Jilin - takes about 6-9 hours
• Shanghai - takes about 27-34 hours
• Tianjin - takes about 10-14 hours
• Qinhuangdao - takes about 5-6 hours

South Train Station (Shenyang Huoche Zhan) at Shengli Beijie

• Baihe via Songjianghe - takes about 9 hours
• Beijing - takes about 8-10 hours
• Changchun - takes about 4 hours
• Dalian - takes about 5 hours
• Dandong - takes about 4 hours
• Harbin - takes about 7 hours
• Jilin - takes about 7 hours
• Tianjin - takes about 9 hours
• Tonghua - takes about 7 hours
• Tumen - takes about 16 hours

[edit] By bus

Bus service is handled by two bus stations, the main long distance station on Huigong Jie and the south long distance station on Minzu Lu. If you cross the street after coming out of the south train station, you will see a long line of buses waiting. This is a common area for departures even though the south bus station is located by walking down Minzu Lu several blocks to the traffic circle where Taiyuan Jie crosses Minzu Lu. Buses stop departing the bus stations around 5-6pm. You can find night buses to Beijing being hawked outside the north train station.

Main Long-Distance Bus Station (Shenyang Qiche Kuaisu Keyun Zhan)

• Beijing - takes about 8 hours
• Changchun - takes about 4 hours
• Dandong - takes about 3 hours
• Dalian - takes about 6 hours
• Harbin - takes about 7 hours
• Jilin - takes about 5 hours
• Jinzhou - takes about 3 hours

South Long-Distance Bus Station

• Anshan - takes about 2 hours
• Benxi - takes about 1 hour

[edit] Get around

Shenyang has a comprehensive bus system, but it can be bewildering if you don't read or speak the language. Make sure you pick up a city bus and area map at either train station. Very handy to help get around. There are plenty of taxis, but make sure you get a taxi in which the meter is mounted on the dashboard and easily visible from your seat instead of behind the gear shift - it's possible the driver may be pulling some sleight of hand to increase your fare. If you're staying near the city center, most sights are easily within walking distance.

Buses charge 元1-2 and major bus lines congregate around the train stations. Bus 203 travels between the two train stations.

[edit][add listing] See

• Mao statue in Zhongshan Square.
• Liaoning Provincial Museum (Liaoning Sheng Bowuguan), Shiwei Road, #26, 86-24-22821903. A high-quality museum featuring many relics of China's past but fewer examples of modern art. Nonetheless, it is a great place to gain a perspective on China's long history.
• Liaoning Industrial Exhibition Hall
• 9.18 Museum. September 18, 1935, northeast China was invaded and subsequently occupied by the Japanese. Shenyang was the epicenter of that invasion, so it is most appropriate that the museum for the 9.18 Incident, as it is known, is in Shenyang. The museum, as one would expect, depicts the incident from a Chinese perspective. It is not for the feint of heart because it unflinchingly displays the atrocities of war. The educational value of the experience is diminished by the lack of English signs and explanations.
• Northern Pagoda- once part of four pagodas built to protect the city and its citizens. Built in the 1640's and restored to close to original.
• Mukden Palace - Former Imperial Palace - First built in 1625 for Nurhachi, and inherited by his son Abahai (Huang Taiji), the Former Imperial Palace of Shenyang is one of two royal complexes extent in China today. The splendid and distinctly ethnic architectural style of the palace, which includes Dazheng (Grand Politics) Hall, the Ten Princes' Pavillion, Chongzhen (Golden Chimes), Phoenix Chamber and Qingning (Pure Tranquility) Pavillion, are still in perfect shape. On Saturday afternoons during the summer, the palace is the venue for a grand Imperial procession.
• Shengjing Ancient Cultural Street
• Shenyang Horticultural Exposition Garden - This is the site of th 2006 International Horticultural Exposition. One of Shenyang's main tourist attractions, it continues to operate though the expo has officially ended. It features international gardens reminiscent of Epcot Center in Disney World in the United States. It also features gardens for different provinces and cities within China and the expo's most recognizable feature, the Lily Tower, a massive structure inspired by its namesake flower. Before its transformation to the Expo Gardens, this was once the much humbler Botanical Gardens. It opens in the spring and closes in October. Most of the signs are in English and Chinese. 2006 Int'l Horticultural Expo website.
• Zhaoling, Beiling Park. The tomb of the second Qing emperor, Huang Taiji, and his consorts. Built over a period of eight years.
• Zhang Residence - home of warlord Zhang Zuolin and his son, Marshal Zhang Xueliang, who ruled NE China after the fall of the Qing dynasty.
• Steam Locomotive Museum, 64 Zhonggong Bei Jie, Teixi District, Shenyang., ☎ 02481270010, [1]. Housing 15 historical locomotives and 3 duplicated historical locomotives. It is the biggest steam locomotive museum in China. edit

[edit][add listing] Do

Have Fun!

[edit][add listing] Buy

Shenyang has two main shopping areas. One is on Zhong Jie, which has a number of shops selling cell phones, computers, electronic equipment or the latest fashions and accessories. For essential home items, appliances, and prepared foods try the multi-level Wal-Mart in the center of town, within walking distance of Zhong Jie. There is a Carrefour Shopping Center in the area near the north train station.

