If you want to know more about China's fighter plane factories or learn about the country's modern IT companies, be sure to visit Shenyang.

Tourists to this capital city of Northeast China's Liaoning Province will have this rare educational opportunity while also enjoying the city's historic sites and natural scenery.

"We will take full advantage of the city's blessed industrial resources to develop industrial tourism, hoping to establish its name among the country's mushrooming tourism-oriented places," said Yan Baomin, director of Tourism Development Division of Shenyang Tourism Bureau.

"Investigation indicates that besides favouring the refreshing natural landscape, tourists also show an interest in experiencing world and nationally famous enterprises, which are out of the reach of many in their daily lives," said Yan.

Shenyang, which is one of China's key historic heavy industry bases, boasts a promising future in promoting industrial tourism.

Many of the city's numerous old factories established in the 1950s have become nationally renowned and are praised for their significant contributions to the country.

The city's Shenyang Aircraft Manufacturing Group serves as an important manufacturing base for China's fighter planes making base. Shenyang Mint has even produced numerous historic coins documenting many of the country's epoch-making events. Other manufacturers take pride in their unique history, such as the Shenyang Brewery, in which equipment and machines left by the Japanese are still in existence.

"These plants will become appealing spots for tourists," said Yan. "Besides, it's a golden opportunity for enterprises to establish their brand by inviting more tourists to visit."

A few of the city's factories have taken the lead in developing industrial tourism.

The Shenyang Aircraft Manufacturing Group opened the country's first aviation exposition park this June.

With an investment of 18 million yuan (US$2.2 million), the first phase of the park covers 20,000 square meters and displays more than 600 pictures and objects featuring the development of fighter plane industry and the history of popular aviation sciences.

In addition, modern visual and audio techniques are used in aeronautical and manufacturing exhibits.

( China Daily November 30, 2001)