Top 20 Best Things to Do in Shenyang

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瓜尔佳蚊子

Built by Nurhaci, the Shenyang Imperial Palace served as the imperial palace during the early Qing Dynasty, completed in 1636 (the first year of the Chongde reign). It is not only one of only two remaining imperial palace complexes in China (along with Beijing), but also the only imperial palace complex outside the Great Wall. The Shenyang Imperial Palace is approximately 200 years later than the Forbidden City in Beijing. It is a must-see attraction in Shenyang and a significant testament to modern history.

M23***98

As a part of history, it's worth visiting to understand where General Zhang Xueliang worked and lived when he was in charge of Northeast China, and to objectively evaluate his life.

Al Zn

I went on October 25th, catching the Halloween night activities the weekend before Halloween, and had a lot of fun. I originally planned to write about my experience as soon as I got back, but I got busy and procrastinated, and before I knew it, half a month had passed since Halloween. Because my trip to Shenyang was short, I only planned to go to Fantawild. I bought a 159 RMB night ticket and entered the park at 3 PM, getting in after about ten minutes. You can take a free photo at the entrance, and pick it up opposite the visitor center when you leave. Small photos are free, but larger ones cost money. My original plan was just to explore the park and bring the kids next time, so I started wandering around. However, the park is quite large, with many branching paths, so after strolling around for a while, I downloaded the Fantawild app, which proved very helpful. I went on several rides, including Light of Life (a giant 3D movie), Liaozhai (a live performance with special effects), Mine Train (a roller coaster), Soaring Over the Horizon (similar to Soaring Over the Horizon), Conch Bay (an animated movie suitable for children), Dinosaur Crisis (an indoor ride-on movie), and Amazing Circus (a haunted house). If I had more time, I'd like to ride Soaring Over the Horizon and Mine Train again, especially the Mine Train, which is perfect for me – a thrill ride! 😁 Most of the haunted houses required wristbands, which was annoying. I didn't have one, so I just bought one, similar to the one at the North Loop. The Space Shuttle stopped running around 8 PM, and I rushed but missed it because of the 8:30 PM fireworks show. I also skipped Fire Meteor, since I'm not a roller coaster enthusiast; I've already gritted my teeth and ridden Hollywood Dream, Flying Dinosaur, and Decepticon… I'll save the Giant Swing for next time 🤣. Due to the Halloween activities and it being Saturday, it was quite crowded; most of the rides had a 30-50 minute wait. I felt the Halloween activities were even more fun than the attractions themselves, with lots of interactive NPCs along the main street. The interactivity was better than Universal Studios Osaka and Hokuroku, offering not only scary NPCs but also funny, cute, and beautifully posed figures that could playfully interact with visitors. I spent from 3 pm to almost 9 pm there, and Fantawild's fun exceeded my expectations. It seems I'll definitely come back during Halloween or some other pre-holiday event.

午后时光～

5 out of 10! The Liaoning Provincial Museum is Shenyang's hidden cultural treasure; a whole day isn't enough! As the first museum in New China, the Liaoning Provincial Museum truly embodies the spirit of "understated yet rich in content"! Free admission and directly accessible by Metro Line 2 (Exit D, just a 150-meter walk), it's incredibly convenient, requiring no navigation. The architecture is magnificent and grand, with a clear exhibition layout. The 22 exhibition halls cover 17 categories of collections, including prehistoric culture, Liao Dynasty artifacts, and calligraphy and painting masterpieces, with over 115,000 artifacts to explore—a paradise for history buffs! The must-see exhibits are truly breathtaking! The white jade pig-dragon from the Hongshan Culture is exquisite; its rounded shape is both ancient and mysterious, a marvel of 5,000-year-old carving techniques. Zhang Xu's "Four Poems in Ancient Style" features unrestrained cursive script; even the ink smudges are clearly visible under magnification, exuding the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty. There's also the Murong Xianbei's gold hairpin shaped like a flowering tree and the Yongzheng kiln-fired red-glazed pomegranate-shaped vase—both aesthetically pleasing and historically significant. For a deeper understanding, I recommend renting a VR audio guide for 50 yuan. It not only provides detailed explanations but also comes with a postcard, making it far more rewarding than wandering around aimlessly. Don't miss the volunteer guides either, as they are packed with information! The exhibition hall is vast, so comfortable shoes are recommended. Allow at least 3-4 hours for a leisurely visit. There's a restaurant on the first floor for a light meal, and the "Hairpin Flower" series of souvenirs in the cultural and creative area are very attractive—perfect for gifts or personal enjoyment. The only minor drawback is that some of the museum's most prized artifacts (such as the "Auspicious Cranes" painting) may be temporarily closed for conservation purposes; check the official website for announcements before you go. Whether you're introducing history to your children or experiencing cultural heritage with friends, the Liaoning Provincial Museum is worth visiting multiple times! Every artifact here tells a story spanning thousands of years. After a visit, you'll be deeply moved by the profoundness of Chinese culture. Don't miss it when you're in Shenyang!

高冈市灌夫

It was a great experience. The service was excellent. The attractions were good. I tried the indoor rafting, which was great. The fish spa was nice, with its small fish and water guns. The breakfast at the Suifeng restaurant and the food on the third floor of the hot springs were also very impressive and good.

_We***40

With its renowned reputation, it's a must-see when visiting Shenyang. Here are a few details to share. Without spoiling anything, the Liu Laogen Grand Stage is now labeled a "Green Errenzhuan" (two-person opera) production, which doesn't affect the quality of the performances. However, locals also recommend the Nanfeng Grand Theater, claiming it's more grounded in Errenzhuan (though I didn't go). Liu Laogen is more expensive, as you'll usually see some of the people you see on TV. When it comes to ticket purchases, Liu Laogen's process is somewhat of a hybrid of online and offline, unlike the usual practice. You can buy tickets in advance through the official ticket app, but the offline ticket booth doesn't open until 10 a.m. on the morning of the show to select and collect your seats. This means if you don't select your seat early and wait until showtime to redeem your ticket, you'll only be assigned the last seat in that section. You can also buy tickets offline early, and you can choose your ideal seat, but there's a chance that a large number of people who buy tickets online in advance will sell out early (this situation shouldn't be very likely). Buying tickets through mainstream platforms like Ctrip doesn't require or require offline seat selection; the system automatically assigns tickets, but you still have to go to the ticket window to redeem them. I feel like the seats you're assigned are generally in the middle row, not the closest seats (because I bought my ticket as soon as it became available at 12 a.m., and still ended up in the middle row). As for other details, the theater has a snack and souvenir shop with reasonable prices. You can also scan the QR code at your seat to buy, and a staff member will bring it to your scanned location. If you arrive early, there's a warm-up performance at the theater entrance.

E14***18

I was the only visitor this time, and the guide was incredibly attentive! She explained everything very thoroughly, highlighting key artifacts and emphasizing their importance. The two-hour tour lasted a full two hours, and she even answered all my questions. The Shenyang Museum has many worthwhile artifacts to see, and this tour was truly well worth listening to!

Anonymous user

Visiting the Governor's Palace allows you to learn about history, see China's development, and appreciate their efforts. It's quite impressive. There are very few visitors here, but those under 70 years old need to buy a ticket.

行走的奶酪君

When you come to Zhongjie, you just don't want to leave. You can't stop shopping. Food, entertainment, culture, history, everything can be explored for a whole day. The scenery is beautiful and there is no lack of fun.

M47***12

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