Shenyang Hiking Tours
Shenyang01: Liaoning Impression
Liaoning is a notable city with centuries-old history, and you can taste inside rich culture and profuse old architectural complex. This 2 days route covers Shenyang Imperial Palace, Fuling Tomb, Shuidong scenic area, Zhaoling Tomb and Shenfei Aviation Museum.
On the first day, you will start with the must-see highlight — Shenyang Imperial Palace. This imperial palace was constructed by the herald of Qing Dynasty - Nuerhachi and Huangtaiji. It stands at No. 171, Shenyang road, Shenhe District. Metro Line 1, Bus 224, and Bus 333 can carry you there. The admission fee is CNY60.00, and the contact number is 024-24843819. This Imperial Palace differs primarily from its better known Beijing counterpart - Forbidden City on account of its history, Manchu-style architecture and unique local geographical conditions. Lots of precious collections stored in this treasure house.
For lunch, you might taste local famous dumplings. According to the local folk custom, as the shape of Chinese dumplings is similar to ancient Chinese gold or silver ingots, they symbolize wealth. Therefore, you might capitalize a good fortune by enjoy a yummy dumpling banquet. Laobian Dumping is an old restaurant owning a good fame. (Address: Zhongjie Road, Liaohe District; telephone: 024-24315666)
After lunch, take a bus of No.218 or No. 234 to Dongling Park and visit Fuling Tomb. Fuling Tomb is also named as Dongling (East tomb). The architectural complex around Fuling Tomb is grand and majestic with the air of patina and solemnity, which integrates classic tradition with Manchu-style. (Address: No. 81, East street, Dongling District; Telephone: 024-88031478) The admission fee for Dongling Park CNY8.00 and the admission fee for Fuling Tomb is CNY30.00.
On the second day, have a leisurable tour covering Shuidong Scenic Area, Zhaoling Tomb and Shenfei Aviation Museum. There is direct tourist bus reaching Shuidong Scenic Area. This stunning area is situated in the hug of teeming mountains. This water cave area mainly composes of 3 caves, as Army-hidden cave (Cangjun dong), Kwan-yin cave (Guanyin dong) and King of Tang Dynasty cave (Tangwang dong). The admission fee is CNY60.00 in the high season and CNY40.00 in the low season. (Address: White Qingzhai Village, Sujiatun District)
Zhaoling Tomb is the subject construction is Beiling (North Tomb) Park, thus this tomb is also named North Tomb. Zhaoling Tomb is the tomb of Huangtaiji and his wife, Xiaoduanwen Queen, is a Key Cultural Relic Unit under State Protection. You will indulge yourself in its ancient history, mystique legend and substantive natural sceneries. Beiling (North Tomb) Park stands at No. 12 Taishan Road, north suburb of Huanggu District. You can take metro line 2, bus No. 210, or No. 213. The admission fee for Beiling Park CNY6.00 and the admission fee for Zhaoling Tomb is CNY30.00. (Address: No.12 Taishan Road, the north suburb of Huanggu District; Telephone: 024-86896294)
If your time is still sufficient, you might visit Shenfei Aviation Museum to acquire more knowledge about the history and development of Chinese fighter planes. Occupying over 20 thousand square meters, this Museum has seven exhibition halls including "Zhizai Chongtian", "Bikong Xiongfeng", "Chicheng Jiangchang", "Zouxiang Shijie", and "Shiji Zhanwang". It will also exhibit rare historical pictures and practicalities which confer patriotism, aviation knowledge, and national defending education. The admission fee is CNY30.00. (Address: Lingbei Street No. 1, Huanggu District; Telephone: 024-86599069)
Shenyang02: 5 Days Shenyang
On your first day of Shenyang, you may take a city tour. Visit the Imperial Palace by Metro Line 1, bus No. 224 or 333. The admission fee is CNY60. Do not forget to walk along the Street of Qing Dynasty just outside the palace. Take the Metro Line 1 or bus No. 290 to Commander's Residence. Stay overnight in the city.
