Today, I want to share a special destination with you. It wasn’t originally on my list of topics, but a chance encounter made me fall in love with this city, and I felt compelled to share it with everyone.
It boasts a long and rich history, is the largest industrial city in Northeast China wrapped in multiple cultures, and offers a diverse mix of unique snacks that are truly unforgettable. Its name is quite resonant: Shenyang.
Why did I come to this city?
Actually, it was because a month ago, we launched a Feizhu campaign where you could rent a campervan for just 1 yuan! Traveling from Northwest China to Yunnan, from Southwest China to East China.
Originally, I only planned to use Shenyang as a transit stop, thinking I’d have some barbecue and leave after a couple of days. Unexpectedly, due to the pandemic, all our original plans were disrupted, and our campervan trip was forced to cancel.
It felt like Shenyang was using its magic to strongly persuade me to stay longer, giving me more time to explore the city thoroughly and discover its hidden charms.
As it turned out, the city did not disappoint me at all.
I tasted the famous chicken ribs here, fried, grilled, and boiled, and the chewy chicken is still fresh in my memory;
I strolled through Xita Korean Street, where the entire street is filled with various Korean dishes and barbecue, and I left happily, my stomach stuffed to the brim;
Additionally, Shenyang surprised me with an early snowfall in early October, the first snow of 2022, which fell like feathers, extremely romantic;
Of course, in Shenyang, I also went with friends to enjoy Northeast-style barbecue and experienced the renowned local bathing culture. Before I knew it, it was time to return to Hangzhou, and I was genuinely reluctant to leave.
In my heart, Shenyang is not only delicious but also a city full of liveliness and human warmth. The aunties and uncles on the streets greet you with pure Northeast accents, making you feel like you’re not strangers at all.
Even the prices are quite low, from a few yuan snacks, to a huge bowl of spicy hot pot for just over ten yuan, to barbecue that fills you up for just a few dozen yuan per person.
Today’s article shares a food guide for exploring Shenyang. Feel free to share more local treasures in the comments, as this city is one I’d definitely visit again.
Must-Try Snack Stalls
Legendary Chicken Ribs Wonder Shop
Address: Changjiang South Community, Lane 22, Changjiang Street
Business Hours: 16:00
Whether it’s gathering with a few close friends for a casual barbecue and drinks, or enjoying a solo meal of fried skewers and spicy hot pot, the table is never complete without the presence of chicken frames.
I highly recommend you try this legendary chicken frame wonder shop. Even the second season of “Life on a Stick” couldn’t resist its allure and came here specifically to film an episode.
The shop is extremely popular. It opens at 4 PM every day, and there are already long lines forming. Because they use fresh chicken frames for grilling, they can only grill four at a time, and each one takes 30 minutes to cook. Basically, each person is limited to ordering two.
The freshly grilled chicken frames are incredibly aromatic, with a slightly charred yet not burnt texture, and a subtly sweet taste that makes the wait worthwhile. Besides the signature chicken frames, the shop also offers spicy hot pot and various barbecues.
Most places in Shenyang serve traditional spicy hot pot, but this shop offers a flavor profile that leans more towards a beef tallow-based broth, topped directly with sesame and cumin, which had me completely enchanted by its aroma.
Other barbecues, in my opinion, serve as accompaniments to the chicken frames, and they are quite tasty as well. I recommend the grilled eggplant, grilled cod, and chicken cartilage.
Xiao Liang Spicy Mixed Noodles
Address: 195 Zhongjie Road
Business Hours: 9:00-22:00
This shop is a chain and a well-established brand in Shenyang. It offers a variety of spicy mixed noodles, spicy hot pot, fried skewers, and snacks, all at reasonable prices.
@2011
All dishes are self-selected, and I spent only a dozen yuan for a large portion, making it an unbeatable value. The spicy mixed noodles have a tangy and sweet flavor, with a rich sauce enveloping every dish, leaving a lingering taste that keeps you coming back for more.
