Explore the mysteries of the Shenyang Imperial Palace and experience its unique charm

The Forbidden City in Beijing is renowned and a popular tourist attraction nationwide, often with tickets in high demand. It served as the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties. But did you know that there is also an imperial palace in Shenyang? It was the palace before the Qing dynasty moved its capital to Beijing and, along with the Forbidden City, is one of the two major existing palace complexes in China. It was included in the World Cultural Heritage list in 2004 as an extension of the Ming and Qing imperial palaces. Recommended tour route: From the perspective of architectural layout and construction time, it can be divided into three main parts: the east route, the central route, and the west route. The east route mainly includes the Dazheng Hall and the Pavilion of Ten Kings. This area was built after Nurhaci, the founder of the Qing dynasty, moved the capital to Shenyang in 1625. It features early architecture, with the iconic Dazheng Hall in the center, flanked by the Left Wing King Pavilion and the Right Wing King Pavilion, followed by the pavilions of the Eight Banners Kings. The central route encompasses the Daqing Gate, Chongzheng Hall, Phoenix Tower, and the Five Palaces on the Platform (Qingning Palace in the center, Guansui Palace and Yanqing Palace on the east side, Linzhi Palace and Yongfu Palace on the west side), which were areas for the emperor's political activities and the residence of the empresses. These were built during the reign of Huang Taiji, the second emperor of the Qing dynasty, and represent the second phase of construction. The west route includes the theater stage, Jiayin Hall, palace gate, Wensu Pavilion, Yangxi Studio, stele pavilion, and Jiujian Hall, among others. This area was used by the Qing emperors for reading and watching plays during their eastern tours to Shengjing, and for storing the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries. The construction began in the 46th year of the Qianlong era (1781) and represents the last group of buildings. Today, the scenic area's coffee shop and exit are located in this area. Opening hours: April 10 to October 10, 8:30-17:30; October 11 to April 9, 9:00-16:30. Note: Closed on Monday mornings (except for statutory holidays and July and August), opens at 13:00. Ticket price: 50 yuan. In addition, Shenyang has many other attractions worth visiting, such as Beiling Park, which is beautiful and has a long history. Food recommendations: - Yang's Hanging Oven Pancake: Crispy on the outside, soft and fragrant on the inside. - Old Four Seasons Noodles: Delicious chicken soup noodles. - Xita Cold Noodles: A specialty with a unique taste. - Shenyang Roasted Chicken Rack: Aromatic and memorable. - Kragus Sausage: Rich meat flavor, firm texture.