Fushun: From the Qing Dynasty's first capital to China's industrial coal powerhouse

Countries & Cities · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Once the birthplace of the Qing Dynasty, Fushun transformed into a massive industrial hub known as the City of Coal. Today, this Liaoning city balances a complex history of imperial origins, wartime tragedy, and modern economic shifts, all while managing the legacy of its exhausted, massive open-pit mines.

Fushun, situated on the Hun River in Liaoning province, holds a dual identity as both a cradle of imperial history and a center of heavy industry. Its roots trace back to 1384 when the Ming dynasty established a walled city to secure the frontier. By 1616, the region became the first capital of the Late Jin dynasty, and it remains home to significant cultural sites like the Yongling tombs and Xingjing City, the origin point of the Qing Dynasty.

The city's industrial trajectory shifted dramatically in the 20th century. Following Japanese occupation and the development of the South Manchuria Railway, Fushun became a highly industrialized zone. It earned the nickname City of Coal, anchored by the West Open Mine—an enormous excavation that reached 1,000 feet in depth. While coal production once peaked at 18.3 million tons in 1962, the industry has faced significant decline as resources were exhausted and operations became unstable by 2015.

Beyond its industrial output, Fushun serves as a site of profound historical reflection. It houses the Fushun War Criminal Prison, where the last emperor of China, Puyi, was imprisoned for a decade following World War II. The city also commemorates the Pingdingshan Tragedy, a 1931 massacre, and maintains a memorial for the soldier Lei Feng, who died in the city. These sites, alongside modern landmarks like the 515-foot Ring of Life monument, illustrate a city navigating the transition from a resource-dependent past to a new urban future.

Today, Fushun is part of a massive, conurbated metro area alongside Shenyang, ranking as the 8th most populous built-up area in China. While traditional sectors like coal and petroleum remain foundational, the city is diversifying into electronics, textiles, and light industry. Despite population shifts affecting local institutions, the city continues to leverage its rich mineral wealth and strategic location to redefine its role within the Liaoning economy.

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