Shenyang is located to the north of Hun River (named Shen Shui River in the ancient time), and the ancient Chinese traditionally called the north of a river "yang". So the city got its name as Shenyang. Shenyang is an ancient city with a long history. Back to more than 7,200 years ago, ancestors of the mankind lived and multiplied on this beautiful land. It was subordinate to Yingzhou before Zhou Dynasty (about the 11th century B.C.), subordinate to Liaodong County during the Period of Warring States (475-221 B.C.), to Hou City in the Western Han Dynasty (206-24 B.C.).

Shenzhou was set up in Liao Dynastry (960-1127), surrounded by earthen walls. This was the start of the city of Shenyang. The city continued to use the name Shenyang in Jin Dynastry (1127-1279). And in Yuan Dynastry, the city was rebuilt and renamed Shenyang Lu. In 1625, Nurhach, the Tai Zu Emperor of Qing Dynasty, transferred its capital from Liaoyang to Shenyang, and in 1634, Huang Tai Ji, Tai Zong Emperor of Qing Dynasty worshipped Shenyang as Shengjing, and it became the capital of Qing Dynasty. In 1644, after the capital was moved to Beijing in Qing Dynasty, Shenyang became an accompanying capital. After Qing united the whole China, in 1657, it set up Fengtian Government in Shenyang. In 1945, the city recovered its name-Shenyang.

Source: chinahotelsreservation.com