Shenyangboastsofagloriouspast.China鈥檚lastfeudaldynastysetupitscapitalhere,bestowingmuchhistoriclegacytothecity.Inmoderntimes,JapanbeganitswarofaggressionagainstChinainShenyang,heraldingtheSecondWorldWar.AfterthefoundingofthePeople鈥檚RepublicofChina,asthecountry鈥檚foremostheavyindustrialandequipmentmanufacturingbaseatthetime,thecityproducedmanyfirststoboostnationaldevelopment.ItmanufacturedChina鈥檚firstmachinetool,thefirstelectromagnet,thefirsthigh-voltageinductioncoil,thefirstseeder,thefirstcrane,thefirstnationalemblemhanginguptheTian鈥檃nmenTower,andthefirstjetaircraft.Atpresent,themanufacturingbaseisupgradingitseconomytowardsinnovationdrivendevelopment.AsNortheastChinarevitalizesitseconomy,ShenyangwillplayanimportantroleinthepathtowardsChina鈥檚nationalrejuvenation.
BirthplaceoftheQingDynasty
ShenyangdatesbacktotheSpringandAutumnPeriodandtheWarringStatesPeriod(771-221BC)some2,600yearsagowhenitwasamilitarystrongholdoftheStateofYan.IntheWesternHanDynasty(206BCtoAD24),thecitywasofficiallybuiltandnamedHoucheng.In1993,archaeologistsdiscoveredtheruinsofthiscityoutsidethenorthernwalloftheImperialPalaceoftheQingDynastyinShenyang.AftertheWesternHanDynasty,themilitarygarrisongraduallyevolvedintoacity,anditsnamewasofficiallychangedtoShenyangin1296.
Inthe17thcentury,theManchuleaderNurhaciunifiedscatteredJurchenclansandrelocatedthecenterofhisregimetoShenyangin1625,whichherenamedShengjing.Nurhacibuiltapalaceasaplaceforpoliticalaffairsandcelebrations.AfterNurhaci鈥檚death,HuangTaijirenamedtheJurchenclansasManchuandchangedthenameoftheregimetoQing.HespentfiveyearsrenovatingShengjingCityandtheimperialpalace.BeforeHuangTaiji鈥檚death,theimperialpalaceinShengjinghadremainedthepolitical,military,economic,andculturalcenteroftheQingregime.
In1644,theManchustoppledtheMingDynastyandmovedtheircapitaltoBeijing.Shengjingsincebecamethesecondarycapital,butwasgivenspecialattentionbyQingemperorsduetoitsloftystatusasthecradleofthedynasty.Inthe150yearsthatfollowed,fouremperorsmade10visitstoShengjingtopaytributetoancestorsandtoexpressadmirationforthegreatachievementsoftheirancestorswhobuiltandgovernedthedynasty.Moreover,EmperorQianlongtransportedanendlessstreamofroyaltreasuresfromBeijingtoShengjingtoshowthathedidnotforgetthefoundationofthedynasty.TheImperialPalaceinShenyanghousedacollectionofroyalfamilytreasuresasbigasthoseintheForbiddenCityinBeijingandtheChengdeMountainResort.
Coveringanareaofmorethan60,000squaremeters,theImperialPalaceinShenyangconsistsof114ancientbuildingswithsome500rooms.ItisanintegrationofthearchitecturalstylesoftheHan,Manchu,andMongoliancultures,andhasexceptionalhistoricalandartisticvalues.
In2004,theImperialPalaceinShenyangwasincludedintheWorldCulturalHeritageSiteslistasanextensionoftheImperialPalacesoftheMingandQingDynasties.
Innovation
TheclosingceremonyofthePyeongchang2018WinterOlympicGamessaw鈥淏eijingEightMinutes,鈥漚neight-minutehandoverceremonyperformedbytheChinesedelegationasthehostofthe2022WinterOlympicGames.Twentyfouractorsand24performingrobotseachcarryinganicescreenpresentedaspectacularshow.ThiswasthefirsttimeChinese-manufactured,new-generationrobotsperformedsophisticateddancemovesinaninternationalevent.Therobotshadtofinish16setsofmovesbythemselvesanddanceintandemwithhumanactorsandgroundprojections,allowingnoteventheslightesterror.Toaccomplishthetask,thetechnologyhadtomeetextremelyhighstandards.Theperformancewasmadepossiblethroughvariousinnovativetechnologicalbreakthroughs,exhibitingChina鈥檚capacityinmakingintelligentrobots.These24smartrobotsweremanufacturedintheShenyang-basedcompanySiasun.
Chinahistoricallywasanagriculturalcountry.IntheearlydaysofthePRCwhenChina鈥檚industrialsectorwasinitsinfancy,Shenyang,asthecountry鈥檚mostimportantheavyindustryandequipmentmanufacturingbase,madegreatcontributionsforChina鈥檚industrialtakeoff.Statisticsshowthatinthe10yearsfrom1953to1962thecountryinvestedonesixthofitsfinancialresourcesinShenyang,establishingitsprominentpositioninthenationaleconomy.
