Liaoning is a northeastern province of the People's Republic of China. Its one-character abbreviation is Liao.

"Liáo" is an ancient name for this region, which was adopted by the Liao Dynasty (Khitan Empire) which ruled this area between 907 and 1125. "Níng" means "peacefulness." Historical names of Liaoning province include Fengtian and Shengjing.

Liaoning is located in the southern part of China's Northeast, a part of what is often referred to as Manchuria. Liaoning borders the Yellow Sea (Korea Bay) and the Bohai Gulf in the south, North Korea in the southeast, Jilin Province to the northeast, Hebei Province to the west, and Inner Mongolia to the northwest.

The Yalu River marks the border between North Korea and the Chinese provinces of Jilin and Liaoning. It empties into the Korea Bay between Dandong (Liaoning) and Sinuiju (North Korea).

Liaoning was one of the first provinces in China to industrialize, first under Japanese occupation, and then even more in the 1950s and 1960s. The city of Anshan, for example, is home to one of the largest iron and steel complexes in China. In recent years this early focus on heavy industry has become a liability, as many of the large state-run enterprises have experienced economic difficulties. Recognizing the special difficulties faced by Liaoning and other provinces in Northeast China because of their heritage of heavy industry, the Chinese central government recently launched a Revitalize the Northeast Campaign.

Main agricultural products of Liaoning include maize, Chinese sorghum and soybeans. The region around Dalian produces 3/4 of China's exported apples and peaches. Cotton is also produced.

Liaoning has the most iron, magnesite, diamond and boron deposits among all province-level subdivisions of China. Liaoning is also an important source of petroleum and natural gas. Salt is produced along the coast.

Liaoning is one of China's most important industrial bases, covering a wide range of industries, such as machinery, electronics, metal refining, petroleum, chemical industries, construction materials, coal, and so on.

In recent years, the city of Dalian has, in particular, been developed as a major port and the economic gateway to all of Northeast China.

In 2003, Liaoning's GDP was about 72.5 billion USD --ranking 8th in the PRC. Per capita of 14,000 RMB or 1700 USD.

In paleontology, Liaoning is well known for its extraordinary fossils from the Lower Cretaceous period; eg, the early 'placental' mammal known as Eomaia.

Favorite foods are pickle made of cabbage and radish, beating cake made of sticky rice, cool noodle, soup and dog meat.

The legend has it that the Chinese culinary culture originated with Yi Yin, a virtuous and capable minister of the Shang Dynasty.