Location: Shenyang
Top Things to do in Shenyang
- 1. Beiling Park
- 2. Shenyang Imperial Palace (Gu Gong)
- 3. Former Residence of Zhang Zuolin and Zhang Xueliang
- 4. "9.18"Historical Museum
- 5. Shenyang Zhongshan Square
- 6. Shenyang International Horticultural Expo Garden
- 7. Shenyang Zhaoling Mausoleum
- 8. Shenyang Railway Station
- 9. Taiyuan Pedestrian Street
- 10. Shenyang Middle Street-Pedestrian Mall
Top Restaurants in Shenyang
- 1. Laobian Dumpling (Zhongjie)
- 2. ShenYang DaQing Hua JiaoZi （Ma Road Wan Dian)
- 3. Heidi's Cafe & Wine Bar
- 4. Grandma's Home (City Joy)
- 5. Hao LiLai (ZhongJie)
- 6. Haidilao Hot Pot (Chao Hui Dian ShenYang No.1)
- 7. Shang Palace-Chinese Restaurant,Hotel Jen Shenyang by Shangri-la
- 8. Il Forno, Shenyang Grand Hyatt
- 9. Baeckerei Wempe
- 10. Black Sheep Restaurant & Bar
Top 10 Things to do in Shenyang, China
Shenyang ([ʂə̀n.jǎŋ]; Chinese: 沈阳), formerly known by its Manchu name Mukden or Fengtian (Chinese: 奉天; pinyin: Fèngtiān), is the provincial capital and the largest city of Liaoning Province, People's Republic of China, as well as the largest city in Northeast China by urban population. According to the 2010 census, the city's urban area has 6.3 million inhabitants, while the total population of the Shenyang municipality, which holds the administrative status of a sub-provincial city, is up to 8.1 million. Shenyang's city region includes the ten metropolitan districts of Shenyang proper, the county-level city of Xinmin, and two counties of Kangping and Faku.
Restaurants in Shenyang
1. Beiling Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 245 reviews
Reviewed By sandragY2889V0 - Greater London, United Kingdom
This park was indeed one of the 3 places my family and I wanted to visit, and boy this was not a disappointment. Wonderful, fantastic, colourful, entertainment galore, with lots to see and plenty to take part in. My were wondering around from activity to activity. There was such a choice to watch and be totally surprised with. Young and old, big and small, everyone everywhere participating in something or another. My 2 grandsons took part in a game where no hands are used to pass around a shuttle cock with your foot. Exciting games to watch and cheer to. There was small children roller blading and so so much more. My family took a boat ride, whilst I sat looking at flowers and a squirrel. I certainly can't fault a single thing
2. Shenyang Imperial Palace (Gu Gong)
Overall Ratings
4 based on 821 reviews
Reviewed By KodoDrummer - Yekaterinburg, Russia
Shenyang Palace Museum is one of the only two imperial buildings in China, also known as the Shengjing Palace, which was the imperial palace in the early Qing Dynasty, Nearly 400 years ago, before the Qing Dynasty entered the customs, its imperial palace was located in Shenyang. After the move to Beijing, the palace was called the Palace of Companionship, and later it was called the Palace of the Imperial Palace of Shenyang.
Today, it is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, under the name “The Imperial Palace of the Qing Dynasty in Shenyang.”
The palace grounds are large (measuring about 60,000 square metres) and one can easily spend one to 1.5 to 3 hours sightseeing here. The grounds are not as large (i.e., at about one-twelfth the size) as those of Beijing’s Forbidden City. It has in excess of 300 rooms and about 20 courtyards. Unlike The Forbidden City, greater access is allowed to see the interior of the rooms and thus get a better understanding of the accommodations the people lived in.
To better understand the palace buildings and grounds, having a knowledgeable tour guide is best.
3. Former Residence of Zhang Zuolin and Zhang Xueliang
Overall Ratings
4 based on 169 reviews
Reviewed By KodoDrummer - Yekaterinburg, Russia
This is the former residence of Zhang Zuolin (1875-1928) and his eldest son, Zhang Xueliang (1901-2001). Both were famous Chinese warlords. The father, Zhang Zuolin, was executed in 1928 by Japanese invaders. The residence complex of three prime buildings is located in Shenyang City. Originally built in 1914, it covers a total area of 36,000 square meters, has 74 rooms, palace-style connected courtyard, and was the official residence and private residence of Zhang Zuolin and Zhang Xueliang.