Atpresent,Shenyangispursuinganewindustrialstructurehighlightingsimultaneousdevelopmentofstrategicemergingindustriesandtraditionalmanufacturingindustries,acombinationofindustrializationandITapplication,andmilitary-civilianintegration.Themoderneconomicsystemissupportedbytraditionaladvantagesinequipmentmanufacturing,automobileandautopartsproduction,deepprocessingofagriculturalproductsandmodernarchitecture,andisbackbonedbyemergingindustriessuchasrobotics,integratedcircuitequipment,civilaviation,digitalmedicalcare,softwareandinformationservices,andsatellitenavigationalpositioning.
Asatime-honoredindustrialbase,Shenyanghasmanyindustrialremnants.Since2016,thecityhasbeencreativelydevelopingindustry-themedtouristservicesandfosteringsupportingentertainmentandhospitalitybusinesses.Forexample,theShenyangRailwayBureauhaslaunchedthemedtoursoflocalrailwaynetwork,offeringvisitstoShenyangRailwayBureauBuildingconstructedin1934,formerLiaoningRailwayStation,thebestrailwaystationinChinaatthattime,andtheShenyangRailwayMuseum,whichshowcasesthehistoryofChina鈥檚centuryoldrailwayindustry.
TheSong-and-DanceDuetofNortheastChina
Overitslonghistory,ShenyanghasbecomeethnicallyandculturallydiversewiththeHansmakingupthemajorityofitspopulation.Particularlyinmodernhistory,theManchuandtheHanpeople,havelivednexttoeachother,andlearnedandborrowedfromeachother,developingculturalandartformswithuniquelocalcharacteristics.Theyincludepapercutting,singingandstorytellingwiththeaccompanimentoftheManchuoctagonaldrumorShenyangdrum,theManchucourtdancesoftheQingDynasty,anddancestocelebratetheharvest,amongothers.Ofallthesefolkarts,thesong-and-danceduet,orerrenzhuaninChinese,isthemostpopular.Folkartperformance.Althoughitisnotthebirthplaceofthefolkart,Shenyanghasnowgrowntobecomethecenteroftheperformingart.
Thesong-and-danceduetisatraditionalstyleofstand-upcomedythatinvolvesonemaleperformerandonefemaleincolorfulcostumes.Usingfoldedfansorredhandkerchiefs,theysing,dance,andtellhumorousfolkstories.ThereisapopularsayinginNortheastChinawhichgoes,鈥淚wouldchoosetheduetratherthanafancymeal,鈥漜onfirminghowpopularthefolkartisintheregion.Allpeople,regardlessofage,gender,andprofession,enjoyendingatiringdaybyturningontheTVtowitnessthemusicalanticsofthesesong-anddanceduets.
BasedontheYanggedanceintheQingDynasty,the300-year-oldsong-and-danceduetincorporatesthemusicoflianhualao,alocalfolkoperaofHebeiProvince,withelementsofotherperformingarts.Featuringhumorousdialoguesandsketchesandelaborateperformances,itisthequintessentialartforminNortheastChina.
Theduetboastsasonorousandhigh-pitchedvocalstyleandhilariousandwittylyrics.ApartfromNortheastChina,itisalsowell-receivedinsomeregionsofHebeiProvinceandInnerMongoliaAutonomousRegion.C
(CompliedbyChinaToday)
TheShenyangPalaceMuseumNestledintheImperialPalaceoftheQingDynastyinShenyang,themuseumcanbedividedintothreesections:theeasternsection,themiddlesection,andthewesternsection.
TheDazhengPalaceandtheShiwangPavilionintheeasternsection,withalayoutoriginatingfromtheshapeofanomadictent,representthe鈥渆ight-banner鈥漵ystem,adistinctivesocialorganizationalsysteminManchusociety.Theyformerlyservedastheplacewhereemperorsheldgrandceremoniesandsettlednationalaffairswithleadersoftheeightbanners.
Inthemiddlesection,thetoweringbedchambercontrastswiththeground-levelThornHall,auniquecharacteroftheShenyangImperialPalace.Thesectionwastheplacewhereemperorshandledstateaffairsandtheirwivesresided.ThearchitecturalarrangementsoriginatedfromManchupeople鈥檚traditionoflivingonhighgrounds.Theedgesoftheglazedtilesontheridgeofthebuildingswerepaintedgreen,representingManchupeople鈥檚affectionfortheprairie.
TheOperaStage,theJiayinHall,WensuPavilion,andYangxiChamberinthewesternsectionservedasplaceswhereemperorsoftheQingDynastywatchedtheoperaandreadbooks.TheCompleteLibraryofFourBranchesofBooksisstoredhere.
Themuseumhousesimpressivecollectionsofimperialwaresandartworks,includingpaintings,calligraphy,imperialartworks,andembroidereddresses.
