Shenyang Introduction

Shengyang is the capital of Liaoning Province, and Shengyang Imperial Palace is worth of visiting.
      Located in the city proper, the palace was built for the first Qing emperor Nuerhachi and the second emperor Huangtaiji. It is the largest imperial architectural complex in Northeast China. The complex has three sections. The middle section has the Chongzheng Hall as its centre, the east section centers on the Dazheng Hall, and the west section on the Wenshuo Pavilion. The Dazheng Hall, the main Hall, is in a unique shape. The hall is a regular octahedron in shape, built like a wooden pavilion with multiple-eaved and point roofs. On walls of the hall are exquisitely paint supernatural figurines, animals, white clouds and flames which demonstrate the artistic tradition of the Manchu and Mongolian ethnic group. On both wings of the hall are ten "square pavilion" halls. The whole layout presents a grand view with principal structures in the centre and subsidiary structures on the wings.
      Besides, the are Fuling and Zhaoling Mausoleums.

Fuling Mausoleums
      Fuling, also called East Tomb, located in the eastern suburbs of Shenyang, is the tomb of Nuerhachi, the first founder of the south of the Qing Dynasty, and his wife.
      Overlooking the Hunhe River in the south and seated against the Tianzhu Hill in the north, the terrain of the tomb rises gradually northwards.
      After climbing a 108-step stairway, you emerge on a board, level terrace where the major buildings of the tomb are situated.
      In 1626, Nuerhachi led his army to attack the Ningyuan City (the present Xingcheng County in Liaoning), an important place held by the Ming Dynasty troops. He was hit by an artillery shell, and died when he failed to respond to medical treatment. At that time his burial place was not ready, and his coffin was kept unburied in a place around the northwest corner of the old Shenyang city until two and half years later when an ideal spot "seated against a hill, overlooking a winding river and shrouded in profuse auspicious atmosphere" was chosen in the eastern suburbs. A few years later, the bed hall was set up, more pine trees planted and stone carvings established, More buildings and structures were constructed during the reigns of Shunzhi, Kangxi and Qianlong. All these have added up to the present unique styled tomb complex.

Zhaoling Mausoleum
      Built in 1643,Zhaoling is the tomb of Emperor Huangtaiji, the second founder of the Qing Dynasty, and his wife. It is generally known as North Tomb because it is situated to the north of the old Shenyang city and is the largest among the three early Qing tombs.
      The tomb buildings and towers are nestled amidst the green pines and cypresses, presenting a very beautiful scenery. The area has been expanded and opened as a park, called the Beiling Park, the largest in Shenyang.
      The tombsites can be divided into three sections.
The first section starting with the Dismount-form-horse-stele includes the pillars, stone lions, stone bridge, stone decorated archway, changeroom and others.
      The second section begins with the first Vermillion Gate and ends with the entrance to the Square City. The Front Vermillion Gate is followed by a long "Worshipping Walk", which is lined on either side with four stone pillars, six pairs of stone animals and two giant stone pillars. The Tablet Pavilion, located at the central axis, is lined on either side with the former tearoom, dining room and some other buildings. The Square City north of the Tablet Pavilion constitutes the third section, the principal part of the tomb complex. The Hall of Bounteous Favour, the main hall, stands in the centre of the Square City, being flanked by side halls on each side, on the high square city walls endorsing the halls, there are four watchtowers, one at each corner.
      The Square City connected with the crescentmoon shaped Treasure City at the rear, at the northern tip of the Treasure City is the Treasure Mound under which is the underground palace where Emperor Huangtaiji and his wife are buried.
      The 43000 ancient pine trees mark the gate of the neat and magnificent tomb and make it appear more calm and solemn.