I Heart China

Fǔshùn (抚顺) is a prefecture level city in the east of Liaoning. The city is about 45km east of the provincial capital city, Shenyang. To the north is Teiling city, south is Benxi and the west borders onto Jilin Province. The prefecture covers 10,816 km² and contains 1.3 million people.

Just half an hour by bus from Sheyang, Fushun has plenty to occupy the travelers time. The first time I came here, I told my Chinese friends where I was going and they all looked at me with dismay. They only know Fushun for it's massive oil shale and coal mines. This is a completely overlooked tourist destination that actually has enough things to do to occupy most people for several days. The prefecture is quite long and transport to the eastern edges is not so easy. So for travel to sites outside of the main city, such as to Hetu'ala City, I'd suggest joining a tour bus group which can be arranged by booking the day before an one of the local tourist agents. Sites within the urban area can all easily be reached by taxi or local bus services.

Fushun is a prefecture level city in the east of Liaoning. Within the area is Xing City (In Manchurian: Hetu Ala). This was the former capital of the Manchurian Late Jin Dynasty, founded in 1616 which later became the Qing Dynasty of China. Nearby is the Yongling Tomb where members of the royal household were laid to rest. Both Xing City and Yongling Tomb are now preserved as tourist attractions and are UNESCO world heritage sites.

In the early 20th century, the area came under first Russian and then Japanese control. Fushun was developed as a major coal mining and heavy industrial area. This city was called 'Coal Capital of China'. Fushun was also the site of China's first non-ferrous metal production plant - Fushun Aluminium Plant. During the 1980's, a significant petrochemical industry was developed. It is now the largest petrochemical and refined chemical producer in China. With these industries came inevitable pollution. In 2001, the city launched a drive to improve its environment, introducing new equipment into the factories, especially the Aluminium Plant.

Lei Feng is little known to the wider world, but in China, he is a household name. Lei Feng was held up by Mao Zedong and other leaders of China as an example for the whole country to copy, a model of the communist idea. Fushun was the city of his birth and a museum here tells his life story.

In the early 20th century, the area came under first Russian and then Japanese control. Fushun was developed as a major coal mining and heavy industrial area. This city was called 'Coal Capital of China'. Fushun was also the site of China's first non-ferrous metal production plant - Fushun Aluminium Plant. During the 1980's, a significant petrochemical industry was developed. It is now the largest petrochemical and refined chemical producer in China. With these industries came inevitable pollution. In 2001, the city launched a drive to improve its environment, introducing new equipment into the factories, especially the Aluminium Plant.

Fushun consists of 4 districts (区 Qū), 1 county (县 Xiàn) and 2 autonomous counties (治县 Zìzhìxiàn) for the Manchu (族自 Mǎnzú) ethnic minority group.

• Shuncheng District (顺城区; pinyin: Shùnchéng Qū)
• Xinfu District (新抚区; pinyin: Xīnfǔ Qū)
• Dongzhou District (东洲区; pinyin: Dōngzhōu Qū)
• Wanghua District (望花区; pinyin: Wànghuā Qū)
• Fushun County (抚顺县; pinyin: Fǔshùn Xiàn)
• Xinbin Manchu Autonomous County (新宾满族自治县; pinyin: Xīnbīn Mǎnzú Zìzhìxiàn)
• Qingyuan Manchu Autonomous County (清原满族自治县; pinyin: Qīngyuán Mǎnzú Zìzhìxiàn)

Transportation

The nearest airport is Shenyang Taoxian International. It is about 30 to 40 minutes drive by road to Fushun form this airport. Shenyang Taoxian has frequent flights to destinations all over China as well as Japan, North and South Korea, Russia and other international routes.

The Shenfu Express Way connects Fushun with the nearby provincial capital, Shenyang. The journey takes about 30 minutes. From Shenyang, a number of express ways radiate out to other cities in Liaoning as well as neighbouring provinces.

Regular buses or coaches run the route between Fushun and Shenyang form 5AM till 7PM every day. They may leave as frequently as every 5 minutes. The fares is 7RMB and journey time is about 30 minutes. Bus company tel: +86-0413-7614552.

There are two train stations in Fushun - the North and the South stations. Trains run through this station form locations such as Shenyang, Beijing, Tumen and Tonghua and other cities on route between these points.
Route Number Origin Destination
6859 Shenyang North Tonghua
6860 Tonghua Shenyang North
6691 Shenyang Qingyuan
6692 Qingyuan Shenyang
K95 Beijing Fushun
K96 Fushun Beijing
N174 Tumen Dalian
K215 Beijing Tumen
N173 Dalian Tumen
K216 Tumen Beijing

Fushun Station Tel: +86-0413-2624816

There are two bus stations, neighbouring the North and South train stations. Routes run throughout the city. The Yongling tomb and Hetu Ala City (Xing City) world heritage sites can be reached by bus from Fushun South station. This route runs every half an hour between 7:30AM and 4:30PM and the fair is 16RMB.