Transport:TakeShenyangMetroLine1ortheLoopBus.ZhaolingMausoleumoftheQingDynasty
AlsoknownasNorthernMausoleum,itisthetombofthesecondQingemperor,HuangTaiji,andhiswife.ItwasthelargestandgrandestofthethreeimperialtombsnorthoftheGreatWall.AsitislocatedaboutfivekminnorthernurbanShenyang,itgotthenameofNorthernMausoleum.
Boastingtoweringancienttrees,vibrantvegetation,clearlakesandmajesticpavilionsandhalls,thespotexhibitsboththemajestyandmagnificenceoftheimperialtombsoftheQingDynastyandtheeleganceandgraceofmodernhorticulture.ItisrepresentativeofimperialtombsnorthoftheGreatWallintheearlyQingDynastyandoneofthefewexistingwellpreservedancientimperialmausoleums.
Transport:TakeShenyangMetroLine2.TheShenyangRailwayMuseumshowcasesthehistoryofChina鈥檚century-oldrailwayindustry.1905CreativeCulturePark
AfledglingcreativecommunityflourishesintheXinghuaNorthStreet,TiexiDistrict.FormerlyaworkshopofShenyangHeavyMachineryCorporation(SHMC),itwasthebirthplaceofthefirstmoltensteelofthePRC.OnMay18,2009,SHMCcastthestatuteoftwocharacters鈥淭ieXi鈥漺iththelastmoltensteeltheworkshopproduced.AfterrelocationofSHMC,theworkshopwasretainedasamemoryoftheindustrialhistory.
Theplacehasbeenrenovatedintoameetingplaceforartists,featuringcafes,bars,andrestaurantswhereexhibitionsandconcertsareheld.EveryAugust,acreativitymarketisheldheretoalloworiginalideastobetranslatedintoartworks.
Transport:TakebusesNo.141,208,268or277toHeavyMachineryCulturalSquare.
ChinaIndustrialMuseumLocatedattheintersectionofWeigongNorthStreetandBeiyiWestRoadinTiexiDistrict,themuseumhasbeenreconstructedandexpandedonthebasisoftheformercastingmuseum.Coveringaconstructedareaof53,000squaremeters,itexhibitsthehistoryofChina鈥檚industrialdevelopmentandtheachievementsofrevitalizationofoldindustrialbases.
OpenedinMay2012,thefirstphaseofthemuseumconsistedoffourexhibitionhalls:thegeneralhistoryhall,themachinetoolhall,thecastinghallandthehallshowcasingthe10-yearachievementsinTiexi.Itcoveredanareaofnearly20,000squaremetersandexhibitedsome1,300items.ThesecondphaseopenedinSeptember2013andwasmadeupbythemetallurgyhall,theheavymachineryhall,theelectromechanicalhall,theautomobilehall,HongKonghall,thecarmodelexhibition,andTiexihall.
Transport:TakebusesNo.175,176,267,277or288totheintersectionofWeigongNorthStreetandBeiyiWestRoadinTiexiDistrict.
LiuLaogenGrandStageItisachaintheaterbrandspecializinginsong-and-danceduetswithmanylocationsinShenyang.ThelocationintheMiddleStreet,thebusiestcommercialpedestrianstreetinShenyang,isthefirst鈥済reentheater鈥漮ftheart.FormerlyknownasShenyangGrandStage,thetheaterwasacentury-oldbuildingdatingbackto1908.BenshanMediaGrouppurchaseditin2007andrenovateditintoaflagshipperformingcenterforerrenzhuan.Everyevening,thebuildingisfilledtothebrimwithpeopleandlaughter.Onthethirdstoryofthetheaterfacadeisaniconicsignofdonkeypullingagrind,inwhichthedonkeyrotatesmerrilyaroundthegrindintunewiththemusiceverynight.UnderitistheHappyPlazawhereperformersgreetvisitorsacrossChinaaccompaniedwiththemusicofYangge.
Transport:TakebusesNo.213,294or290totheMiddleStreet.
ImperialTempleFairTheShenyangImperialTempleFair,BeijingTempleofEarthFair,ShanghaiCityGodTempleFair,andNanjingConfuciusTempleFairarethefourbestknowntemplefairsinChina.TheShenyangImperialTempleFairfallsontheSpringFestival,May1andOctober1withgrandcelebrationstakingplaceintheShishengTemple.Thefairgatherswell-knowndelicaciesandsnacksfromacrossChina.Ithighlightsperformancesofthepopularerrenzhuan,stunningshows,magic,instrumentalperformances,Manchudances,emperorparade,princess鈥檞eddingceremony,theXibedances,andtraditionalweddingceremonies.Thefairalsoexhibitsfolkhandicraftsofsugarpainting,sugar-figureblowing,calabashcarving,eggcarving,andpainting,amongothers.
Transport:TakebusesNo.328,152or399.