Getting There-- Flights connect Shenyang'sTaoxian International Airport (Taoxian Guoji Jichang)with every major Chinese city, including Beijing (16 flights daily), Shanghai (nine flights daily), Guangzhou (three flight daily); there are also connections to Seoul (three flights daily) and Tokyo (Tues, Thurs, Sat). Flights can be booked at theChina Northern Airlinesticket office (Zhonguo Beifang Hangkong Shoupiao Chu;tel.024/2383-4089), located at Zhonghua Lu 117, north of Shiyi (11) Wei Lu. The office is open from 8am to 5pm. The airport is 30km (19 miles) south of downtown. Anairport shuttleruns from the ticket office every half-hour (¥10/$1; 45 min.).Taxisat the ticket office offer to take groups for ¥15 to ¥20 ($2-$3) per person; other taxis charge ¥60 ($7.50), including the ¥10 ($1) road toll. Cash and traveler's checks can be exchanged at a kiosk near the international arrivals area.
Shenyang has two mainrailway stations:the Russian-builtShenyang Zhan (Shenyang Railway Station)on the western edge of downtown, and the modernShenyang Bei Zhan (Shenyang North Station),north of Shifu Guangchang. Trains to Beijing (20 daily; 6-10 hr.; ¥185/$23), Dalian (18 daily; 4 hr.; ¥55/$7), Changchun (24 daily; 3 hr.; ¥47/$6), and Dandong (nine daily; 4 hr.; ¥42/$5) stop at both railway stations. Express trains to Shanghai (four daily; 25 hr.; ¥405/$51) and Harbin (eight daily; 6 1/2 hr.; ¥76/$10) leave only from Shenyang Bei.
Shenyang's mainlong-distance bus station, Qiche Kuaisu Keyun Zhan(ticket office open 7:30am-6pm; tel.024/2251-1225), is on Huigong Jie behind the Times Plaza Hotel.Luxury coaches,the best way to travel by bus, go to Harbin (7 hr.; ¥130/$16); Changchun (3 1/3 hr.; ¥71/$9), Dalian (5 1/2 hr.; ¥99/$12), and Dandong (3 hr.; ¥58/$7).
Getting Around-- The two areas in Shenyang where it is feasible to walk are the old city center, a 5-sq.-km (2-sq.-mile) area surrounding the Imperial Palace (Gu Gong), and the shopping district east of Shenyang Zhan. Most sights, however, are scattered in the sprawl outside these areas.Taxischarge ¥7 ($1) for the first 3km (2 miles), then ¥1 (15¢) for every 600m (1/3 mile).Busescharge ¥1 to ¥2 (15¢-25¢) and congregate at the two railway stations. Bus no. 203 travels from Shenyang Zhan via Shifu Guangchang to Shenyang Bei Zhan; a circle-line(huan)bus goes from Shenyang Zhan past Taiyuan Jie to Zhong Jie and the Gu Gong. Maps can be bought at Shenyang Bei Zhan.