Off the Beaten Path

Shenhe district, Shenyang

By Yuan Lanlan

With more than two thousand years of history and a booming

tourism industry, Shenhe district in Shenyang is well known for displaying both the old and the new. Numerous historic spots and prosperous shopping centers, as well as convenient transportation, appeal to visitors and residents alike.

Shenyang Imperial Palace

沈阳故宫

(024) 2484-2215

The Shenyang Imperial Palace was built in 1625 by Nurhachi (1559-1626), the grandfather of Emperor Shunzhi, first emperor of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). The Shenyang Imperial Palace resembles the Forbidden City in Beijing with its distinctive Manchu style architecture blended with Han and Mongolian influences. The Palace houses a number of important relics, including several musical instruments, such a dragon flute (longdi) made from jade (yu).

Admission: 50 yuan

Opening hours: 8:30am to 4:00 pm

Memorial Hall to Zhang Zuolin

张氏帅府

48 Chaoyang Jie

(024) 2484-2454

Covering an area of 160,000sqm, the memorial hall used to be the mansion of the warlord Zhang Zuolin, who controlled Manchuria and parts of North China from 1913 to 1928. Enclosed by a 3-meter-high black brick wall, the mansion consists of an east and west yard. The most eye-catching construction in the mansion is an Italian-style three-story building, which was built by Zhang Zuolin in the 1920s. The first floor was a meeting place where military affairs were discussed.

Admission: 20 yuan

Opening hours: 8:30am to 5:00pm

Laobian Dumpling Restaurant

边家传人饺子城

127 Chaoyang Jie

(024) 2484-7561

For more than 170 years, the Laobian Dumpling Restaurant has served up dumplings (jiaozi) packed with minced meat and a variety of vegetables. Jiaozi are usually boiled, steamed or pan-fried. A filling unique to parts of northeast China is pickled cabbage. Prices start from 12 yuan per jin (half a kilogram).

a Qing Cheng

大清城

135 Shenyang Lu

Da Qing Cheng is a great place for souvenir shopping. This three-story shop offers a wide variety of merchandise such as jade (yu) and traditional Chinese fans, as well as exquisite woodcarvings.

Shuang Shi Zhai

双石斋

225 Shenyang Lu

(024) 2484-8255

Xin Fengqun, an accomplished seal-carving master, is the owner of Shuang Shi Zhai. Some of Xin's works have been exhibited in the Shenyang Museum. In order to ensure high quality, Xin only carves two seals a day at a price of 50 yuan per character.