Shenyang Imperial Palace sees record-high visits in 2024

(ECNS) -- As of Dec. 10, the Shenyang Imperial Palace located in Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, has recorded over five million visits this year, setting a new record for annual visits since its establishment in 1926, according to the museum on Wednesday.

It is the only existing royal palace in China except for the Forbidden City in Beijing. It has developed an array of activities to promote deep integration of culture and tourism, providing visitors with innovative experiences.

For example, it has extended its opening hours during the peak season and taken a series of measures to better serve visitors, including setting up three free drinking water points and installing awnings and four cold fog cooling fans in summer, while providing hot water, ginger water and self-heating warm pad stickers in winter.

To attract more visitors, it has reoccurred classic Chinese works through public performances during festivals, such as The Drunken Concubine, which tells a story of the emperor's beloved concubine Yang Yuhuan, showing the charm of China traditional culture and presenting a visual feast for tourists.

In addition, a series of public welfare activities have been launched by the museum to promote traditional Chinese culture.

Covering more than 60,000 square meters, the Shenyang Imperial Palace is one twelfth the size of the Forbidden City in Beijing. The main structure of the palace was initially built in 1625 when the first emperor of Qing Dynasty Nurhachi was in power.and was finished in 1636 by his son Abahai (Huangtaiji).

The palace consists of more than 300 rooms with around 20 courtyards. It can be divided into three sections --the eastern, middle, and western, with each section boasting of unique characteristics.