Liaoyang

With a history stretching back more than 2,300 years, Liaoyang has a compact cluster of urban sights, making it ideal for a leisurely weekend or short holiday exploring this ancient city in northeastern China.

• Liaoyang White Pagoda Park: The park’s octagonal, 13-tier brick pagoda dates to the Liao dynasty. Standing 70.4 meters tall, it is the tallest surviving ancient pagoda in northeastern China. Red walls, the white pagoda and wind chimes beneath upturned eaves make this a pleasant place for a stroll.

• Liaoyang Guangyou Temple: Beside the White Pagoda, this temple was founded during the Eastern Han dynasty. Its halls house a 21.48-meter-tall gilded wooden seated Buddha, and the temple holds five “world’s largest” distinctions. Red walls and golden roof tiles create an imposing sight, and incense is provided free of charge.

• Liaoyang Museum: Housed in the former Peng Mansion from the Republican era, the museum offers free entry with an ID card. Highlights include its prized Wang Erlie Hundred Longevity Wishes Screen and Han and Wei dynasty tomb murals that predate the Dunhuang murals by 300 years.

• Former Liaoyang South Manchuria Railway Library: This European-style red-brick building stands in the southwest corner of White Pagoda Park. It was one of the places where the September 18 Incident was plotted. The building retains a strong sense of its era and is suited to a quiet visit.

• Liaoyang Cao Xueqin Memorial Hall: Built on the site of the Qing-dynasty Wu Mansion, this memorial hall displays the Cao family genealogy and various editions of *Dream of the Red Chamber*. Its documents and family history shed light on Cao Xueqin’s connections with Liaoyang.

• Liaoyang Wang Erlie Memorial Hall: This was the home of Wang Erlie, a Qing-dynasty scholar known as “the greatest talent east of Shanhai Pass.” The residence was commissioned by the Jiaqing Emperor. Its extensive displays introduce the life and achievements of this northeastern Chinese scholar.

• Liaoyang Folk Museum: The museum occupies the Liaoyang Peng Family Mansion, built in 1921. This well-preserved complex of traditional courtyard residences was also a filming location for *The Grandmaster*.

Three-Day Itinerary

• Day 1: Discover the Ancient City and Its Landmark Buildings
  • Morning: Walk from Liaoyang Railway Station to White Pagoda Park to see the Liao-dynasty pagoda, then visit the nearby former South Manchuria Railway Library.
  • Lunch: Eat near Guangyou Temple or try the temple’s vegetarian buffet for 10 yuan.

• Afternoon: Explore Guangyou Temple, then visit the Cao Xueqin Memorial Hall and Wang Erlie Memorial Hall to learn about figures from Liaoyang’s literary and cultural history.
  • Evening: Stroll along the Taizi River scenic promenade to enjoy the city at night, or visit White Pagoda Night Market.
• Day 2: Explore the Museums
  • Morning: Start at Liaoyang Museum’s main building to learn about the history of Xiangping, then visit the neighboring Han and Wei Dynasty Mural Museum and Liaoyang Folk Museum (Peng Family Mansion).
  • Lunch: Try northeastern Chinese dishes or Liaoyang-style liangpi cold noodles near the museums.

• Afternoon: Travel to Kuixing Tower and Tianyou Gate, then climb the surviving sections of the old city wall for views of the old town’s layout and a sense of nearly 400 years of history.
  • Evening: Have dinner at Zhangshangxian, or choose from the snacks at Erjun Life Plaza.
• Day 3: Natural Scenery or Countryside Hiking
  • Option A (Relax in Nature): Head to the Taizi Island Ten-Mile Gallery Scenic Area to see the Fish Scale Dam and Mirror of the Sky. Take a bamboo raft ride to enjoy the waterside scenery known as “northeastern China’s little Jiangnan,” then spend the afternoon soaking in the hot springs at Gongchangling.

• Option B (Outdoor Hiking): Drive to Hehuogou Natural Scenic Area, where you can see old-growth forests, striking peaks and unusual rock formations. Red leaves blanket the mountains in autumn, earning the area the nickname “northeastern China’s little Huangshan.” It is well suited to hiking and photography.

Local Food to Try

Transport and Accommodation Tips

• Transport:
  • High-speed rail: The journey from Shenyang to Liaoyang takes about 20–30 minutes. From Liaoyang Railway Station on the Harbin–Dalian high-speed line, you can walk or take a taxi to the main city sights.
  • Getting around: Most sights are concentrated in Baita District and can be linked on foot or by shared bicycle. Taxi fares start at 6 yuan, and bus fares are 1 yuan.
• Accommodation:
  • Convenient city stays: Stay near Liaoyang Railway Station or White Pagoda Park, for example at Liaoyang Hotel. The area has plenty of bus routes for reaching the sights.
  • Hot spring stays: For a relaxing hot spring break, consider Liaoyang Yishui Yuntian Hot Spring Hotel in Gongchangling District, which has a swimming pool and private hot spring baths in a forest setting.

Travel Tips

• Admission: White Pagoda Park, Guangyou Temple and most city museums are free to enter. Bring your ID card for admission to the venues.
• Opening hours: Museums are usually closed on Mondays and stop admitting visitors at around 4:30 p.m. Allow enough time for your visits.
• What to wear: White Pagoda Park and Guangyou Temple feature red walls and traditional buildings, which pair well with modern Chinese-style or light-colored clothing. Autumn temperatures vary noticeably between day and night, so bring a light jacket.
• Getting there and dining: Parking outside Guangyou Temple is limited during holidays. Arrive by high-speed rail, or park farther away and walk. Zhangshangxian may have a lunchtime queue, so visit outside peak hours or collect a queue number in advance.