Mukden Palace

Step into history at Mukden Palace, also known as the Shenyang Imperial Palace, the former residence of the Later Jin and early Qing dynasty emperors. Located in the center of Shenyang, Liaoning, this impressive historic site covers around 60,000 square meters, featuring over 300 buildings and 20 courtyards divided into East, Middle, and West sections.

Built starting in 1625 to resemble Beijing's Forbidden City, it uniquely incorporates Manchu, Tibetan, Han, and Mongol architectural elements. During your visit, explore the East Section's octagonal Dazheng Hall and the Ten Princes' Pavilions, built during the Nurhaci period and linked to the historic Eight Banners system.

Moving to the Middle Section, you will discover the elevated Fenghuang Building, Daqing Gate, and royal residential quarters featuring traditional northern Chinese Kang bed-stoves. The West Section, added in the late 18th century for royal "East Tours," houses the Wenshangge, designed to store the "Complete Library of the Four Treasuries." Beyond the magnificent structures, you can view precious artifacts from the Qing imperial collection, including Nurhachi's sword, Hong Taiji's waist knife and antler chairs, as well as historic porcelain, calligraphy, and lacquerware.

What to see at Mukden Palace

• Explore over 300 buildings and 20 courtyards across three distinct sections
• View the octagonal Dazheng Hall and the Eight Banners layout in the East Section
• See the elevated Fenghuang Building and traditional Manchu Kang bed-stoves in the Middle Section
• Discover historic artifacts like Nurhachi's sword and Hong Taiji's antler chairs

Visiting tips

Look closely at the Middle Section's living quarters to spot traditional Manchu architectural features like back chimneys and warm Kang bed-stoves.

How long: 2-3 hours · Best time: Morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

Mukden Palace is easy to reach on Shenyang’s public transport. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Shenyang travel guide.