The shop’s mixed chicken frames are also a must-try. The chicken is tender and moist, with a stronger tangy and sweet taste, paired with a fragrant chili oil that makes it irresistible, leaving a lasting impression on your taste buds.
Additionally, Xiao Liang’s specialty fried skewers are noteworthy. With a wide variety of options, they are fried to perfection and then brushed with a secret sauce, instantly igniting a sensory feast on your tongue.
@
The shop also offers chicken frame noodles and Korean cold noodles, both of which are quite good and worth trying.
@6
Lao Tie Traditional Spicy Hot Pot and Handmade Fried Skewers Main Store
Address: 75A Jiahao, Nanba Middle Road, Gate 5
Business Hours: 10:30-21:00
In Shenyang, spicy hot pot restaurants are ubiquitous, but the one that made me brave the heavy snow to visit is this Laotie Traditional Spicy Hot Pot and Handmade Fried Skewers shop.
@Laotie 80s Uncle
This place has been around for many years, with its signature dishes being spicy hot pot and fried skewers.
The spicy hot pot costs 10 yuan per bowl, and it comes quickly to the table. Eating a warm bowl of spicy hot pot on a cold day is truly delightful.
The broth is very rich, as if made from chicken soup, and the ingredients are plentiful, including greens, tofu puffs, duck blood… You can also add additional noodles or wide noodles for a more filling meal, which tastes especially flavorful, making you want to eat bite after bite, getting more delicious with each mouthful.
The fried skewers in the shop are also a must-try, and the sauce is applied by the customer themselves.
After the skewers are fried, they are placed on a plate and come with a separate serving of a secret sweet sauce and chili sauce, along with a small brush, allowing you to control the flavor according to your preference. The skewers, coated with the tangy and sweet sauce, quickly won my heart.
@Xiao He
Usually, friends who come to the shop will also order a mixed chicken rack.
Their chicken racks are sizable, with the sauce infused into every piece, making them very enjoyable to eat. Spicy hot pot + fried skewers + chicken rack, this is the taste of happiness for old Shenyang residents.
Zhongjie Hanging Oven Cake and Egg Custard Snack Shop
Address: No. 13 Nanwei Lane
Business Hours: 6:00-16:00
Locals have simple requirements for breakfast, with a freshly baked hanging oven cake and a bowl of golden, soft tofu pudding being the perfect choice for breakfast.
@Da Da Ran
Northern people’s love for cakes is well-known, and this hanging oven cake has a history of over a hundred years. The golden crust gives way to a crispy yet tender interior, fragrant and not greasy.
@export8371
Eating the hanging oven cake alone can be a bit dry, so a bowl of smooth tofu pudding is its soul mate, and together they are enough to start a beautiful day.
Shenyang Old-timers Restaurant
Li Lian Gui Smoked Meat and Pancake
Address: 100 Ningshan Middle Road, Building 1
Business Hours: 10:00-21:30
Lian Gui is a well-known century-old brand in Shenyang. If you arrive by high-speed train, there is a branch right outside Shenyang North Station. A bowl of egg yolk soup, a few slices of smoked meat, and a layered, crispy pancake have been the unchanging taste memory for generations.
The signature dish is the smoked meat and pancake, which are ordered according to the number of people and the amount.
I heard that making smoked meat also takes a lot of effort. A hundred years ago, Li Lian Gui was inspired by an old Chinese medicine practitioner to start using a secret herbal prescription in the smoked meat. Over the years, this has gradually created the irresistible flavor.
@Please let the leader eat first
Just the smell alone can make people salivate. The pancake has a golden, crispy exterior and a soft interior, while the smoked meat is fatty but not greasy, and lean but not dry.
@Dragon Cat White
When you stuff the smoked meat into the pancake and brush it with sweet sauce, taking a big bite, it instantly hits the spot. It truly lives up to the saying: “Pancake wrapped around smoked meat, the more you eat, the more you crave.”
