Shenyang is the capital of Liaoning province and China's fifth largest city. The city is located on the river basin of the Liaohe and Hunhe Rivers. Shenyang is considered the “hub” of Northeast China. All road and rail connections pass through Shenyang and it serves as the communication, commerce, science and culture center of Northeast China. Shenyang has advanced railway and highway systems connecting it with nearby steel-city Anshan, coal-city Fushun, iron-city Benxi, electricity-city Fuxin, forming an industrial city group.
        Shenyang is located in the first of 3 Northeast China provinces, in the center of Liaoning province. Shenyang covers an area of 185 sq km. Shenyang is divided in to 9 districts and also has 3 counties under its jurisdiction. Shenyang's total area is 12,980 sq km extending 115 kms from east to west and 205 kms from south to north.
        Shenyang's total population is 6.67 million, with 5.68 million living in urban areas.
        Shenyang ranks first in Liaoning province in terms of natural resources, with 21 profitable mineral reserves discovered, including coal, oil, and gas and iron ore. There are 56 raw materials markets and special markets in Shenyang, with an annual turnover of 12 billion Yuan. They deal in steel, timber, coal, nonferrous metals, machinery and chemical engineering products. Shenyang has been an important heavy industrial base in China and has a large work force. Shenyang has a modern comprehensive industrial system which includes machinery equipment manufacturing, automobile manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and electronics information.
        Shenyang is well know for its machinery manufacturing such as electricity transfer and transforming equipment, machine tools, general machinery and heavy mining equipment, and light automobile manufacturing.
        By the end of 1990s, Shenyang had grown into one of the main light automobile bases in China. It has over 120 automobile-related firms, with an annual production capacity of 86,000 units. Light trucks, large and medium-sized passenger automobiles, and automobile engines have been its main products. The sales of Shenyang Jinbei Automobile Company, associated with the No.1 Automobile Manufacturing Group (Changchun), has accounted for over 90 percent of the city's total. The city has cooperation with 20 of the top 500 automobile manufacturers in the world, including General motors, Mitsubishi, and Toyota.
        West Tower Street (Xi Ta) is a very famous business center in Shenyang. Almost all the people living here are Korean. With its distinctive flavor and booming nightlife, West Tower Street has become a real 'Sleepless City'. Thousands of visitors come here everyday to enjoy its unique ambience, especially during Korea Week.