Shenyang Facts

Shenyang, one of China's largest cities with a sprawling populace of over 7 million, reigns as the capital of Liaoning Province. Located about 100 miles inland from the Bohai Sea in China's northeast corner, it is best known as an industrial behemoth. Zinc, copper and lead smelting plants combine with heavy machinery, textile, medicine, chemical, transformer, and tractor manufacturing plants to mold the kind of powerful economic muscle that is emblematic of modern China. Especially when compared to nearby Dalian and Qingdao with their tourism mandates and accompanying infrastructure, tourism in Shenyang plays second fiddle to industry. If you find yourself visiting Shenyang, there is plenty to...

...is the largest city in Dongbei and on its way to being a lovely gateway as one of the four hosting cities for the 2008 Olympics soccer matches. The city -- formerly a sprawling chaos of dirt and noise, where historical buildings stood bathed in the neon of new consumerism -- has benefited from efforts to reduce pollution and boost citizens' English fluency. It was the birthplace of the Qing dynasty in the 15th century and is now the capital of Liaoning, Dongbei's southernmost and wealthiest province. Many travelers spend only enough time here to switch trains, but it is worthwhile to linger in the city, which is home to several of Dongbei's most fascinating historical attractions.

Shenyang...