Shenyang

The Xita Pagoda, also known as the "Western Pagoda of Shenyang," stands as one of the four iconic Buddhist stupas built in the 17th century to safeguard the Manchu homeland. Erected in 1640 during the reign of Emperor Huang Taiji of the Qing Dynasty, this octagonal, 26-meter-tall brick pagoda blends Tibetan, Han Chinese, and Manchu architectural styles. Today, it anchors the vibrant Xita District—a bustling Koreatown—and serves as a spiritual anchor for Buddhists, a cultural landmark, and a symbol of ethnic unity in Shenyang.

A steel-and-soul tribute to China’s industrial revolution, this museum occupies the former site of the First Machine Tool Plant—a 1950s Soviet-era giant that birthed the nation’s first lathes and jet engines. Spanning 65,000 square meters, it’s a living archive of factories, workers’ dormitories, and colossal machinery, blending retro aesthetics with immersive tech exhibits.