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Shenyang was the capital of the Manchu empire before the Qing dynasty moved to Beijing, and its headline sights are imperial palaces and tombs, three of which form a UNESCO World Heritage listing. Add a harrowing war museum, a Korean food street, and a couple of city parks, and you have a full two to three days. Most sights cluster in the central Shenhe and Dadong districts and are linked by the metro. Here is the things to do in Shenyang list, with prices, hours, and transport details. See our Shenyang weather by month for more.
Things to Do in Shenyang: Imperial Palace and Tombs
Mukden Palace (Shenyang Imperial Palace)
Built from 1625 by Nurhaci and expanded by his son Hong Taiji, the Mukden Palace is the only complete imperial palace outside Beijing and part of the UNESCO listing of Ming and Qing imperial palaces. It covers about 60,000 square metres with 114 buildings and is smaller and more compact than the Forbidden City. Entry is 60 CNY, open 8:30 to 17:00 (last ticket 16:00) in summer and 9:00 to 16:30 in winter, closed Monday. Take metro Line 1 to Huaiyuanmen station and walk 5 minutes east. See our best time to visit Shenyang for more.
Zhaoling Tomb (Beiling Park)
Zhaoling is the tomb of Hong Taiji and Empress Xiaoduanwen, set inside the 330-hectare Beiling Park in the north of the city. It is the largest of the three Qing tombs in Shenyang and a UNESCO site. Park entry is free, but the tomb core costs 50 CNY, open 7:00 to 17:00 in summer. Take metro Line 2 to Beiling Park station. The park itself is the city’s main green space and fills with locals doing tai chi every morning. See our Shenyang events and festivals for more.
Fuling Tomb (East Tomb)
Fuling is the tomb of Nurhaci, the founder of the Later Jin dynasty, and the third UNESCO-listed imperial tomb in Shenyang. It sits on a wooded hillside in Dadong district, about 10 km east of the centre. Entry is 40 CNY, open 8:00 to 17:00. Take bus 168 or a taxi (about 40 to 50 CNY from Zhongjie). The 108 stone steps up to the tomb are the signature photo. See our Shenyang neighborhoods for more.
Things to Do in Shenyang: Museums and History
9.18 Historical Museum
This museum marks the Mukden Incident of September 18, 1931, when a staged railway explosion gave Japan the pretext to invade Manchuria. The exhibits are graphic and moving, built around the original bomb site. Entry is free with a passport, open 9:00 to 16:30, closed Monday. Take metro Line 1 to Tiexi Square or a taxi from the centre. Allow 90 minutes, and note that photography is restricted in some halls. See our where to stay in Shenyang for more.
Marshal Zhang’s Mansion
The former residence of warlord Zhang Zuolin and his son Zhang Xueliang spans three courtyards in Shenhe district, a blend of Chinese and 1920s Western architecture. It is a short walk south of the Mukden Palace. Entry is 50 CNY, open 8:30 to 17:00, closed Monday. The mansion tells the story of the 1931 Mukden Incident from the Zhang family’s side. See our Shenyang travel tips and FAQ for more.
Liaoning Provincial Museum
Relocated to a modern building in Hunnan district, this museum holds one of the best collections of Liao and Qing dynasty artefacts in northeast China, plus Tang dynasty paintings and calligraphy. Entry is free, open 9:00 to 17:00, closed Monday. Take metro Line 2 to Shifu Square and transfer to a bus or taxi, about 8 km south of the centre. See our Shenyang travel guide for more.
Things to Do in Shenyang: Streets, Parks and Food
Zhongjie (Middle Street)
Zhongjie is a pedestrian shopping street that has been in continuous use since 1625, making it one of China’s oldest commercial streets. It runs for about 1.5 km through Shenhe district and is lined with department stores, snack stalls, and the historic 1928 Zhongjie Drum Tower. It is at its best after dark. Reach it from metro Line 1, Zhongjie station.
Xita Korean Street
Xita is Shenyang’s Korean neighbourhood in Heping district, packed with Korean barbecue restaurants, noraebang (karaoke) rooms, and grocery stores selling kimchi and soju. A barbecue meal for two runs 120 to 200 CNY. Come hungry in the evening. Take metro Line 1 to Taiyuan Street and walk north about 10 minutes.
Qipanshan Scenic Area
About 25 km northeast of the city, Qipanshan is Shenyang’s main outdoor playground, with a ski resort in winter, a lake, and the Shenyang Forest Wild Animal Park next door. Ski lift tickets start around 100 CNY a day in season. Reach it by bus 168 from the city centre (about 1 hour) or taxi for 80 to 100 CNY.
Zhongshan Square
Zhongshan Square is a roundabout in Heping district ringed by early 20th-century bank and hotel buildings from the Japanese colonial era, centred on a large Mao Zedong statue. It is free and open all day, and a 10-minute walk from Taiyuan Street. It photographs best at golden hour.
