Joanna James
As one of China's historical hotspots, Shenyang is home to a plethora of heritage sites that include imperial tombs, iconic museums and its own resplendent palace. Here's a rundown of five historic sites every visitor must explore during a tour of Shenyang.
Occupying pride of place in Shenyang's Xiaoxi Road, the South Mosque is the most expansive Islamic place of worship in the city. Spread out over 7,482 square meters, it is a spiritual site that is as historic as it is prestigious. While the exact date of construction is difficult to pin down, scholars believe the structure pre-existed the era of Qing Dynasty emperor Shunzhi. The legendary general Tie Shuaiwu is known to have paid for the construction of this mosque. Some of the main architectural features of this mammoth complex include its Prayer Hall and Moon Sighting Tower while the Main Hall and the Rear Hall are equally impressive.
As the main reason why holidaymakers visit Shenyang in the first place, no trip to this part of China or the Shenhe District would be complete without a tour of the breathtaking Shenyang Imperial Palace. Resembling a smaller scale Forbidden City, the palace is considered an artistic and architectural masterpiece as well as a classic in Manchu building techniques. Dating back to 1625, the Shenyang Forbidden City served as the residence of Emperor Nurhachi and his successor Huang Taiji. Shenyang Imperial Palace Museum was added in 1926 and was built to recapture the beauty of the Imperial Palace.
Having served as a Manchurian warlord from 1916 till 1928, local hero Zhang Zuolin died at the hands of a Japanese Kwantung Army officer in 1928. The former residence of this warlord and national hero is now open to visitors and is divided into two zones- the West Yard and the East Yard. The courtyards and the residential buildings are found in the East Yard with the Guandi Temple and the home of Ms.Zhao also located outside the eastern wall of the premises. The Western-style structures of the West Yard including Zhang Zuolin's office room and living room.
The burial site of the founder of the Qing Dynasty, Huang Taiji is also located in Shenyang. The tomb's location on the northern edge of the Old City is what has earned it its curious name. Sprawled across a whopping 160,000 square meters, this tomb is the biggest imperial tomb outside of the Chinese capital Beijing. Visitors based at Somerset Heping Shenyang or any nearby Shenyang service apartment can follow the animal sculptures that lead up to the mound where the emperor and his wife are buried.
Containing the remains of Manchu emperor Nurhachi, the Fuling Tomb is another historic highlight worthy of exploration in Shenyang. Believed to have been built from 1626 to 1651, the tomb was later refurbished and expanded during the era of Emperor Kangxi.
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