Summer theme tour 5: Seek inner peace

Route 1

Guide: Morning -- Visit Ci’en Temple, Banruo Temple and Dafo Temple. Built in 1628, Ci’en Temple is the largest extant Buddhist temple in Shenyang. Built in 1684, Banruo Temple is made up of two building groups. Originally named Bao’an Temple, Dafo Temple was built with black bricks and gray tiles and is said to have been built during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). It is believed to be the place where Bhikkhuni practiced Buddhism.

Shenyang Ci’en Temple [Photo/VCG]

Noon -- Have lunch at the nearby vegan restaurant, enjoying foods that retain their original flavors.

Afternoon -- Visit Shenyang Catholic Church. It is the oldest catholic church in Shenyang and was built by a French priest. Burnt down during the Boxer Rebellion and reconstructed in 1912, the church is a typical example of Gothic architecture. Then visit Taiqing Palace, which is famous for its fortune-telling sticks. Built in 1663, the palace has combined distinctive ethnic architecture with the Taoist style. The last spot is Shisheng Temple, also known as the Royal Temple. Founded in 1636, it is the largest and oldest Lama temple In Shenyang. Its “royal temple’s bell” was one of the famous eight scenes of Shengjing (the old name of Shenyang).

Shenyang Catholic Church [Photo/VCG]

Night -- Have dinner at Shifu Henglong, a shopping center integrating high-quality catering, shopping and entertainment facilities. Visitors can enjoy Chinese, Western and Asian dishes in the center, as well as entertainment facilities such as a cinema.

Route 2

Guide: A hot spring is a must try in Shenyang.

Beitang Hot Spring -- As an ancient spring drawing water from 2,640 meters below ground, this spring has been identified by the China Hot Spring Association as a spring offering medical and health benefits. Heiyuzi, a kind of egg with a black shell, are boiled there in a special kind of spring water.

Xiaohan Village Hot Spring -- As a compound medical mineral spring, this spring pioneers hot spring tourism in Shenyang. With the tertiary fracture zone of a sandstone structure located 2,200 m underground as its source, the spring provides inlet water with a temperature of 58.5 C.

Green Tianmu Hot Spring Resort -- This resort contains hot spring pools in both outdoor forest areas and indoor spas. Over 40 outdoor hot spring pools are surrounded by magnificent views of the woods.

Shenyang Xinglong Hot Spring City -- This spring treats bathers to a rich source of geothermal water containing more than 50 trace elements with proven physical benefits. There are more than 100 hot spring hotels, villas, apartments and farmhouses on site.

Huaxidi Hot Spring Ecological Botanic Park -- This park integrates hot spring bathing, water parks, recreation, physiotherapy and ecological tourism. The weather there is always warm, making people feel like they live in spring all year round.

Junbaisui Hot Spring Hotel -- This spring hotel has the reputation of being the “backyard garden of Shenyang”. It draws from water 2,300 m below ground and has been authoritatively identified as a spring with silicic acid and fluorine that can bring about medical and health benefits.

Qinghe Peninsula Hot Spring Resort -- The 100,000-sq-m business area inside this resort provides guestrooms, diverse cuisines, hot springs and swimming pools, a children’s leisure area, and entertainment facilities. The hotel is one of the best high-end brands in the hot spring resort industry.

The hanging hot spring in Qinghe Peninsula Hot Spring Resort

Mingdu Qingshui Wan -- With 30,000 sq m of floor space, this is a resort hotel meeting five-star standards. It provides guestrooms, gyms, spas and services including bathing and catering.