鞍山市

Why this place

Anshan is China's iron and steel city, built on a mine that has been dug for a century. Its unexpected attraction is a giant jade Buddha carved from a single block of local Xiuyan jade, and the jade market town where that stone comes from.

What to see

• Qianshan — a mountain park of granite peaks, temples and a long ridge walk
• The Jade Buddha Garden, with a 260-tonne jade Buddha carved from one stone
• Xiuyan, the county town where China's jade carving industry concentrates

What to eat

• Northeast home cooking — stewed pork with pickled cabbage and cornmeal cakes
• Qianshan mountain vegetables and chestnuts

Best time

April–May and September–October