History & Districts

Shenyang (Simplified Chinese: 沈阳; Traditional Chinese: 瀋陽; pinyin: Shěnyáng) is the capital of Liaoning province in China. It is a sub-provincial city with a population of 7.2 million.

History

In the 12th century, Shenyang was one of the three capitals of the empire of the Kin Tartars (Golden Horde).

In 1625 the Manchu leader Nurhaci moved his capital to Shenyang. It was renamed to Mukden (in Chinese, 盛京) in 1634. Shenyang remained the capital of the Qing Dynasty until the overthrow of the Ming dynasty, and relocation of the capital to Beijing in 1644. However, it retained considerable prestige as the older capital, treasures of the royal house were kept at its palaces, and the tombs of the early Qing rulers were once among the most famous monuments in China.

In 1657 Shenyang was renamed Fengtianfu (奉天府) it changed back to its old name Shenyang in 1914.

During the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), there was a Japanese victory at Shenyang on February 19-March 10, 1905.

The Mukden Incident (September 18, 1931), which gave the Japanese an impetus to create the Manchukuo state in Manchuria, took place near Shenyang. During the Manchukuo era (1932-1945) the city was called Fengtian again.

Soviet forces occupies Shenyang in early August 1945. The Soviets were replaced by the Nationalist Chinese on the surrender of Japan. During the Chinese Civil War, Shenyang was a Kuomintang stronghold from 1946-1948. It was captured by the Communist Chinese on October 30, 1948.

Since 1949, Shenyang has developed into a major industrial center.

Districts and zones
* Dadong District (大东区 Dàdōng Qū) (northeast of downtown)
* Dongling (Meaning East Grave, burial site of Nurhaci)
* Faku
* Heping District (和平区 Hépíng Qū) (downtown)
* Huanggu (directly north of downtown)
* Kangping
* Liaozhong
* Shenhe District (沈河区 Shĕnhé Qū) (east of downtown)
* Sujiatun (south)

Farming and mining.

* Tiexi District (铁西区 Tǐexī Qū) (west side)
* Xinchengzi (20 miles north of downtown)
* Xinmin
* Yuhong

Location(s)