Built in 1914, and a blend of Oriental and Western architecture, the three main buildings are fairly large and comprised of the Zhang mansion, West Court Red Mansion, and mistress-residence of Zhao Yidi, at the time the companion to and who over thirty years later became the wife of Zhang Xueliang. Zhang Xueliang (a former warlord and powerful military leader with 200,000 troops under his command, a reputed playboy, and recognized by some as a Chinese semi-god) and Madame Zhao Yidi occupied the house as their principle residence.
The museum houses beautiful antique furniture, historical photographs, paintings, sculptures, and numerous cultural relics.
Both father and son were Manchurian warlords.
4. "9.18"Historical Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 110 reviews
This museum commemorates September 18, 1935, the day Japanese forces invaded China and subsequently occupied Shenyang and the surrounding peninsula. It displays disturbing photos depicting the carnage of war.
Reviewed By bladdamasta - Manly, Australia
I am not a museum frequenter, but the 9 18 museum is terrific. Whilst the actual incident to the museum is devoted was comparatively minor, it is regarded by the Chinese as the Princeps/Prince Ferdinand moment that kicked off 14 years of conflict between the Japanese and Chinese. You get the Chinese perspective laid on with a trowel and understand the depth and origins of the enmity the Chinese have towards the Japanese.
You really need to get a cab to the museum and we didn't struggle to pick one up at the end of our visit. The museum has enough English signage to make the visit worthwhile, but the collection of photos, dioramas and artefacts add to the whole experience. We were offered a guide but felt we got enough from the English signage.
Overall Ratings
4 based on 93 reviews
Reviewed By KodoDrummer - Yekaterinburg, Russia
Beautiful, big 26,400 square metres, open square, originally built in 1913, and after that has been rebuilt many times. Since the renovation of 1996, it has become a musical square of culture. The square’s epoxy-made, nine metres in height, statue of Chairman Mao Zedong centrepiece was erected in 1970. He was China’s communist revolutionary leader, founding father of the People's Republic of China, and also a noted writer and poet.
Best to visit in the evening, when musicians, dancers, people performing Tai Chi exercises, and street vendors are out, and the square is full of activity.
Chairman Mao’s quotes include:
Women hold up half the sky.
All political power comes from the barrel of a gun.
Politics is war without bloodshed, while war is politics with bloodshed.
All reactionaries are paper tigers.
Let a hundred flowers bloom, let a hundred schools of thought contend.
Complacency is the enemy of study.
We will not attack unless we are attacked; if we are attacked, we will certainly counterattack.
Let’s produce ample food and clothing with our own hands.
The young people are the most active and vital force in society. They are the most eager to learn and the least conservative in their thinking. This is especially so in the era of socialism.
The membership of our party is necessarily a small portion of the Chinese people. Only if that small portion reflects the opinions of the majority of the people's, and only if it works for their interests can the relationship between the people and the party be healthy.
6. Shenyang International Horticultural Expo Garden
Overall Ratings
4 based on 133 reviews
Reviewed By Cathy A - Xinzheng
Maybe this place was once something impressive to see, but it's definitely seen better days. We were looking forward to seeing the international exhibits, but they don't all look very well maintained. Some look as if they were good concepts but the plants were no longer kept up well. The place was pleasant but overall a let down.
There was also a large outside theatre with wooden seats playing the American Transformer movie, an attraction that we found strange. Why would anyone want to see that movie even in a comfortable theatre?
We had lunch at a buffet that served what looked like school lunchroom food. It was over 30 kuai each and very badly cooked.
The big tower that looks like a flower about to bloom was closed, so we couldn't go up inside to look out. The best part of the day was listening to a small band of traditional ar-hou players -- fifteen minutes of lovely traditional Chinese music.
Overall, not worth the ticket price of 60 or so kuai each.
