Liaoning

Liaoning is a coastal province in Northeast China. It borders Jilin to the north and northeast, Inner Mongolia to the west, and Hebei and the Bohai Sea to the south and east. The provincial capital is Shenyang. Dalian is a major port city and economic hub. The province has a population in the tens of millions, around 42 million as of the early 2020s.

Geographically, it lies largely on the Northeast China Plain with western mountains and the Liao River valley. The coastline on the Liaodong Peninsula provides access to the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea. The climate is temperate monsoon, with cold winters, warm summers, and rainfall concentrated in summer.

Historically part of Manchuria, the area formed the early heartland of the Qing dynasty, with Shenyang (Mukden) serving as its capital before 1644. In the 20th century it developed as an industrial base for iron and steel, machinery, and shipbuilding. The Mukden Incident in 1931 led to Japanese occupation of Manchuria. After World War II it underwent reconstruction and reform.

Economically, Liaoning has long been a traditional industrial base for northeast China, with steel, petrochemicals, machinery, and automotive components. It has diversified into electronics, consumer goods, and services. Major ports at Dalian and Yingkou support trade, and the province is linked by rail and highway networks.

Culturally and historically significant sites include the Shenyang Imperial Palace (Mukden Palace), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The province contains museums and towns reflecting its Manchu and Han heritage.