Shenyang
Geography
Shenyang is located in the southern part of Northeast China and in the central part of Liaoning Province, 122°25'9-123°48'24 East Longitude, and 41°11'51-43°2'13 North Latitude. The area of the city is 13,008 square kilometers, with an urban area of 3,495 square kilometers.
Most of Shenyang region rests on a plain, stretching flatly. Mountains and highlands are mostly concentrating in the southeastern part, which belongs to the extended part of Liaodong mountainous highlands.
The western part of Shenyang is the alluvial plain washed over by Liao River and Hun River, slightly sloping from northeast to southwest. Within the city, there are Liao River, Hun River, North Sha River, Xinkai River and South Canal, etc.
History
Shenyang is located to the north of Hun River (named Shen Shui River in the ancient time), and the ancient Chinese traditionally called the north of a river "yang". So the city got its name as Shenyang. Shenyang is an ancient city with a long history. Back to more than 7,200 years ago, ancestors of the mankind lived and multiplied on this beautiful land. It was subordinate to Yingzhou before Zhou Dynasty (about the 11th century B.C.), subordinate to Liaodong County during the Period of Warring States (475-221 B.C.), to Hou City in the Western Han Dynasty (206-24 B.C.).
Shenzhou was set up in Liao Dynastry (960-1127), surrounded by earthen walls. This was the start of the city of Shenyang. The city continued to use the name Shenyang in Jin Dynastry (1127-1279). And in Yuan Dynastry, the city was rebuilt and renamed Shenyang Lu. In 1625, Nurhach, the Tai Zu Emperor of Qing Dynasty, transferred its capital from Liaoyang to Shenyang, and in 1634, Huang Tai Ji, Tai Zong Emperor of Qing Dynasty worshipped Shenyang as Shengjing, and it became the capital of Qing Dynasty. In 1644, after the capital was moved to Beijing in Qing Dynasty, Shenyang became an accompanying capital. After Qing united the whole China, in 1657, it set up Fengtian Government in Shenyang. In 1945, the city recovered its name-Shenyang.
Climate
It belongs to Temperate Zone Semi-humid Continental Climate in Shenyang area, strongly influenced by monsoon. There are sharp distinctions among the four seasons. The golden tourist season stretches from April to October each year.
Touring in Shenyang in spring and autumn, you only need light clothes (such as jacket, sweater and suit). And it is rather hot in summer, so T-shirt is OK. Compared with the southern part of China, it is cold and dry in winter in Shenyang, so you should bring with you down jacket or cotton coat. It would be a good idea to bring with you rain ears in spring, summer and the period when summer gives place to autumn.
Transportation
As the largest hub of transportation and communication in northeast China, Shenyang has established a modern network of transportation. Airline, railway and expressway are all available here.
- Air
Located in the middle of Liaoning Province, Shenyang Taoxian International Airport, the biggest airport in northeast China, is 22 kilometers away from the city center. There is a feeder highway stretching to the airport on the express from Shenyang to Benxi.
There are over 40 domestic airlines from Shenyang. It has daily flight to Beijing, Pudong Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Haikou, Sanya, Chengdu, Kunming, Jinan, Qingdao, Hangzhou, Wenzhou, Xiamen, Shijiazhuang, Taiyuan, Datong, Zhengzhou,Xi'an, Harbin, Dalian, Chaoyang, Yanji etc.. Other cities have air connection with Shenyang including Baotou, Changsha, Changzhou, Chongqing, Fuzhou, Guilin, Guiyang, Lanzhou, Lianyungang, Nanjing, Ningbo, Shantou, Tianjin, Urumchi, Wuhan, Wuyishan, Zhangjijie and Zhuhai.
Shenyang also serves as a window in northeast China linking to northern and southern Asian countries. Regional airline can fly to Hong Kong, and International Airline may reach Pyongyang, Seoul, Qingzhou, Osaka, Zhahuang, Sapporo, Moscow, New Siberia, Irkutsk, Khabarovsk etc.
It will take you 10 yuan for about 40 minutes' bus travel to airport by airport shuttle bus departing from Maluwan Airline Booking office on No.117 Zhonghua Rd. Click here to search and book discount air tickets to and from Shenyang .
- Railway
There are two railway stations in Shenyang City, namely, Shenyang Railway Station, on the boundary between Heping district and New Tiexi district, and Shenyang North Railway Station, on the boundary between Shenhe district and Huanggudun district. Trains starting from or passing by Shenyang Railway Station run within the province or to the neighboring Provinces, while trains from Shenyang North Railway Station reah all the major cities throughout the country. More trains pass by and terminate at the Shenyang North Railway Station. Both stations are served by many publin buses.Click here to search the trains arriving and departing to/from Shenyang.
- Highway
The highway network is dense within Liaoning Province. National Highways 101, 102, 202, 304 intersect here and it forms One Circle Five Radiations expressway network. Expressways from Shenyang to Beijing, Yingkou, Dalian, Changchun, Harbin, Fushun, Benxi and Dandong are all open to traffic. Upon 2003, the total highway mileage has reached more than 5000 kilometers, and across-line passenger transport has been open to ten provinces and almost all the cities in Liaoning Province.
There are over ten coach stations in the city.
- Taxi
The taxi industry develops fast in Shenyang, and all taxi cars have been mainly unified to Santana and Jetta since 1999. The starting price of taxi is RMB8 within 3 kilometers, after 3 kilometers RMB1.67 per/km. Beyond 10 kilometers there will be an extra charge of returning cost of RMB0.835 per/km.
City Flower and Tree
- City Flower
The rose, which has been regarded as the symbol of good will and noble wishes, is widely cherished by people all over the world. Many countries select is as their national flower. It is widely planted throughout our country and Shenyang, in particular, has a long history of raising rose. In June every year, when rose is in full blossom, the roses in clusters are brightly colored, graceful and fragrant.
Besides, the rose can grow in clod weather and even in unfertile soil, therefore, Shenyang selects the rose as its city flower.
- City Tree
The tourism logo of Shenyang is diamond-shaped. Its pattern consists of 3 parts. On the upper half are the earth and the dove, which come from the deformation of the initial letters of Shenyang-"S" and "Y". On the lower half is the Dazheng Hall of Shenyang Imperial Palace, with the word "Shengyang" on one side and "tourism" on the other.
The meaning of the whole pattern is that the famous historical city, Shenyang, welcomes tourists from home and abroad.
