Liaoning has a temperate continental monsoonal climate, with a hot, rainy summer; a long, cold winter with little snow; and a short, windy spring. It has a mean annual temperature of 6-11oC, and a mean annual precipitation of 400-1,000 mm.

Liaoning has a history of more than 6,000 years. From its early beginnings through to the mid-20th Century, Liaoning has been sought after as an important trade center, an area that contains rich, untapped resources, and for its strategic position as the Golden Triangle. Liaoning has been the birthplace of warlords and the cradle of the Qing Dynasty. Lasting from 1644 to the 1911 Revolution, this feudal dynasty was set up by invading Manchus. Unfortunately, the Manchus were not the last people to invade this area. Liaoning's often troubled history has given us an interesting legacy of architecture and artifacts, as well as archeological treasures.

As China's major base of heavy industry, Liaoning, the home of Anshan, the "Steel Capital" of China, holds an important place in iron and steel, machinery, chemicals, electric power, oil extraction and processing and sea-salt production. It is also China's leading apple producer and, its city Dalian is a nationally known fishery center. Its main agricultural crops include sorghum, corn, soybean, peanut, Chinese traditional medicine, coat, silk, southern Liaoning apple and western Liaoning pear.

As one of the opening-up coastal provinces, Liaoning also has developed sea shipping. Dalian, Yingkou and Dandong are its major ports.

Liaoning's main historical sites and scenic spots include the Shenyang Imperial Palace, Northern and Eastern Mausoleums, seaside of Lushun and Dalian, the Yalu River, Qianshan Mountain, Phoenix Mountain and Water-Cave of Benxi. The Shenyang Imperial Palace is one of the two most intact imperial architectural complexes ever existing in China, only second to the Forbidden City.