Shenyang Imperial Palace

The basics

The palace grounds are sprawling, with more than 300 rooms and 20 courtyards, which means a tour guide can be helpful. You’ll see the Phoenix Tower and the Hall of Great Affairs, among other notable buildings. Inside, you'll find a vast art collection with porcelain, sculptures, instruments, paintings, and enamelware. Hire a guide upon arrival, or prebook a tour. You'll pay around ¥60 to enter, but kids under 4.3 feet (1.3 meters) are free.

Things to know before you go

• Wear sturdy walking shoes as you'll cover a lot of ground—about 71,760 square yards (60,000 square meters).

• Make sure to dress for the weather, as you’ll be outside most of the time.

• For-hire guides are available at the front of the imperial palace.

How to get there

You can take a train from Beijing to Shenyang, which takes about three hours, and there are buses and planes, too. Once you’re in Shenyang, the subway Line 1 goes out to the Imperial Palace, as do many buses. If you want a direct, private ride, hop in a taxi and tell the driver where you want to go or point to the name written down in Chinese.

When to get there

The palace is generally open from mid-morning to mid-afternoon, but opening hours change with the seasons, on Mondays, public holidays, and in summer. Since Shenyang is in the north, it gets cold in winter. The best times for touring are from spring to fall, with summer generally seeing the most tourists.

Northern Chinese cuisine

You can find all kinds of Chinese food in Shenyang, including the popular hot and spicy Sichuanese, but make some room for traditional dishes from the region. Try the chewy steamed dumplings, known as siew mai (or shumai), and smoked meat flatbreads. There is a significant Korean influence in the area, so keep your eyes peeled for warm noodle soup topped with kimchi.