It is not for nothing that China is called the cradle of Eastern civilization: almost every corner of it was inhabited many thousands of years ago. In the region where the city of Shenyang is located today, people lived already 7000 years ago. In the III century. BC NS. Emperor Qin Shihuang created a unified state, and the territory became part of it. Over the course of its long history, Shenyang has managed to visit the capital of the state ruled by Nukhartsi and the seat of the Fengtian government. At the beginning of the twentieth century. it had a Russian commissary, and Russian influence brought tangible economic progress to Shenyang. The city was then taken over by the Japanese and eventually handed over to the Republic of China in 1945. Calling it an important cultural center would be an exaggeration, but there is always something to see for active tourists with an interest in history. Several museums are open in Shenyang and there are three UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
TOP 10 attractions in Shenyang
Shenyang Gugong
The name "Gugong" is adopted in China to refer to the former imperial palaces belonging to the once overthrown Chinese dynasties. In Shenyang, you can also look at a similar imperial residence, and the local Gugong is included by UNESCO in the lists of the most valuable cultural sites of the planet.
During the construction of the palace, Shenyang was called Mukden, and therefore the local Gugong is better known as Mukden Palace. It was founded in 1625, and the first buildings on the territory of the complex resembled the yurts of nomads. The work lasted for about six years, and in 1631 the emperor of the Manchurian dynasty, Nukhartsi, moved to new chambers. Shenyang Gugong remained the royal residence until 1644, when the court moved to the new capital, Beijing. Since then, the palace served as the home of the emperor only during his visits to Shenyang.
The complex is a combination of many objects built using elements of Chinese, Manchu and Tibetan architecture. On an area of 60 hectares, there are almost a hundred different buildings.
Shenyang Beiling
The literal translation of the name of another cultural heritage site from the UNESCO lists means "Northern Tomb Park". Beiling was defeated in the northern suburbs in 1927, and today it is over three million square meters. m.
The main historical relic, around which Beiling was founded, appeared in Shenyang in the middle of the 17th century. The local tomb of the Qing dynasty emperor is only part of the general mausoleum complex scattered throughout the Celestial Empire. In Shenyang, there is the tomb of Huang Taiji, called Zhaolin.
In addition to the mausoleum, the park attracts tourists with its luxurious flower gardens. From early spring to late autumn, flowering plants are fragrant on the flower beds, and on the surface of the lakes you can see the lotus.
In Shenyang Beiling, you will find a children's park with attractions and playgrounds.
Shenyang Dongling
Another burial complex was built in the eastern part of the historic center of the city. The mausoleum contains the remains of Emperor Nurhaci and his wife, and Dongling is often called the Eastern Imperial Tomb.
The construction of the mausoleum was carried out from 1629 to 1651. The customer was one of the sons of the late emperor, who was elected by the great khan after the death of his father. First among the mausoleums of the Qing Dynasty, Dongling inherited the architectural features of its predecessors - the tombs of the emperors of the Ming Dynasty. The entire museum complex of the Dongling Imperial Mausoleum in Shenyang occupies a huge area, there are more than thirty objects on its territory.
The elegance of building and decoration technologies is most clearly manifested in the Gateway and Lungen Hall. The courtyard is decorated with many stone sculptures of various animal species.
Liaoning Provincial Museum
The most visited and famous museum in Shenyang is located in the former residence of the military ruler in northeastern China, Tan Yulin. The exposition was first opened back in the 30s. last century, when it was called the National Central Museum.
Today, the collection of the Liaoning Provincial Museum contains more than 57 thousand exhibits. The oldest are dated to the Paleolithic era.
The halls of the museum display magnificent examples of Chinese applied art: embroidery on silk and examples of calligraphic writing, ancient nautical charts and handmade furniture made of precious woods, copper dishes and lacquer painted boxes, coins that were used in the old days, and paintings by artists of various historical epochs.
Prosperous Suzhou
An outstanding work of painting of the 18th century, the manuscript scroll "Prosperous Suzhou" was written in 1759. The court painter Xu Yang, using traditional Chinese style, skillfully intertwined with Western painting techniques, depicted scenes from urban life on the scroll. Originally, the painting was called "A Flourishing Life in a Magnificent Era":
- The scroll was created by order of Emperor Qianlong, who returned from a trip to the south of the Celestial Empire.
