One of China's premier tourist cities, Shenyang is well known as a historical city with important links to Chinese culture. Natural and historical attractions combine to provide an enjoyable travel experience.

Attractions listed as World Heritage

Shenyang Imperial Palace
This palace is the second only to the Forbidden City in the extent of its preservation in Beijing.

Zhaoling Tomb (North Mausoleum)
Construction on this 350-year-old structure began in 1643. Zhaoling Mausoleum combines both Manchu and Han architectural characteristics.

Fuling Tomb
Begun in 1629, Fuling Tomb is a typical imperial tomb built in a traditional style. This magnificent tomb, which was finished in 1651, has been well maintained.

Outdoor Attractions

Qipanshan Scenic Area
Located in the eastern part of Shenyang City, Qipanshan Scenic Area consists of three main hills, a beautiful lake and other amazing natural sights. It is a very good place to experience a real winter in Shenyang, because Qipanshan Scenic Area is the home of the Shenyang International Ice & Snow Festival.

The Strange Slope Scenic Area (Guaipo)
If you stop a car at the foot of this slope, you will be surprised to find that the car will roll up to the top of the slope without any outside force. If you ride a bike, you will deeply sense the uniqueness of this slope. The bike will quickly slip to the top without pedaling, while you have to ride hard to get from the top to the bottom of the slope.

Botanical Garden
More than 1,700 kinds of plants, including azaleas and tulips, can be found in Shenyang Botanical Garden. Some of the flower exhibitions held every year in the garden are the tulip exhibition in May, the peony exhibition in June, and the lily exhibition in July. It's an excellent place to enjoy the arrival of spring and the site for the 2006 International Horticultural Exposition.

Meteorite Mountain Park
This park is the place to see meteorites. The heaviest one, which fell to earth about 1.9 billion years ago, weighs about 2,000,000 tons and is thought to be 4.5 billion years old, making it the oldest meteorite in the world.

Shenyang West Lake
The area of Shenyang West Lake is twice that of West Lake in Hangzhou. Islands, birds, lotuses, and clear lake water attract thousands of visitors annually.

Wulihe Park
Wulihe Park is the biggest river-bank park in Shenyang. A music fountain, a man-made sand beach, a big plaza, and a birch woods create a feast for both eyes and body.

Religious Theme Travel

Xinle Remains
Xinle Remains is the site of a 7,200-year-old aboriginal society in which authority was held by women. Of all the relics unearthed at the site, a woodcarving of a bird is the most famous and precious, because it is the oldest such relic found not only in Shenyang but in the entire world.

Taiqing Palace
Originally built in 1663, Taiqing Palace, which houses the Shenyang Taoism Association, is the center of Taoism in Northeast China.

Ci'en Temple
The most important site in Shenyang for Buddhists is Ci'en Temple, which was built during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). It is now the center for the Shenyang Buddhism Association.

Shisheng Temple
In 1636, Shisheng Temple was built to the specifications of an emperor in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1919), therefore it is also called Huang Temple (Royal Temple). It is the largest temple of Tibetan Buddhism in Shenyang.

South Mosque
Covering a total area of more than 7,000 square meters (about 1.7 acres), South Mosque is the largest mosque in Shenyang. It consists of big hall, worship hall, and other rooms and serves as the headquarters of the Shenyang Islam Association.

Nanguan Christian Church
Nanguan Christian Church, with a big cross on its roof, is a Gothic style cathedral supported by 24 granite buttresses. The sanctuary can hold over1, 000 worshipers.

Banruo Temple
In 1684, Buddhist monk Gulin set up Banruo Temple. It was small at first, but expansion and renovation have brought it to its current size. It contains halls, a storage area for Buddhist books, and other areas of interest.

Museum Travel

9.18 Museum
On 18th, September, 1931, Japan launched an unprovoked invasion of Shenyang. This event was considered the prelude to the Anti-Japanese War. After occupying Shenyang and most of Dongbei (northeastern part of China), the Japanese invaders maintained a ruthless rule over the area for fourteen years. 9.18 Museum is located in Liutiaohu District, the site of the initial attack. The building, which is in the shape of open calendar, houses thousands of pictures, video materials, statues and other reminders of the Japanese atrocities.

Museum of Zhang Xueliang Former Residence
As its name implies, this museum memorializes Zhang Xueliang (1901-2001), a very famous patriot of the Anti-Japanese War. The house consists of a school room, garden, drawing room, and other areas erected in a mixture of Chinese, European and Japanese styles.

Steam Engine Exhibition Center
The Shenyang Steam Engine Exhibition Center is the first of its kind in China. Sixteen steam engines from America, Japan, Russia, Belgium, Poland, Germany, Czechoslovakia and China are presented in this museum. It is a good place to learn about the history of steam engines all over the world.

Liaoning Provincial Museum
Northeast Museum is another name for Liaoning Provincial Museum. Tens of thousands of cultural relics are stored in the museum, creating a fascinating display of the history of Liaoning Province. Many of the items included in the collections are among the rarest in the world.