Zan Ma Hu Bao Tie Guo Dun Yu Guan
Address: 19 Beisan East Road, Yingchang Street, Building 1
Business Hours: 9:30-22:00
When you come to the Northeast, you must try authentic iron pot stew. Especially after National Day, when Shenyang’s temperature drops sharply, having an iron pot stew with friends is the warmest thing in winter.
This restaurant is a chain, and you can find it in many places in Shenyang. Not only is the food delicious and plentiful, but you can also eat to your heart’s content for just thirty or forty yuan per person.
A large pot filled with vegetables, potatoes, beans, corn, and spine meat, with a mix of meat and vegetables, becomes more flavorful the longer it stews. Pair it with long strips of white flour pancakes, and your taste buds will be instantly satisfied.
@Shenyang Foodie
The spine meat in the pot is so tender that it falls off the bone, and the potatoes are soft and melt in your mouth.
The most memorable part is the pancakes. When you lift the lid and see them all puffed up, they are crispy and soft. Be sure to dip them in the pot’s broth; the taste is superb.
The restaurant’s cornmeal porridge is also a specialty, refreshing and fragrant, and paired with pickled vegetables, this meal is truly complete.
Lao Yun Long Traditional Clay Pot Barbecue
Address: 99 North Changjiang Street
Business Hours: 10:00-22:30
When you come to the Northeast, you must try clay pot barbecue.
This place uses the traditional method of clay pot cooking, which excellently combines the juices of the meat with the flavor of charcoal, preserving the original taste in the most authentic way.
Lao Yunlong is considered one of the pioneers of clay pot barbecue in Shenyang, having been in business since 1982, now spanning four decades. Many people have been eating here since they were young.
@Stir-fried with Coarse Salt
A must-try dish is the traditional fatty beef, marinated using ancient methods, with an excellent taste that is delicious even without dipping sauce after grilling. It has a slightly sweet flavor and is juicy, making it a crowd-pleaser with just one bite.
@Wu Shan
The plum blossom pork is also worth trying, especially with its large, clearly visible marbling. It doesn’t fall apart when flipped on the grill, and eating a big piece of well-grilled meat is truly satisfying.
@Hell Angel Sister
The shop’s signature dish, mixed flower vegetables, is a must-try. It serves as a great palate cleanser, tender yet not dry, with a balanced sweet and sour taste, making it particularly refreshing. Their value for money is also high; I saw on the reviews that they offer a 99 yuan set meal, which is quite a bargain.
Afternoon, let’s go for a coffee
Visiting local coffee shops in a new city seems to have become a habit for the Travel Play editors.
In Shenyang, I visited two coffee shops out of curiosity, and neither disappointed. If you travel to Shenyang, these two are worth trying.
Eleven · Coffee (Qingnian Street Workshop)
Address: 31-4 Wanbao South Lane
Business Hours: 10:00-18:00
This shop was recommended to me by the owner of Taiyuan Buku Coffee, and if it gets the nod from a fellow industry professional, it must have something special.
Their coffee shop has a large space, and what’s most remarkable is the large glass roof paired with a full wall of floor-to-ceiling windows, making it very enjoyable to sit inside and have coffee.
The owner, Yan Director, is very talkative, and through conversation, it’s evident how much he has studied and loves coffee. He has been in the coffee industry for eight years and has extensive roasting experience. The coffee beans in the shop are all roasted by him, ensuring freshness.
Every coffee bean that passes through his hands seems to be enchanted, transforming into a delicious cup of coffee in the blink of an eye.
The shop specializes in hand-poured coffee, with the bean menu changing seasonally.
As it was cold, I ordered a hot latte directly. The complex aroma of coffee also needs temperature to highlight.
The milk foam is fine and dense, fully integrated with the coffee liquid. The flavor is relatively balanced, and the temperature is moderate, not too hot to affect the taste.
Additionally, I really like the promotional phrases he writes for the shop’s official account, “Salute! Those who do not compromise for their passion.” It’s evident that the owner, Director Yan, is also a passionate young man.
