Northeast

Liaoning Province travel guide

辽宁省 · 4 cities · 47 places

Shenyang Imperial Palace Museum — illustration

Shenyang Imperial Palace Museum, Shenyang · AI illustration for China Trip

Cities and areas in Liaoning

Western Liaoning

Shanhaiguan is the first city inside the Great Wall pass, and Huludao is the first city beyond it. Separated by just one wall, the two cities have almost completely different landscapes: on one side, a small inland town steeped in Chinese civilisation and farming culture; on the other, a key stronghold once ridden through by nomadic peoples. Ningyuan Ancient City in Huludao still stands firm today, a witness to the many battles fought here, and its important historical sites remain for later generations to admire.

Overview

Liaoning Province

Self-Guided Travel:

Northern Seaside Journey

Shenyang → Benxi → Qian Mountain → Dandong → Yingkou → Dalian → Lüshun

Western Liaoning Corridor Scenic Journey

Shenyang → Yiwu Lüshan → Liaoshen Campaign Memorial Hall → Bijia Mountain → Xingcheng Seaside → Jiumenkou Great Wall

Self-Drive Tour:

Experience the Boldness of the Northeast

Beijing → Shenyang → Fengcheng → Dandong → Dalian → Lüshun

Discover Northern Ice and Snow

Shenyang → Tieling → Siping → Changchun → Fuyu → Harbin → Jiamusi → Fujin → Tongjiang

Touring Northern Mountains and Waters

Shenyang → Liaoyang → Haicheng → Gaizhou → Dalian → Lüshun

Places in Liaoning

Shenyang Imperial Palace Museum

Shenyang · 2–4 hours

The palace complex built and used by Qing emperors Nurhaci and Hong Taiji. Its architecture has distinct Manchu characteristics, and among the palace complexes that survive in China, its historical and artistic value is second only to Beijing's Forbidden City. The layout reflects the Eight Banners system and is unique to Shenyang Palace. The Wenshu Pavilion, built to store the Siku Quanshu (Complete Library of the Four Treasuries), is also here. After seeing the Forbidden City's grandeur and sense of space, you may find Shenyang Palace underwhelming. It is hemmed in by the city's buildings and is far smaller in scale. But this is how the palace looked before the Qing entered the Central Plains, and it would be unfair to measure it against the Forbidden City in terms of atmosphere.

Fenghuangshan (Phoenix Mountain)

Dandong · 0.5–1 day

A visit to Phoenix Mountain is all about the thrill of climbing. Although its height is far below that of Mount Hua, its steepness is strikingly similar. The ridge on Laoniubei on the western route is the best proof: the path is slippery and hard to navigate, and no steps have been carved, so you must pull yourself up by the iron railings. There is also the plank road known as 'Unrivalled Under Heaven,' cut into the cliff face with no iron railing for protection, which seems almost like a dead end. Yet perhaps only in such places can you truly savour the meaning of finding life in desperate straits. Visiting Phoenix Mountain in October, you will also see red maple leaves covering the hillsides, so the danger is at least balanced by splendid scenery.

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