Liaoyang

Liaoyang (辽阳; Liáoyáng) is a city in Liaoning Province in China.

This is an ancient city with a long history going back over 2400 years. Liaoyang had been the major city of Liaodong (eastern Liaoning) province since the Waring States Period (475-221 BC). When Nurhachi united the Manchurian tribes and founded the Late Jin Dynasty, Nurhachi moved his capital to Liaoning. An imperial palace was built there in 1621. The new capital was renamed Dongjing (East Capital). The city measured 900m east to west and 840m north to south. The city wall was 11 metres high with two gates on either side. However, this palace was barely completed when Nurhachi moved his court yet again to the city of Shenyang in 1625. Nowadays, little remains of the old palace but some walls and gates are visible. In 1904, Battle of Liaoyang was fought as one of the major battles of the Russo-Japanese War. After the end of the second world war and the Chinese civil war, Liaoyang became a centre for heavy industrial development. It is somewhat overshadowed by the now larger neighbours of Shenyang and Anshan but remains one of the key cities of Liaoning province.

• White Pagoda Park, 60 Zhonghua Road (中华大街一段60号; Zhōnghuádàjiēyīduàn) (From the train station take bus 7, +86 419 2126429. This is the tallest, at 70.4 metres, ancient pagoda in the Northeast of China. It dates to the Liao Dynasty and is one of the 6 oldest pagoda towers in China. The park was constructed around the pagoda in 1908. Free.
• Guangyou Temple Scenic Area. Constructed during the Eastern Han Dynasty, this is one of the oldest Buddhist sites in China. In the year 1161, the site received favour of the Emperor and was expanded. In the early 1900s, the army of the old Tsarist Russia burned the site. It has since been restored. This temple complex covers some 60,000 square metres. Within lies a large statue of Sakyamuni Buddha made of camphor wood and gilded with gold. It is the largest, by volume, statue of Sakyamuni Buddha in camphor wood in the world and stands some 21.48 meters high. Free.
• Longfeng Mountain Scenic Spot and Temple, Xiadahe Town (About 35 kilometers form Liaoyang City centre. Longfeng temple dates to the time of the Tang Dynasty Emperor Zhenguan, over 1,300 years ago. It was renovated during the Ming and Qing dynasties. According to inscriptions in the temple, Tang Emperor Taizong visited the site as did the Emperor Qianlong of Qing in the 44th year of his rule. The temple was damaged during the Cultural Revolution of the 20th century. It has since been restored.
• Liaoyang City Museum, 2 Zongxin Road, Wensheng District (文圣区中心路2号; Wénshèngqū Zhōngxīnlù) (From the train station take bus 23 or 16, +86 419 3232297, +86 1330 4198145. This museum opened in 1985 and in 2002 was graded as a AA class site by the Provincial Tourism Bureau. The museum covers 31,450 square meters over five galleries and contains 4,000 items from the neolithic through to Ming and Qing dynasties. Free.
• Cao Xueqin Memorial Hall, 2 Woshi Hutong (卧狮胡同2号; Wòshīhútòng) (Take bus 20. It is just 100 metres from the Wang Erlie Memorial Hall, +86 419 2138074. "The Dream of Red Mansions" is one of the four most famous novels of China. It was written by Cao Xueqin. Over the years, there has been much debate as to where Cao Xueqin was born. Liaoyang has been put forward as the likely location. In 1995, a Memorial to Cao Xueqin was opened in Liaoyang. Free.
• Wang Erlie Memorial Hall, Baita District (Take bus 20. It is just 100 metres from the Cao Xue Memorial Hall. Wang Erlie was a court official born in Liaoyang during the rein of the Emperor Qianlong. He achieved excellent scores in his Imperial exams and subsequently had a career that saw him become one of the richest and most powerful people in China. The museum tells the story of his life and has some English language translations. Free.
• Dongjing City, Taizihe District (太子河区; Tàizǐhéqū). Liaoyang became the capital city of the Manchurian Late Jin Empire in 1621. An imperial palace was built here called Dongjing or "East Capital" and covers and area of 0.75 square kilometres. A few walls and gates remain of the old palace.
• Dongjing Mausoleum, Taizihe District (太子河区; Tàizǐhéqū). Build by the first Manchurian Emperor, Nurhachu, in 1624, to house the remains of his grandfather, wife, brother, son and others. In total ten people of Nurhachu's family were placed here.
• Guanyin Temple.
• Qingfeng Temple.
• Yanzhou Town.
• Li Zhaolin House.
• Liaoyang Forest of Steles.
• Gusao Town.
• Hehuogou Provincial Level Forest Park. Part of the Qianshan mountain range, Hehuoguo Park contains canyon scenery with waterfalls, natural springs and ancient pine trees.

White Pagoda Park, 60 Zhonghua Road (中华大街一段60号; Zhōnghuádàjiēyīduàn) (From the train station take bus 7, +86 419 2126429. This is the tallest, at 70.4 metres, ancient pagoda in the Northeast of China. It dates to the Liao Dynasty and is one of the 6 oldest pagoda towers in China. The park was constructed around the pagoda in 1908. Free.

