Jinzhou
Introduction
Jinzhou, formerly known as Chinchow, is a coastal city in central-west Liaoning province, positioned on the northern shore of Liaodong Bay. Its location in the Liaoxi Corridor makes it a strategic link on the land routes between North China and Northeast China, and it serves as the economic center of western Liaoning.
The city's coastline runs along Liaodong Bay, and its port is the northernmost seaport in China. This combination of corridor position and sea access shapes Jinzhou as a place where overland travel and maritime trade meet.
Before you go
Jinzhou sits on the western shores of Liaoning Gulf, an industrial city and an important transportation hub in the southwest of Liaoning Province. Most travellers come for its storehouse of Jurassic period fossils, but the city also rewards those interested in China's modern and contemporary history — the Liaoshen Battle Memorial bears witness to its role in that period. As an economic and cultural centre of the Northeast, it combines a long history and deep cultural heritage with a modernising, innovative side.
The climate is a temperate monsoon one, with four distinct seasons. Summers are hot and humid, with high temperatures and concentrated rainfall; winters are cold and dry, with occasional snow. Spring and autumn are mild, and autumn in particular is pleasant and well suited to travelling, though both spring and autumn are relatively dry.
Getting there
Jinzhou is served by Jinzhou Bay International Airport in the Binhai New District, about 30 km southeast of the city. The airport mainly handles domestic flights, with connections to cities such as Beijing, Shenyang and Shanghai. On arrival, you can reach the city by taxi or airport bus.
- By train: Jinzhou Railway Station is a major railway hub. High-speed and ordinary rail services run directly from Beijing, Shenyang, Dalian and other cities, with plenty of options for long-distance travellers.
- By bus: Jinzhou Bus Terminal Station sits on Lingnan West Lane and runs a number of long-distance lines linking the surrounding major cities and attractions.
- By car: If you are driving in northeastern China, you can reach Jinzhou via major highways including the Shenyang-Jinzhou Expressway and the Dalian-Jinzhou Expressway. The city's road network is well developed and suits exploring the surrounding attractions by car.
Getting around
In the centre of Jinzhou, walking is the most popular way to get around, and it is the simplest option for the central districts and markets. The city's central sights, such as Guta Park and the Guangji Pagoda, sit in the heart of the city and are easy to reach on foot, while the Night Market on Nanning Street is a natural place to wander in the evening. Bicycles are also a popular way to move around, with bike-sharing services available for short trips, but bear in mind that areas outside the city may be too distant to casually bicycle, so plan a different mode for outlying attractions.
- Bus: A well-developed public bus system covers most parts of the city and is the cheapest way to get around, though it is not always reliable, so allow extra time if you are on a schedule. Several bus stations also offer long-distance services to nearby cities such as Shenyang, Dalian, and Beijing.
- Taxi and ride-hailing: Taxis crowd the streets, and taxis or didi dache (Chinese Uber) are probably your best bet, particularly for trips too far to walk or cycle comfortably. Ride-hailing is a useful complement to street taxis, especially when you want a fixed destination entered in advance.
- Car: Renting a car gives you more flexibility for travelling to nearby attractions or neighbouring cities, and the city's road network suits exploring the surrounding area by car.
- Rail: Jinzhou Railway Station is an important hub, with high-speed and ordinary rail services direct from Beijing, Shenyang, Dalian and other cities. Within the city there are two railway stations, one for long trips and one for shorter routes, so check which station your service uses before arranging onward transport.
- Airport: Jinzhou Bay International Airport lies outside the city in Binhai New District and mainly handles domestic flights. On arrival, take a taxi or the airport bus into the city; the bus is generally the cheaper of the two.
Build your day around walking or cycling in the centre and switch to buses or taxis for outlying areas. Keep small change handy for bus fares and the taxi starting fare, and note that Visa and MasterCard are not accepted in Jinzhou aside from a few large bank branches with access to these networks, so plan your payment method accordingly. If you are heading to nearby cities such as Shenyang, Dalian, or Beijing, compare the long-distance bus terminal with the railway station before deciding.
Where to stay
Jinzhou's accommodation is concentrated in the central and Linghe District areas, with options suited to both business and leisure travellers. The Jinzhou Grand Hotel on Central Street is a comprehensive property offering comfortable rooms, dining services and conference facilities. In Linghe District, the Jinzhou Yunding Select Boutique Hotel on Jiefang Road provides similar comforts, with rooms, dining and conference facilities aimed at business and leisure guests alike.
