• Liaoning Introduction

  • LiaoningProvince (Liao for short) is located on the southern part of northeast China, covering an area of 150,000 square kilometers and with a population 29.58 million.

    Liaonings topography is characterized by the central plain sandwiched in between mountains and hills on the east and west sides, and the Liaodong peninsular on southern Liaoning thrusting between the Liaodong Gulf and the Yellow Sea. It has a serpentine coastline with numerous ports and gulfs. The Liao River is its largest river. It has a temperate to warm temperate, and humid to semi-humid climate. Liaoning abounds in mineral resources such as iron, magnesite, talcum, jade etc. which come out at top in China, while the deposits of coal, petroleum, oil-shale, manganese, copper, aluminium, zinc and refractory clay are substantial too.

    As Chinas major base of heavy industry, Liaoning holds an important place in iron and steel, machinery, chemicals, electric power, oil extraction and processing and sea-salt production, along with coal, cotton textile, tussah silk satins, paper making etc. Among its main agricultural crops are sorghum, corn, soybean, cotton, tobacco, tussah silk, southern Liaoning apple and western Liaoning pear. With railway as main means of transport, Liaoning has most crowded railway network in China. It also has highways radiating in all directions and developed sea-shipping. Dalian, Yingkou and Dandong are its major ports. Shenyang is its air-transport center.

    Shenyang, capital of Liaoning Province and based on heavy industry is the largest city in North-East China.

    Liaonings main historical sites and scenic spots include Shenyang Imperial Palace, Northern and Eastern Mausoleums, seaside of Lushun and Xingcheng, the Yalu River, Mount Qianshan, Phoenix Mountain and Water-cave of Benxi.

    Recommended Scenic Spots

     

    Shengyang Imperial Palace

    This is a mini-Forbidden City in layout, although its far smaller and the features are Manchti. The main structures were started by Nurhachi and completed in 1636 by his son, Huang Taiji. It is currently in the throes of restoration.

    Straight through the main gate at the far end of the courtyard is the main structure, the octagonal Dazheng Hall with its coffered ceiling and elaborate throne. It was here that Emperor Shunzhi was crowned before setting off to cross the Great Wall in 1644.

     

    In the courtyard in front of the hall are the Banner Pavilions, formerly administrative offices used by tribal chieftains. They now house displays of 17th and 18th century military equipment such as armour, swords and bows.

    The central courtyard west of Dazheng Hall contains a conference hall, living quarters and some shamanist structures (one Manchu custom was to pour boiling wine into the ear of a sacrificial pig, so that its cries would attract the devotees ancestors).

     

    The courtyard to the western fringe is a residential area added on by Emperor Qianlong in the 18th century, and the Wensu Pavilion to the rear housed a copy of the Qianlong anthology.

     

    The palace functions as a museum, with exhibitions of ivory and jade artefacts, furniture, and Ming and Qing paintings. There is also a decent display of enamels and ceramics and an excellent collection of musical instruments. Unfortunately, exhibit captions are in Chinese.

     

     

    LeiFeng Museum

     

    Lei Feng Museum is the museum dedicated to Comrade Lei Feng. Lei was a selfless, humble, dedicated PLA soldier who was killed in an accident in his early 20s in 1962.His deeds, though modest, became morality tales: Lei Feng darning his comrades socks; Lei Feng washing his comrades feet; Lei Feng helping old people across the road.

    One of the promised attractions of the Lei Feng museum in Fushun was the abundance of relics: his simple clothes, copies of his famous diary, photographs of his noble deeds and the socks he darned as his friends slept.

     

    LiaoyangWhite Pagoda

     

    Built during 1161 and 1189 of the Jin Dynasty, the White Pagoda is located in Baita (White Pagoda) Park near the Liaoyang Railway Station. A 13-storied octagonal pagoda laid with bricks, it stands 71 meters in height, and is the highest ancient pagoda in Liaoning. Buddhist carvings are found on the bricks, along with Buddhist niches and statues.