- The length of the canvas is 12 m, and it should be viewed from right to left.
- On the edge of the scroll is the signature of the master and contains his handwritten explanation of the purpose of the creation of the work. Xu Yang notes that he painted the canvas in order to depict a peaceful and prosperous rule and pay respect to the ruling dynasty and the emperor.
- The scroll depicts nearly 5,000 people, about 2,000 architectural structures, and four hundred ships and boats.
- The scroll was renamed in 1950. The work was renamed "Prosperous Suzhou".
The use of mixed oriental techniques with elements of European writing techniques allowed the artist to depict the life of one of the cities of the Middle Kingdom in the 18th century. in the smallest detail. On the canvas, you can see village women at work, weddings, trade from boats on the floating market, Chinese theater and much more.
Museum September 18
In 1931, Japan decided on a provocation, as a result of which the Kwantung Army launched an offensive against Manchuria. The events of September 18 were called the Mukden incident. Its essence was that a group of Japanese officers prepared and carried out a number of measures that caused the destruction of a section of the railway near Shenyang. Then the shelling of the Chinese garrison began, as a result of which the Japanese captured Mukden and then launched a further offensive. In memory of these tragic events, a museum was opened in the city that tells the story of Japanese aggression.
The building is built in the form of a huge stone calendar, unveiled for the date of September 18th. It is located on the very spot where a section of the railway was destroyed. Among the exhibits are original photos and documents of those years, uniforms of Chinese and Japanese soldiers, weapons, personal belongings and military awards.
Xinle Relic Culture Museum
During the Neolithic era, there was a culture called Xinle in northeastern China. The inhabitants of the region were engaged in agriculture and used stone tools, dishes made of clay, objects made of wood and bone. Archaeological excavations near Shenyang have confirmed the existence of Xinle culture, and a Museum of Relic Culture was opened in the city.
Its main exhibit is a wooden clan totem made about 9000 years ago. It is one of the world's oldest wooden archaeological relics. The totem is a bird called "Mudiaonyao" carved from wood. On the territory of the museum, you will also see reconstructions of the dwellings of the ancient inhabitants of northeastern China.
Russian temple-monument
Similar to a warrior of the times of Medieval Russia, dressed in chain mail and a helmet, the Orthodox church in Chinese Shenyang is almost abandoned and is little known to anyone.
The church was built at the very beginning of the 20th century. in memory of the Russian soldiers who died in the war of 1904-1905. in Manchuria. The temple was erected in the center of a large military cemetery. On the plaques placed on the inner wall of the church near the cross-shaped window, one can read the names of infantry regiments, brigades and battalions that fought in the battles near Liaolian and Tyurenchen.
Unfortunately, the temple was leased to traders and there is a warehouse in it, and therefore you can only look at the most Russian landmark of Shenyang from the outside.
Zhongjie
The central street of the city, called Zhongjie, appeared in Shenyang in the first third of the 17th century. Then it was part of the trading area and was called Sipingjie.
Scientists believe that the historic Shenyang street is the oldest not only in the city, but in the entire northeastern region of the Middle Kingdom. In addition, it is the longest among the pedestrian trade arteries of the country. Its length is more than one and a half kilometers.
Zhongjie is a real paradise for shopaholics. It houses a huge number of shopping centers and shops, including premium class. If you're ready to buy quality products, check out these stores:
- Yishidan One-Stop Center, which sells absolutely everything from groceries to cars.
- Commercial complex "Vozrozhdenie" with world-class brand stores.
- The shopping city of Dayue, where shoppers can find many electronics departments and boutiques with expensive accessories and clothing.
Some shops on Zhongjie Street are open around the clock.
Lu Xin Park
Named after the Chinese writer Lu Xin, the Shenyang Marketplace is famous for its antiques. If you are a collector or just love antiques, check out the shops in Lu Xin Park. Here you will find authentic Chinese antique porcelain; products from natural and cultured pearls of various prices; jade jewelry and crafts; figurines and furniture, handcrafted from wood; coral beads; precious stones and jewelry with them.
Numismatists can replenish their collection with ancient Chinese coins, and philatelists can purchase rare and valuable stamps. The counters display traditional Chinese calligraphy art and natural silk products, both modern and antique.
