Most visitors to Northeast China may not know that the original Forbidden City lies in Shenyang, the first capital of the Manchu people. The Mukden Palace is a reminder of days when Shenyang was one of the preeminent cities of Chinese civilisation. The capital of Liaoning once went by the name Shengjing, or 'rising capital,' referring to its status as the spiritual and symbolic heart of the Manchu people who founded the Qing dynasty in the early 17th century and ruled China from 1644 to 1911.
Much of Shenyang's current draw for tourists stems from its legacy as a Manchu capital. The palace was built for the Manchu ruler Nurhaci just 20 years before he founded the Qing dynasty.
Much of the palace has been preserved and the scrollwork and carvings on the walls, doors and statues reflect the height of Manchu artistry. The palace is on Unesco's World Heritage list and charges 60 yuan at the door.
The first Qing emperor Nurhaci is buried in Shenyang, in the Fuling Tomb, once one of China's most famous. This tomb and the Zhaoling Tomb of Nurhaci's son, Emperor Huang Taiji are also Unesco World Heritage sites.
The tombs are surrounded by the Dongling and Beiling parks - sprawling green spaces with slow-moving streams, rock gardens and small lakes.
Some of the most peaceful and sublime moments in Shenyang can be found around these undisturbed tombs. The architecture is pure Manchu and the small lanes leading from one round building to the next invoke mystery, beauty and a poignant sense of loss for what once was.