Liaoning Province Tourist Attractions

Steel metropolis in China-Anshan

Xinghai Square

It covers an area of 1.1 million square meters .Which is the largest square within the city in Asia .The square has been completed on June 30th,1997, which is to honor the memory of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland , the entire design is imbued with this idea .. .You could see the white marble column in front of us ,which is 19.97 M high with a diameter of 1.997 M . If you approach the column you could find 9 dragons, one is curing around the column while the other 8 are at the base , which symbols China boasted 9 states in ancient times and now all the Chinese are decedents of the dragon .On top of the column there stands a animal named Hou which is about 2.3 M .It is said that Hou is like a lion in shape who is the son of the Dragon King, it has a hobby of watching or longing . .Maybe you have been to the Tianmen Square Beijing which stands a pair of the white marble column on either side of the Gate of Heavenly Peace .So apparently ours is an imitation.

Tiger Beach (Lao Hu Tan)

Tiger Beach had a Legend about it.

Years a ago, one day a a large black tiger come to this fishing village, killed many villagers, and other villagers were so afraid of going out. There`s a young man called Shi Cao he decided to kill this tiger. He found a sward and fight with the tiger a day and night at the beach, he finally killed the tiger but Shi Cao were too tired, fell to the ground and died.
The village in memory of Shi Cao, they named the beach as Tiger beach, and the mountain of the south-east known as Shi Cao Mountain.

Jinshitan Scenic Area (Jin Shi Tan Jing Qu)

September 18th History Museum

September 18^th 1931 is a day that will never be forgotten by the Chinese people, as it was the beginning of the darkest period in China’s modern history....

September 18^th 1931 is a day that will never be forgotten by the Chinese people, as it was the beginning of the darkest period in China’s modern history. On this day the Japanese army, which had been occupying part of Manchuria (northeastern China) since the Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895), allegedly bombed a bridge at a Japanese owned and operated railroad crossing. The Japanese then blamed the attack on Chinese rebels. This action, which is now referred to as “the September 18^th Incident (九一八事变)” or “the Manchurian Incident” or “the Mukden Incident” (Mukden is the Manchu name for Shenyang), was used as a pretext for the Japanese army to begin its invasion of China.

After the railroad crossing was destroyed, the Japanese launched a full-scale, surprise attack on Shenyang, easily conquering the city. Within a week, the Japanese conquered most of Manchuria, pillaging its cities, and taking the food, and resources for use in Japan. For the next 14 years the Chinese people lived in constant fear and suffered unfathomable atrocities at the hands of the Japanese army.

Shenyang’s 9-18 Museum sits on the exact site of the “9-18 Incident.” The museum is a large, very impressive building, designed to look like an open book. Some exhibits feature hundreds of photographs and documents from the years before the invasion leading all the way up to the war-crimes tribunals of the 1950s. Other exhibits include Chinese and Japanese firearms and artillery, human skeletons found in Shenyang, wax figurines, Japanese torture devices, and concrete sections of the original railroad bridge.

The museum is very well presented, and the dark, somber atmosphere is very suitable to the content of the exhibits. There are some signs in English, but unfortunately most of the information is in Chinese. However, even if you can’t understand the Chinese, the pictures and displays are impressive and moving nonetheless.

Those with an interest in modern history or those studying Chinese should definitely not skip the 9-18 Museum. It’s probably the world’s best collection of memorabilia from this important period of history, which is often overlooked in Western history books. The museum also provides excellent insight into the formation of the current ideas and attitudes of Chinese people, as well as the political relationships between the two East Asian countries. Furthermore, as of 2007, entrance to the museum is free.

For anyone staying in Shenyang, it is certainly worth the time to come here. If you can’t read Chinese, you may want to consider bringing a Chinese friend.

Note: Entry to the museum is free, but it closes at 4:00pm and is closed on Mondays. Plan your time so you can have at least two hours to wander around the museum.

Location: The Museum is to the northeast of the North Train Station, on Wang Hua Nan Jie (望花南街). From Middle Street (中街), it’s about 5km directly north on Xi Shun Cheng Jie (西顺城街). Ask a taxi driver for “jiǔ yī bā bówù guǎn”or take the following buses:

212 from Wu Ai Market

253 from Heping Square

299 from Liaoning University

325 from North Train Station

328 from Ma Lu Wan

Pillar from the Bridge Bombed in the "9-18 Incident"

Photos by Jerry Wang, 2007

Another disaster to China, Nanjing Massacre, in 1937-1938. The Memorial Hall of the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre

Horticulture Exposition/Botanical Gardens

The widely publicized (around Shenyang) “2006 International Horticultural Exposition” (世界园艺博览会 shì jiè yu...

The widely publicized (around Shenyang) “2006 International Horticultural Exposition” (世界园艺博览会 shì jiè yuán yì bó lǎn huì) was one of the most significant events ever to be held in Shenyang. Though the official “Expo” was during the summer of 2006, the park itself and most of the attractions are still open, and this year the park will play host to another event: the “2007 UNESCO World Heritage Exposition” (June 9-October, 2007).

The park, commonly known in English as the Expo, and in Chinese as shìbóyuán (世博园), includes the old Shenyang Botanical Gardens (植物园) as well many new exhibits including a large indoor rose garden, a rare flower market, the “Lily Tower”--a large glass tower that provides a great view of the surrounding area, the “Phoenix Tail”--a large metal structure that forms the entrance to the grounds, many “International Gardens” which are supposed to represent horticulture from around the world, a Mongolian horse show, food vendors, beer gardens, some live entertainment including traditional performances from some of China’s ethnic minorities, a motorcycle show, and more.

The park is huge, and it’s probably impossible to see everything in one day. However, walking through the “International Gardens” can be a bit monotonous as they all look a bit similar. Many people will enjoy the old Botanical Gardens more than the new attractions, as it is quieter and the flora is older and more natural. Find a map of the park--the old section is south of the train tracks.

Aside from flowers and trees, the Botanical Garden features a carnival with rides and games, and a canal with dozens of different types of bridges challenging you to cross (be wary of friends who may be eager to push you in the water).

Location: One hour west of the city center by bus, a few km past Dongling Park, and just east of Qipan Shan Scenic Area. A taxi there will cost you at least 50 yuan, but most westbound trains from Shenyang’s stations stop there. Also you can take the 168 (formerly 330) bus from Ma Lu Wan or Da Shuai Fu for 5 yuan (1 hour). During the Expo, there are dozens of special charter buses leaving from all over the city, so if you ask around you may be able to find one close to you. If you can’t find one, simply go to Ma Lu Wan, or North Train Station.