Guangyou Temple Scenic Area. Constructed during the Eastern Han Dynasty, this is one of the oldest Buddhist sites in China. In the year 1161, the site received favour of the Emperor and was expanded. In the early 1900s, the army of the old Tsarist Russia burned the site. It has since been restored. This temple complex covers some 60,000 square metres. Within lies a large statue of Sakyamuni Buddha made of camphor wood and gilded with gold. It is the largest, by volume, statue of Sakyamuni Buddha in camphor wood in the world and stands some 21.48 meters high. Free.

Longfeng Mountain Scenic Spot and Temple, Xiadahe Town (About 35 kilometers form Liaoyang City centre. Longfeng temple dates to the time of the Tang Dynasty Emperor Zhenguan, over 1,300 years ago. It was renovated during the Ming and Qing dynasties. According to inscriptions in the temple, Tang Emperor Taizong visited the site as did the Emperor Qianlong of Qing in the 44th year of his rule. The temple was damaged during the Cultural Revolution of the 20th century. It has since been restored.

Liaoyang City Museum, 2 Zongxin Road, Wensheng District (文圣区中心路2号; Wénshèngqū Zhōngxīnlù) (From the train station take bus 23 or 16, +86 419 3232297, +86 1330 4198145. This museum opened in 1985 and in 2002 was graded as a AA class site by the Provincial Tourism Bureau. The museum covers 31,450 square meters over five galleries and contains 4,000 items from the neolithic through to Ming and Qing dynasties. Free.

Cao Xueqin Memorial Hall, 2 Woshi Hutong (卧狮胡同2号; Wòshīhútòng) (Take bus 20. It is just 100 metres from the Wang Erlie Memorial Hall, +86 419 2138074. "The Dream of Red Mansions" is one of the four most famous novels of China. It was written by Cao Xueqin. Over the years, there has been much debate as to where Cao Xueqin was born. Liaoyang has been put forward as the likely location. In 1995, a Memorial to Cao Xueqin was opened in Liaoyang. Free.

Wang Erlie Memorial Hall, Baita District (Take bus 20. It is just 100 metres from the Cao Xue Memorial Hall. Wang Erlie was a court official born in Liaoyang during the rein of the Emperor Qianlong. He achieved excellent scores in his Imperial exams and subsequently had a career that saw him become one of the richest and most powerful people in China. The museum tells the story of his life and has some English language translations. Free.

Dongjing City, Taizihe District (太子河区; Tàizǐhéqū). Liaoyang became the capital city of the Manchurian Late Jin Empire in 1621. An imperial palace was built here called Dongjing or "East Capital" and covers and area of 0.75 square kilometres. A few walls and gates remain of the old palace.

Dongjing Mausoleum, Taizihe District (太子河区; Tàizǐhéqū). Build by the first Manchurian Emperor, Nurhachu, in 1624, to house the remains of his grandfather, wife, brother, son and others. In total ten people of Nurhachu's family were placed here.

Guanyin Temple.

Qingfeng Temple.

Yanzhou Town.

Li Zhaolin House.

Liaoyang Forest of Steles.

Gusao Town.

Hehuogou Provincial Level Forest Park. Part of the [[Qianshan National Park|Qianshan]] mountain range, Hehuoguo Park contains canyon scenery with waterfalls, natural springs and ancient pine trees.

• Gongchangling Skiing Field, Tanghe scenic spot, Gongchangling District, Liaoyang..

Gongchangling Skiing Field, Tanghe scenic spot, Gongchangling District, Liaoyang..

• Hainan Restaurant, Xinxing Road (新兴街富虹水月翰宫二期北门西20米), +86 6976228 13841918338. Sichuan amd Xiangcai style boiled fish broth from Beijing.
• Liaoyang Tain Fu Can Yin Yu Le You Xian Gong Si, 334 Xinyun Street, Wensheng District (文圣区新运大街334号), +86 4133555.
• Baida District, Lan'guifan Restaurant, +86 2130133.
• Liaoyang City Shi Guang Zhou Tan Huo Shao Kao Chung, +86 3122588. Barbcue restaurant.
• Liaoyang Dong Shu Huoguo Restaurant, +86 4226696, +86 4226996. Sichuan style hotpot restaurant.
• Baida District, Mojiafu Huoguo, +86 2153755.

Hainan Restaurant, Xinxing Road (新兴街富虹水月翰宫二期北门西20米), +86 6976228 13841918338. Sichuan amd Xiangcai style boiled fish broth from Beijing.

Liaoyang Tain Fu Can Yin Yu Le You Xian Gong Si, 334 Xinyun Street, Wensheng District (文圣区新运大街334号), +86 4133555.

Baida District, Lan'guifan Restaurant, +86 2130133.

Liaoyang City Shi Guang Zhou Tan Huo Shao Kao Chung, +86 3122588. Barbcue restaurant.

Liaoyang Dong Shu Huoguo Restaurant, +86 4226696, +86 4226996. Sichuan style hotpot restaurant.

Baida District, Mojiafu Huoguo, +86 2153755.

Qianshan National Park and Benxi Watercave Park are in the Neighbouring cities of Anshan and Benxi. An hours drive north lies Shenyang city, with its ancient history and UNESCO world heritage sites. About 4 hours drive south is the port city of Dalian - a favourite Chinese tourist destination.