Shenyang Stopover

If it takes 24 hours to GET to Changbai Shan, it reasons that it takes the same amount of time to get back.  However, on our return to Beijing, Onions routed us through the city of Shenyang.  We had eight hours in town where we went to see China's OTHER Forbidden City and visit with one of Onions' friends from college.

Shenyang Gugong (aka Mukden Palace) or the Shenyang Imperial Palace.  I've now visited 23 of 45 UNESCO World Heritage sites in China!

The Shenyang Imperial Palace was built in 1625 by the Manchu's as their imperial palace as they ruled Northeast China from Shenyang.  However, when the Manchu's became the Qing Dynasty, they moved themselves to the Forbidden City in Beijing thereby making the Shenyang became a regional palace.

Modernization happens as the Shenyang Imperial Palace is located amidst the modern city and abuts a shopping mall.

One immediately sees the architectural similarities between the Shenyang Imperial Palace and the Forbidden City in Beijing.

I tried my best to look for differences.  Here's one where the animals on the corners of the roofs are here both yellow and green.

There is a part of the Shenyang Imperial Palace that is on a raised platform!  On this platform are many buildings and a courtyard.  I don't think the Beijing Forbidden City has this feature.  Until modern times, this platform was the highest point in all of Shenyang.

Most of the Forbidden City in Beijing has been renovated and given a new coat of paint.  Not here at the Shenyang Imperial Palace.

The Dazheng Hall is an octagon.  The Forbidden City in Beijing has only rectangular buildings.

Onions and his friend Wang, who works for China Southern Airlines.  When did Onions change shirts?