MOOKI and friends
Address: No. 15-1, 14th Weilu Road
Business Hours: 10:00-1:00 the next day
This coffee shop is very popular in Shenyang. When I went, it was packed with people, and it was hard to find a seat at the bar.
@From Bitterness to Sweetness
The coffee shop is right on the street, with camping seats set up outside. It’s really comfortable to enjoy coffee while basking in the sun on a nice day. The interior design features industrial gray tones paired with dark wooden tables and chairs, making for great photos.
As usual, I ordered a dirty coffee. The first sip is a sweet collision of coconut milk and espresso, rich enough.
You can also pair it with a signature taro tiramisu, which is not as sweet and heavy as traditional tiramisu, but more soft and fragrant with taro.
@Mei
Besides, the shop also offers salads, risottos, and other light meals, making it a bit of an American-style bistro.
Night Market Tour
Shenyang, though a northern heavy industrial city, has a quite charming night market culture.
The night markets are so vibrant that it’s impossible to describe them in a single sentence. The aroma of barbecue, the drifting smoke, and all kinds of Northeastern snacks… everything is irresistible.
Due to time constraints, I only visited the following three night markets, hoping to unlock more on my next visit.
Xita Barbecue Street
Address: Entrance 1, No. 100, Ningshan Middle Road
In Hangzhou, there is a “Grandma’s Clay Pot Barbecue” that is so popular that you have to queue up every time you go. Later, I found out that the original store is actually from Shenyang.
Many friends come to this street for a visit. The street, several hundred meters long, is densely packed with Korean restaurants and barbecue joints, and you might occasionally run into cute Korean friends.
I specifically asked a local friend and learned that the West Tower was completed as early as the second year of Shunzhi, and there are four towers around Shenyang, with this being the West Tower. This street is the economic and cultural center for the Korean community in Shenyang.
I suggest you come with an empty stomach, as there are just too many delicious things on this street.
Korean Cold Noodles
First, you must try the authentic “Grandma’s Clay Pot Barbecue” on West Tower Street. Using a clay pot and charcoal fire for grilling, you can fully enjoy the original flavors of the food.
@Shenyang Dilraba
Another place worth trying is “Weijia Barbecue Live Eel.” The live eel is freshly grilled, and the texture on the tongue is quite magical.
@Free Ideal
Next, you must visit “Shiren Tang Korean Food.”
The store sells various rice balls and pastries, having been in business for over 20 years. Be sure to try the signature tuna rice ball, where the soft and glutinous tuna paste is divine with just one bite!
Additionally, you can buy all kinds of Korean snacks at the West Tower Market, such as mixed rice with spicy sauce, dried pollack, rice wine, rice sausage, kimchi… There is also a Hanbai Mall here, with various clothing and accessories, making it a budget shopping paradise for girls.
Cai Dian Tower Night Market
Address: Near Nan Yi Jing Street, Shenhe District
The Cai Dian Tower Night Market is in a great location, right in the city center. A friend told me that this night market has a history of over 20 years, and for many locals, it has been a part of growing up for a generation.
As dusk falls, the street starts to get lively. Skewers, grilled chicken wings, grilled pork trotters, Northeastern-style braised tofu… all kinds of snacks are available.
If you want to find a place to sit, there are various barbecue restaurants on the street, and any one you choose won’t disappoint.
Ta Wan Xing Shun International Night Market
Address: No. 8, Ming Lian Road, Huanggu District, Shenyang
If you, like me, are a die-hard fan of night markets, Xingshun Night Market is a must-visit.
It is currently the largest and most vibrant night market in Shenyang, and it also serves as a cultural landmark for local food and entertainment. Many friends make a special trip just to explore and enjoy the food here, with a sprawling area of 60,000 square meters.
You can indulge in street food, browse through the market stalls, and go on a shopping spree. Occasionally, there are various themed performances, making it well worth a visit.
Shenyang CITY WALK
To truly explore a city, the best way is to embark on a “City Walk.”
Slowing down your pace and experiencing the vitality of this historic city from a unique perspective can be a refreshing new experience. I spent a leisurely day visiting these places, and the experience was quite enriching.
