Shenyang Parks and Gardens

(Shenyang, Liaoning, China)

Some of the parks and gardens around the city of Shenyang are simply unmissable and provide a huge selection of seasonal colours, ranging from flowering cherries in the spring, to dramatic fall colours in the autumn. Beiling Park is of particular interest and is the largest urban space in the whole of Shenyang, while for the plant enthusiast, the Shenyang Botanical Garden (Arboretum) is home to almost 2,000 different varieties of plants.

Further away is the rather impressive Qian Shan National Park, which boasts a range of walking trails and recreational activities. Shenyang's main parks and gardens are detailed below.

Shenyang Arboretum / Botanical Garden

Address: 10 km / 6 miles from the Municipal Centre, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110001, China, CN
Tel: +86 024 2271 0337
One of the city's true highlights is this lovely arboretum, which is often better known as the Shenyang Botanical Garden. Dating back to the late 1950s and full of seasonal interest, the arboretum is home to a huge collection of plants, including many fragrant flowers and also large tree specimens, which provide pleasant shady areas. With a series of ponds, oriental-style statues and bridges, and eight individual themed gardens, there is always plenty to see here, whatever the time of year. Springtime cherry blossoms and azaleas provide a particularly notable blaze of colour, while the site also hosts flower exhibitions throughout the warm season.
Open hours: daily
Admission: charge

Beiling Park

Address: Beiling Da Street, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110003, Shenyang, China, CN
Tel: +86 024 2271 0337
Shenyang's Beiling Park offers a convenient and pleasant escape from the city's chaos. During the warm summer months, visitors can boat on the lake or take a walk along one of the many forested paths. The city's famous North Tomb is also here, and at dawn you can marvel at hundreds of Chinese practicing Tai Chi.
Open hours: daily - 07:30 to 18:00
Admission: no charge

Qian Shan National Park

As one of Shenyang's most accessible national parks, this mountain retreat has fast become a hotspot for Chinese tourists checking out the Song Dynasty temples and buzzing through the park on electric shuttles. However, by simply getting off the main road you can leave the pavement-trapped hoards behind and explore the well-worn paths leading to temples and historic sites. The Bei Bu (Northern Ravine) can be covered in a day, but the Xianren Tai (Peak of the Immortals), with its exquisite Da'an Temple, requires an overnight stay in a park hotel.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: charge