Shenyang, China
Looking at the northeastern part of China, it can be noted that the density of settlements there is much lower than in the southern regions. But this is no reason to dismiss the territory adjacent to the borders of Mongolia, Russia and North Korea from the tourist accounts. And, in particular, its largest city, the capital of Liaoning province Shenyang. People come to this metropolis of 8 million to see three monuments included in the UNESCO World Heritage List at a time, to get acquainted with the special culture and cuisine of the North, which differ significantly from the general Chinese. And, of course, to admire again how quickly the Chinese economy is developing in Shenyang, and skyscrapers grow like mushrooms after rain.
How to get to Shenyang
There are no direct flights from Moscow to Shenyang. But the city has excellent communication with the more popular air carriers Beijing and Guangzhou. From the airports of these cities, China Southern Airlines and Air China fly to Shenyang, travel time is 1.5 hours and 3 hours 40 minutes, respectively. Shenyang Airport (the largest in northeast China) is located 22 km from downtown and is connected to it by regular bus service. After 40 minutes, the shuttle arrives at the railway station. A trip to the city by taxi (official service cars are on duty at exits No. 2-6 and 8-14) will cost 20-50 CNY.
Transport
According to Wholevehicles, the public transport system in Shenyang is more than 140 bus routes, including night ones, and the subway, consisting of two lines. A taxi ride around the city costs 15-20 CNY plus 1 CNY fuel surcharge. Parking on the streets is mostly free, but there are also paid guarded parking lots. You can also travel around Shenyang on bicycles – there is a wide network of rental stations.
Shenyang Hotels
Shenyang is an important economic and tourist center, so the city has a large number of hotels of any level: simple and clean hotels for business travelers and with elements of traditional style for tourists. A standard room in a five-star hotel costs 450-660 CNY per day, you can check into a 4 * hotel for 250-410 CNY, “three rubles” are easy to find for 150-200 CNY. For a bed in a hostel they will ask 35-70 CNY, and local residents rent apartments for 105-420 CNY.
Cuisine and restaurants
Rich traditions and centuries-old cooking skills create the charm of Shenyang’s culinary heritage. Almost every dish served in local restaurants is accompanied by a legend about its origin. Once the Han Chinese ruled this region, but in addition to them, many national minorities lived here. Therefore, there are many dishes, for example, of Manchu and Muslim origin.
Typical culinary specialties of Shenyang: laobian meat-filled dumplings, which are steamed, boiled or fried; smoked goubangzi chicken with surprisingly tender meat; stuffed pie “lyaoshan haicheng” with spices; Yangya is an egg pie.
Dinner in a good restaurant will cost 30-40 CNY per person without alcohol. In fast food establishments, you can have a bite for 8-10 CNY.
Attractions Shenyang
The key location of Shenyang as the northern capital of China could not but be reflected in the richness of its architecture. Therefore, it is not surprising that the city has three monuments from the UNESCO World Heritage List and many not so large-scale, but no less valuable.
Mukden Palace is the second residence of Chinese emperors after the Forbidden City in Beijing. The huge complex is interesting not only for its magnificent architecture, but also for its excellent museum exposition.
Shenyang Beiling is a huge park in the north of the city, on the territory of which is the 17th century Zhaoling Tomb, the resting place of Huang Taiji, the second emperor of the Qing Dynasty (12 Taishan Road). There are several more royal tombs here, but they are not so famous. In addition to the mausoleums, the park is notable for its small architectural forms – arches, decorative columns and sculptures of an elephant, horse, camel and others. Entrance to the park is paid, 50 CNY, in the evening – free of charge. This is what local pensioners use, arranging mass physical education classes here.
Another park with a royal mausoleum from the UNESCO List is Shenyang Dongling, or Fuling (Dongling Road). It is located in the eastern part of the city, here is the tomb of Emperor Nurkhatsi. The tomb was built in the early 17th century in the traditional Manchu style. In the courtyard of the complex there are numerous stone statues of tigers, lions, camels, horses. Entrance: 42 CNY.
Of interest is the Liaoning Provincial Museum – the largest institution of its kind in northeast China (off. site in English). Written monuments from the Manchurian past of the country are stored here, including selected texts in Chinese and the rarest examples of lost Khitan writing.
Worth a visit is the Shenyang Museum of Steam Locomotives (64 Zhonggun Bei Street). His collection includes 16 cars from the United States, China, Russia, Japan, Belgium, Germany, Poland, and Czechoslovakia.