- Jinzhou Grand Hotel — Central Street, with dining and conference facilities
- Jinzhou Yunding Select Boutique Hotel — Jiefang Road, Linghe District, with dining and conference facilities
- Jinzhou Orange Hotel (Guta Park Branch) — Nanjing Road, within walking distance of Guta Park and close to dining and shopping options
If you'd rather base yourself near green space and everyday amenities, the Guta Park branch of the Jinzhou Orange Hotel puts you within walking distance of the park, with a variety of dining and shopping nearby.
Food & drink
For a quick, casual bite, head to the square near the Old Town centre, where street food stalls sell barbecue, fried skewers and sugar gourds. If you would rather sit down for a proper meal, a traditional northeastern restaurant on Xishan Road serves classic dishes from the region.
When you want to slow down, the commercial street in the city centre has cafés offering coffee and snacks. After dark, the bars and nightclubs along Culture Road draw a nightlife crowd.
What to see and do
For a city its size, Jinzhou rewards those who look beyond the centre. In the Guta District, Guta Park is home to the Jinzhou Ancient Tower, one of the oldest brick towers in China, built during the Liao Dynasty and valued for its historical and cultural significance. Bijia Mountain, with its distinctive shape and dense vegetation, is a popular spot for climbing, photography and simply taking your time. In Linghe District, the Liaoshen Campaign Memorial commemorates the first of the PLA's three major offensives of the Chinese Civil War, a turning point that shifted the balance of the conflict; it is free to enter. Further afield, in Yi County, Fengguo Temple is a Liao Dynasty Buddhist foundation whose main hall ranks among the oldest and best-preserved ancient wooden structures in the country. Yi County is also the place to go for palaeontology: the Sino-German Paleontological Museum, established by a German fossil collector together with the county government, stands at the site where the dinosaur bolong yixianensis was first found and displays a large fossil of the species alongside other local finds, with an excavation site and petrified forest outside. The Yizhou Fossil Museum, an official branch of the Geological Museum of China, holds a large collection of fossils from the region. When the weather suits, head for the beach near Geumju in summer to enjoy the sand, the waves and marine entertainment. In spring and autumn, Jinzhou North Lake and the surrounding wetlands are good for watching migratory birds. In winter, the hot spring resorts around the city are an ideal way to relax. If you are in the area during a festival, the rural districts around Jinzhou keep many traditional cultural activities alive, giving you a chance to experience local folk customs in depth.When to go
Jinzhou has a temperate monsoon climate with four distinct seasons, so your experience of the city depends heavily on when you arrive. Summer is hot, humid and wet, with the year's precipitation concentrated in this season, bringing frequent rain and muggy conditions. Winter is cold and dry with occasional snow, and the chill limits outdoor sightseeing, though precipitation is minimal.
Spring and autumn are the mild seasons. Spring is relatively dry with suitable temperatures, making it a comfortable time to be outdoors, though rainfall is scarce compared with summer. Autumn is also dry and mild, and its pleasant climate makes it especially suited to tourism — the best window for exploring the city.
Three days in Jinzhou
Day one: Start in the old heart of Jinzhou, where the Guangji Pagoda rises over the surrounding streets, then wander through Guta Park to get your bearings. In the evening, head for the Night Market and Nanning Street for local snacks and a feel for the city after dark. If you have time left, Lingnan West Lane is an easy stroll.
- Guangji Pagoda
- Guta Park
- Night Market
- Nanning Street
- Lingnan West Lane
Day two: Give the day to the Liaoshen Battle Memorial, the city's principal historical site, and take your time with the exhibits. Afterwards, explore the Binhai New District along Liaodong Bay, where the coastline opens up. Bicycles are a good way to cover the waterfront at your own pace.
- Liaoshen Battle Memorial
- Binhai New District
- Liaodong Bay
- Bicycles
Day three: Use the morning for anything you missed in the centre, then plan your onward travel. Jinzhou sits on the Liaoxi Corridor between North China and Northeast China, with rail links to Beijing, Shenyang, Shanghai and Dalian from Jinzhou Railway Station, and Jinzhou Bay International Airport serving the region. Jinzhou Bus Terminal Station and the Jinzhou Expressway connect the city by road.
- Jinzhou Railway Station
- Jinzhou Bay International Airport
- Jinzhou Bus Terminal Station
- Jinzhou Expressway
- Beijing
- Shenyang
- Shanghai
- Dalian