Anshan

About Anshan

Steel made Anshan. Rich iron ore deposits turned this city on the plains of central Liaoning into China's leading steel centre in the twentieth century, and the giant Anshan Iron and Steel works still shapes its skyline, economy and sense of identity. Yet just south-east of the mills rise the forested granite peaks of Qianshan, one of the most celebrated mountains of north-east China.

Qianshan, the Mountain of a Thousand Lotus Flowers, has drawn Buddhist monks and Taoist hermits for centuries, and its trails link temples, rocky summits and a ridge whose outline resembles a seated Buddha. Closer to town, a colossal Buddha carved from a single block of jade sits in its own hall, and the hot springs at Tanggangzi have soothed visitors for generations.

Anshan is a practical, unpretentious city rather than a polished tourist hub, which is part of its appeal. It lies on the high-speed railway between Shenyang and Dalian, so it pairs easily with a trip across Liaoning.