Shenyang is the capital of Liaoning province in China. It is a sub-provincial city with a population of 7.2 million (metropolitan area 5 million). Along with its nearby cities, Shenyang is an important industrial center in China.

In the 12th century, Shenyang was one of the three capitals of the empire of the Jin Dynasty (Golden Empire). In 1625 the Manchu leader Nurhaci moved his capital to Shenyang. Shenyang remained the capital of the Qing Dynasty until the overthrow of the Ming dynasty, and relocation of the capital to Beijing in 1644. However, it retained considerable prestige as the older capital, treasures of the royal house were kept at its palaces, and the tombs of the early Qing rulers were once among the most famous monuments in China.

The downtown Heping district has all manner of businesses that are brightly lit by neon at night. At the center of the district, is the famous Zhongshan Square, featuring one of China's largest statues of Chairman Mao. To this day, flowers are still placed around a large statue of Chairman Mao around the holidays.

Sept 16 - Sept 26, 2006
6th Station: Shenyang Future Foreign Language, Shenyang


For more images, please go to Scanning in ShenYang