In next day, you cannot miss Qipanshan Ice World to have a ski if you happen to visiting Shenyang in winter. It lies only 17 kilometers (10.6 miles) from the downtown area and please take the bus No. 168. The admission charge is CNY150 (weekdays) or CNY180 (weekends) for a whole day.
On your third day, catch a train to Anshan City first. There are so many trains from Shenyang to Anshan that it departs almost every 20 minutes. After 1.5-hour journey, take the bus No. 8 to Qianshan Scenic Spot. The admission fee is CNY80 including the Buddha. The scenic spot is composed of two main parts, the northern valley and the southern valley. You are advised to hike in southern valley since the scenery is more attractive there. Stay overnight in the scenic area.
On the Fourth day, you can continue your hiking in Qianshan. Go back to Shenyang on the last day.
Shenyang03: Liaoyang & Anshan
For the self-drive tour: Drive along Shen-Da highway or 202 National Highway to the south and via Liaoyang and Anshan.
There are convenient long-distance coaches and trains to Liaoyang and Anshan. On the first day, visit White tower and Dongjing Tomb in the morning. White tower is a Buddha town, as the tower is plastered with limestone, and the local people call it White Tower. (Address: No. 60 the first part of Chinese Street, White Tower District, Liaoyang City; transportation: bus No.1 and No. 7; admission fee: CNY20.00; telephone: 0419-2126429) If your time is still ample, you can have a visit to the Dongjing Tomb. It is a tomb in Qing Dynasty, with more than 370 years history. (Address: Xincheng Village, Taizihe District, Liaoyang city; admission fee: CNY10.00)
Liaoyang, as a small ancient cultural city with a long history of about 2,400 years, has some local delicious food deserving your try. Sanxin Complete Sheep Meal is one of good choices to taste roasted mutton. The mutton is crisp outside but tender inside, fat but not greasy, which will leave a memorable fragrance. The Fresh Fish in the Tanghe River of the Gongchanglin Region is another highly recommended food in Liaoyang. The fish there offers a delicate appearance and tastes tender and yummy, which is a featured dish in the Gongchanglin Region.
In the afternoon, take a coach to Jade Buddha temple in Anshan. The Jade Buddha Temple Scenic Spot covers an area of 40 thousand square meters, embraced by mountains in three sides and leaving only one side facing water. The Jade Buddha in this temple is the largest jade work in the world. It is said that it's efficacious to make a wish in front of this Buddha. There are also all sorts of delicate jade ornaments here; you might find one suitable for you. Diversified characteristic architectures dot here, as Jade Buddha Pavilion, Jade belt Bridge, lotus pool and so on. (Address: No. 58 Lvhua Street, Tiedong District, Anshan; transportation: Bus No. 308; admission fee: CNY50.00; telephone: 0412-550292)
On the second day, a whole day Thousand Mountains (Qianshan) stay will ease your body and spirit. Thousand Mountains features that every summit is weird; every stone is steep; every temple is ancient. The whole scenic area is divided into 5 parts: Great Buddha, Faery Stand, Paradise outside Sky, Five Buddha Summit and Hundred Birds Garden. There are natural Great Buddha and ancient architectural complex in the Buddha area. The highest summit Faery Stand, is a best view platform for watching sunrise, observing the cloud sea, overlooking locus, and appreciating pines. Lots of ancient temples scattered on the mountains, and the most famous one is the Longquan Temple (Dragon Spring Temple). Due to its fantastic beauty, it is also renowned as Northeast Pearl. (Address: Qianshan town, Qianshan District, Anshan; the admission fee: CNY80.00, the one-way cable car: CNY20.00)
The thing that we want to stress here is the famous "Chibugou" Dumpling in Anshan. It is a sort of traditional Chinese food with unique charm and a flavor of temptation. The sufficient stuff and fresh broth filled in thin wrapping is a cuisine attracting countless tourists home and abroad.