Shenyang, the historic cradle of the Qing Dynasty and the largest industrial and cultural metropolis in Liaoning Province, offers travelers deep insight into Northeast China's (Dongbei) Manchurian history and 20th-century geopolitical transformations.
The centerpiece of the historic core is Shenyang Imperial Palace (Mukden Palace), built in 1625 by the founding Manchu emperors Nurhaci and Hong Taiji before the conquest of Beijing. Featuring distinctive glazed yellow and green roof tiles and Tibetan-influenced architectural layouts, it represents China's only surviving royal palace complex outside the Forbidden City.
Nearby, visit Marshal Zhang's Mansion, the palatial residence of warlord Zhang Zuolin, and the tranquil forested imperial park surrounding the Dongling (East Tomb). Shenyang is also a haven for hearty Dongbei comfort food: feast on sizzling Northeast-style barbecue, crisp sweet-and-sour Guobaorou pork, and steaming savory meat pies (laobian bings).