Zhang’s Mansion
Address: 46 Shaoshuai Lane, Chaoyang Street, Shenhe District
The first stop is Zhang’s Mansion, the official residence and private home of Zhang Zuolin and his eldest son Zhang Xueliang. Built in 1914, it covers an area of 36,000 square meters. Zhang Zuolin moved in officially in 1916, and the mansion was subsequently expanded.
The residence is composed of four parts: the East Courtyard, the Middle Courtyard, the West Courtyard, and buildings outside the main courtyard. Each building has its own unique style, blending Chinese and Western architectural elements, as well as Roman and Nordic styles.
Walking through the mansion, you can gain a deeper understanding of the Zhang family’s illustrious history, prompting me to reflect, “The former mansion remains, but the once mighty warlord of the Northeast is no more.”
Shenyang Imperial Palace
Address: 171 Shenyang Road
Admission: 50 yuan
After leaving Zhang’s Mansion, it takes less than ten minutes to walk to the Shenyang Imperial Palace, which is right next door. The entrance fee is 50 yuan.
This is the palace of the early Qing Dynasty, built in the first year of Emperor Chongde’s reign. It is not only one of the two remaining royal palace complexes in China but also the only one outside the Great Wall. Its historical significance is profound.
After the Qing Dynasty moved its capital to Beijing, the Shenyang Imperial Palace was referred to as the “Accompanying Capital Palace.” It consists of over 100 buildings. During the Qing Dynasty, emperors Kangxi, Qianlong, Jiaqing, and Daoguang made ten “Eastern Tours” and stayed here.
The Shenyang Imperial Palace inherits the architectural traditions of ancient China, integrating Han, Manchu, and Mongolian architectural arts, making it highly valuable for both and artistic appreciation.
1905 Cultural and Creative Park
Address: 1905-8 Xinhua North Street, Tiexi District
The 1905 Cultural and Creative Park is a vibrant hub for cultural and creative activities in Shenyang. It offers a unique blend of history and modernity, making it a fascinating place to explore.
A friend said, “The 1905 Cultural and Creative Park in Shenyang is like a utopia for the city’s young people.” This place brings together exhibitions, livehouses, cafes, and artistic creations… it’s just like a miniature version of Beijing’s 798 Art District.
Originally, this area was part of the Shenyang Heavy Industry Group’s working zone. After the group relocated, the old factory buildings, which had witnessed the history of Tiexi Industrial District for over 70 years, were preserved, giving rise to the current 1905 Cultural and Creative Park.
You can also enjoy music, visit exhibitions, and explore this place, which combines artistic flair with a touch of heavy industrial style. It’s quite interesting to spend some time here.
One must-experience aspect of Shenyang is its bathhouse culture.
There was once a saying, “If there is a heaven on earth, it must be the Northeast bathhouse.” As a northerner, I had long been looking forward to experiencing the bathing culture of the Northeast.
Living in the south, daily showers are more like quick rinses, but in the Northeast, a bath can easily take at least three hours.
The process includes showering, scrubbing, sweating, spa treatments, and even meals within the bathhouse. If you don’t feel like going home, you can stay overnight. This place is perfect for a full day of enjoyment.
I recommend a few places with good value:
📍 Ya Zhi · Yong Le Hui: No. 1 South Sixth Road
đź“Ť LANN Lan Bathhouse: No. 7-18 South Sanhao Street, Gate 7
đź“Ť Shui Zhi Dao: No. 121 Zong Zhan Road
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Shenyang truly surprised me with its unexpected delights.
Whether it’s the sweet and savory chicken ribs, the never-ending variety of Northeast specialty snacks, the first snowfall carried by the howling northern winds, or the unforgettable Northeast bathhouse culture… With so much to say, I think you should add Shenyang to your travel itinerary.
By the way, local friends in Shenyang, if you have any recommended local snacks, please leave a comment and share them with me. After all, I’m already planning my next visit.
