Holiday in Shenyang

What makes Shenyang special as a destination?

Shenyang is the capital of Manchuria and the cradle of the last Chinese dynasty — a 7 million city in northeastern China, which boasts the Mukden Palace, a second UNESCO imperial palace alongside the Forbidden City in Beijing. Before the Manchu emperors conquered the throne in Beijing from here, Shenyang was their capital, and the 17th-century palace preserves this era with a compactness and intimacy that the overwhelming Forbidden City lacks. The Imperial Tombs of the Qing Dynasty (UNESCO) complement the palace: The Fuling Mausoleum (East Tomb) and the Zhaoling Mausoleum (North Tomb) are located in extensive pine forests and impressively combine Chinese and Manchu tomb architecture. Zhaoling Park at the North Tomb is Shenyang's most popular park and particularly atmospheric in winter when covered with snow. Shenyang is a city of extreme seasons: In winter, temperatures drop to minus 20 degrees, and the city transforms into an ice and snow landscape. The people of Shenyang defy the cold with their famous warmth, steaming hotpots, and a street food culture specializing in hearty, warming food. The Zhongjie pedestrian zone, one of the oldest shopping streets in China, and the Liu-Lao-Gen Grand Stage Theater for traditional Errenzhuan comedy form the lively center. For history enthusiasts, the 9.18 Museum is an important site: It documents the Mukden Incident of 1931, which marked the beginning of the Japanese invasion of northeastern China and is considered a prelude to World War II in Asia.