7. Shenyang Zhaoling Mausoleum
Overall Ratings
4 based on 92 reviews
Reviewed By NSEL - Singapore, Singapore
This is the final resting place for Qing Dynasty's second Emperor Hong Taiji and his Empress.
Construction of the mausoleum began in 1643 and was completed after 8 years. It is also one of the best preserved imperial mausoleums of China. Given the historical value, the entrance fee of CNY50 is well worth it.
8. Shenyang Railway Station
Overall Ratings
4 based on 85 reviews
Reviewed By Jedai79 - Singapore
Speed Trains :-
Some speed trains stop at both Shenyang and Shenyang North, depending on which train/timing. We took a speed train from Changchun to Shenyang Railway Station on 16 May and took another speed train from Shenyang Railway Station to Harbin on 18 May. The train we took from Changchun stopped at Shenyang North first before stopping at Shenyang Railway Station. Since it was the final stop, we took our own sweet time to alight. We chose Shenyang Railway Station to alight because we booked our accommodation at Hotel Jen by Shangrila.
Architecture :-
Nice architecture. This station and Harbin West Station look different from train stations of other cities because of their brick facade.
Efficiency:-
We started taking speed trains for our travel in China from 2013. Practically all train stations are new, including smaller towns like 开封（Kaifeng）、洛阳 (Luoyang) etc. All railway stations in China are all equally efficient. We are unsure if the ticket office staff speak English (because we spoke Mandarin to them) but they know how to read English (Our passports are in English) . However, those who check your passports and tickets after security checks do not understand English at all. We swopped tickets accidentally and we passed through. Old man staff looked at my passport and then my ticket for a very long time.
Toilets:-
Throughout this 15D trip in China, Shenyang Railway Station is "crowned" the "winner" of the dirtiest toilets. There were XXX on the peripheral of the squat toilet bowl and at least one adult user did not close the door while using the toilet. Dirty footprints all over on the floor tiles. May be wrong choice of tile colour. After we have sung so much praises on Shanghai Disneyland's toilets last week (1 janitor per toilet, if there was no queue, janitor went into cubicle that has just been vacated and cleaned it, not with a mop but with thick tissue paper so that the cubicle floor was not only clean, but dry too and that was Disneyland Shanghai, China) Gosh....the old "China" presented itself once more at Shenyang Railway Station. I should not have drunk so much water....(sigh).
9. Taiyuan Pedestrian Street
Overall Ratings
4 based on 83 reviews
Reviewed By Jedai79 - Singapore
Good shopping street. Cleaner and well-paved super-wide pedestrian walkway <see photos>. We recommend shopping here than at Wuai Shopping centre （五爱市场）. Zhongjie (中街）is also a good shopping pedestrian street, however, it is not under "Things to do" in TA. Zhongjie is near 故宫（Shenyang Imperial Palace). We walked from Palace to Zhongjie where you can find the well-known dumpling restaurant called 老边饺子馆（Laobian Dumpling Restaurant) ~ please read our review.
Back to Taiyuan Pedestrian Street (太原街）, it is divided into two sections. The Walmart side where you find a big spectacle shop called 大光明眼镜店（Da Guangming Spectacle Shop) <see photos>, beside it are small eateries. We didn't try eat there, we only saw the outlets while strolling down Taiyuan Pedestrian Street.
10. Shenyang Middle Street-Pedestrian Mall
Overall Ratings
4 based on 68 reviews
Reviewed By Jedai79 - Singapore
Walked along Middle Street (中街Zhong Jie) on 16 May in order to go to the famous Lao Bian Dumpling Restaurant (老边饺子馆Lao Bian Jiaozi Guan) from Shenyang Imperial Palace (沈阳故宫Shenyang Gu Gong)<plse read our other reviews>.
Architecture wise, we saw more older buildings along Middle Street than Taiyuan Street (太原街Taiyuan Jie).
Took a few pictures along the way. Before 猴菇如意棒 (Hou Gu Ru Yi Bang) shop, there was a long queue. We don't know what food it was selling as we didn't have the time check. It must be selling something delicious to command such a demand. Li Ning shop (selling sports wear) is housed in an interesting-looking white old building.
TAGS
