Shenyang

Location
Liaoning Province is located in the southern part of northeast China, with the Yellow and Bohai Seas in the south, Hebei Province in the southwest, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the northwest, Jilin Province in the northeast, and Korea m the southeast.

Liaoning,as northeastern and western parts are rolling hills and forests. Its central part is the boundless Liaohe Plain. Its southern part is the Liaodong Peninsula. Its western part is the Liaoxi Corridor along the beach of the Bohai Sea. Dalian, Dandong, Yingkou, Jinzhou, Huludao, and Xingcheng are beautiful coastal cities, with seven national-level, nine provincial-level and seven municipal-level scenic Areas.

Liaoning is abundant with rich resources of hot springs, such as Tanggangzi in Anshan, Wulongbei in Dandong, Xingcheng in Huludao, Wenquansi in Benxi, and Tanghe in Liaoyang.

History
Liaoning has a long history. Traces of human activities more than
300, 000 years ago have been found here. Some 5,000 years ago, Liaoning was the most developed area for Chinese civilization. During 221 B. C. through 1911 A. D. , Liaoning was a political, economic and military center in northeast China, leaving behind many historical sites, such as the temporary palace of Emperor Qin Shihuang, the Great Wall at Jiumenkou, the well-preserved ancient city of the Ming Dynasty at Xingcheng, the imposing royal palaces and mausoleums of the Qing Dynasty, the sites of the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 and of Japanese-Russian War, and the prison where Pu Yi, China,as last emperor, was reformed.

Population, Ethnic Groups
Liaoning has a population of 41 million, the majority of whom are the Han people. There are 43 ethnic groups, including the Manchus, Mongolians, Huis, Koreans, and Xibes, making up 15 percent of Liaoning,as total population. Most of the ethnic groups have their own language, and live a different lifestyle.

Administrative Units
Liaoning has an area of 146, 000 square kilometers, and 14 cities, including Shenyang, Dalian, Anshan, Fushun, Benxi, Dandong, Jinzhou, Yingkou, Liaoyang, Fuxin, Tieling, Chaoyang, Panjin, and Huludao. Shenyang is the capital.

Climate
Liaoning belongs to the continental climate on the northern temperate zone, with an annual mean temperature of 6°C - 11°C . The coldest time is January, and the hottest July. April through May is spring, June through August is summer, September through October is Autumn, and November through the next March is winter. Summer is rainy, and winter is cold.

The best season for traveling is between May and October, and the best time to enjoy the winter scenery is from January through February.