The second shopping area is Taiyuan Jie, located within walking distance of the south train station. This area has an english language bookstore and main post office nearby as well as food, clothing and electronics. Don't miss the underground shopping mall under the street. This area has a Wal-Mart as well as a bunch of major Chinese department stores.

Shenyang, being a major provincial city, has a mixture of top Western-style Brands, such as Pizza Hut and McDonalds (American) as well as Carrefour (French), along with Asian Brands like Yoshinoya (Japanese) and Parkson (Malaysian).

As a possible souvenir, by incorporating traditional Chinese painting techniques, artists of Shenyang have turned feather patchwork scrolls into something as refined and appealing as Chinese painting and calligraphy.

[edit][add listing] Eat

Shenyang has a large Korean and Mongolian population, who operate a lot of barbecue stands on the street corners of the city. There are also a number of very good Korean restaurants here. All of Shenyang's top hotels feature fancy restaurants serving Cantonese, Japanese and Western food. There are also some decent noodle shops, as well as the national chain California Beef Noodle, on some of the small roads near the train station.

American-style fast food is all the rage here, with branches of McDonald's, Pizza Hut and KFC in most major shopping centers. Yoshinoya, Japanese fast food, has several branches across the city.

• Lao Bian Jiaozi Restaurant (next to the Imperial Palace).  edit
• Churrascaria Rio's, Southern Nanjing Road (Kempinski Hotel), ☎ (86)024-22988988 ((86)024-22988988). A churrascaria is a Brazilian restaurant that serves meat, mostly grilled, and rodizio is a method of serving the different cuts of meat that originated in the south of Brazil in the early 1800s. Different cuts of beef, pork, lamb, chicken, etc., in succession, are served to each diner. Rio's attracts a big theater crowd, large groups, executives and tourists. (prix fixe).  edit

• Cafe Lido (SHERATON SHENYANG LIDO HOTEL), Quignian Street. Located in The most prestigious 5* hotel of Shenyang, the SHERATON."It is recognize as being the best Western food in Shenyang. Serving Australian beef, Mashed potatoes Irish style, Guiness meat pies, fresh fish, salads and the tastiest pastries in town. Special on Friday's Seefood Night, small price for all you can eat and drink!

For bigger budget there is also a fine dinning French Restaurant, "La Bellevue". RMB180-200.  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

Many restaurants now brew their own beer, with surprisingly good results. Mulligan's, an Irish pub-style restaurant, is located on the fifth floor of the Holiday-Inn Hotel (Nanjing Bei Jie 南京北街 206). A Filipino band is playing Monday to Saturday.

• Cheap night out can be had along Jiuba Yi Tiao Jie (Bar Street). Numerous establishements along the street and, in the summer, the bars set up outdoor seating.

• Xita Jie (西塔街), in Korea town, has some Korean-style Karaoke rooms and bars, as well as the Don't Tell Mama (别告诉妈妈) night club. Packed even on weeknights, this large Chinese-style club offers a constant cabaret-style variety show with over-the-top dance acts and live singing. One highlight is the male performers seem compelled to chug any quantity of beer bought for them, up to two-liter pitchers, in one go, without using their hands.

• Sunny's Night Club. Re-opened in May 2008 With a Bar area next to the Disco. Great ambiance. The Rendezvous for most of the Westerners in Shenyang! edit

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Budget

• Peace Hotel, 104 Shengli Beijie, ☎ (024)23833033 (fax: (024)23837389).  edit

• Shenyang Zhijia Qingnian Hotel (沈阳致家青年旅馆), 13 Shenyang Lu, ☎ (024)23833033 (fax: (024)23837389).  edit

This small hotel is non-spectacular, but offers cheap singles (or, if you need "a short rest" will let a room to you for fours hours for 30RMB). The main attraction is the location, just North of Huaiyuan Gate, it is on an old street with attractive architecture, just one block west of the imperial palace.

[edit] Mid-range

• Railway Hotel, 102 Beizhan Lu, At North Train Station, Shenyang, ☎ (024)62231058 (fax: (024)62232888).  edit

• Liaoning Taishan Hotel, 22 Taishan Rd., Huanggu District, Shenyang, ☎ (024)86809888 (fax: (024)86806290).  edit

[edit] Splurge

• Gloria Plaza Hotel, 32 Yingbin Street, Shenhe District, Shenyang, ☎ (024)22528855 (fax: (024)22528533).  edit

Shenyang also has its share of Western 4-star properties such as Marriott, ShangRi-La, and Holiday Inn. There is a 24-hour Spa at the north train station.

[edit] Get out

Shenyang has bus and train links to the rest of the region, including Dalian, Harbin, and Vladivostok. Long distance trains can be booked here for destinations like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Countries with a consular presence in Shenyang include Russia, South Korea, Japan and the USA. There is a North Korean consulate in Shenyang, but it is difficult to enter the country unless on an official tour. Tour operators in Dandong or Beijing can arrange the visa and a tour to North Korea for people holding non-US passports at all times, and US passport holders sometimes.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!