Free things to do in Shenyang

Free things to do in Shenyang

1. See

   9.18 Memorial Museum

   “九•一八”历史博物馆, 9.18 History Museum

   At 22:30 on 18 September 1931, a bomb exploded beside the Japanese-run railway line near Shenyang. Though instigated by the Japanese, the Chinese were blamed for the event giving the Japanese an excuse to invade and occupy the whole of the northeast of China. Shenyang was the epicenter of that invasion, so it is most appropriate that the museum for the Mukden Incident, known in China as the '9.18 Incident', is in Shenyang next to the spot where the explosion occurred. The museum, as one would expect, depicts the incident from a Chinese perspective. It is not for the faint of heart because it unflinchingly displays the atrocities of war. Only the main descriptions are available in English, but it's enough to follow the course of events. The pictures and exhibits speak for themselves, anyway.

   Summer: 09:00-17:00, no entry after 16:30, closed on Mondays. Winter: 09:00-16:30, no entry after 16:00, closed on Mondays·Free

2. See

   China Museum of Industry

   中国工业博物馆. Formerly known as the China Foundry Museum 中国铸造博物馆 and previously as the Shenyang Foundry Museum 沈阳铸造博物馆

   Tells the story of the industrialisation of China. The museum is built on the site of an old foundry, which has been largely preserved in its original state.

   Tue-Sun 09:00-16:00·Free

3. See

   Former Site of Shenyang Military Tribunal for the Trial of Japanese War Criminals

   中国审判日本战犯法庭旧址陈列馆

   36 Japanese war criminals were publicly tried and prosecuted at this site between June 9th and July 20th, 1956. The site is now a museum.

   09:00-17:00 (summer), 09:00-16:30 (winter), no entry in last 30 minutes, closed on Mondays·Free

4. See

   Liaoning Provincial Museum

   辽宁省博物馆

   A high-quality museum featuring Liaoning history from the stone age to the Qing dynasty, with many relics of China's past found in the area (3rd floor). Also houses large collections of Chinese traditional art and calligraphy, plus temporary exhibitions. There may be queues to enter during main public holidays.

   April to October: Tue-Sun 09:00-17:00, no entry after 16:00. November to March: Tue-Sun 09:30-16:30, no entry after 15:30·Free

5. See

   Mao Zedong's Statue

   毛泽东塑像

   This is the largest statue of Mao Zedong in China. Around the base of the statue are images of workers, peasants and soldiers in heroic poses. The square is a popular place for locals to relax. Also called 'Taxi Square' by the locals.

   Free

6. See

   Paleontological Museum of Liaoning

   辽宁古生物博物馆

   Claims to be the largest paleontological museum in China. Maintains a huge collection of fossils.

   09:30-16:00, no entry after 15:30, closed on Mondays and Thursdays·Free

7. See

   Shenyang World War II Allied Prisoners Camp Site Museum

   二战盟军战俘集中营旧址陈列馆

   From 1942 to 1945, around 1500 soldiers from six different countries were interned by the Japanese at this POW camp in Shenyang. The site is now a museum. Information is provided in both Chinese and English.

   08:30-16:30, closed on Mondays·Free

8. See

   The old Longkou Wine Museum

   老龙口 laolongkou

   A small museum beside the Laolongkou distillery tells the history of Baiju production on the site which dates to the early 17th century. The display includes old maps and photographs of the area. Equipment used in the wine production and a collection of old bottles, labels and trademarks used by the company.

   Free

9. See Not mapped

   North, East, South and West Pagodas

   北塔 Beita, 南塔 Nanta, 东塔 Dongta, 西塔 Xita

   Built in the 1640s and now restored to close to original, these four pagodas stand each about 4 km north, south, east and west of the Imperial Palace that was the centre of the old city. Each pagoda is almost identical to the others but the north and south pagodas are in the best condition today.

   Free

10. See Not mapped

    Shengjing Ancient Cultural Street

    盛京古文化街

    Shenjing is the old name for Shenyang during the 17th century - jing meaning capital city. This street tries to recreate the architectural styles of the time. It is however only a facard over the front of relatively modern 20th-century structures within which a variety of tourist orientated shops operate.

    Free

11. See

    Liaoning Science and Technology Hall

    辽宁省科学技术馆

    9:00-17:00(6:30 last admission), close on Mon except national holidays·Free

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Shenyang (CC BY-SA 4.0).