Banks and exchange Bank of China, 75 Heping Bei Dajie (Mon-Fri 8am-12.30pm & 2-4.30pm).

Consulates The Japanese, North Korean and US consulates are all in the same road, Shisiwei Lu, in the south of the city. The Russian consulate is in the Phoenix Hotel, 109 Huanghe Nan Dajie, by Beiling Park. They speak a little Chinese and no English, but swear that you can get a visa here (tel 024/86114963).

PSB The PSB is on Zhongshan Lu, by the Mao statue (Mon-Fri 8am-5pm).

Post office and telecommunications Shenyang's main post office is at 32 Zhongshan Lu (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm), and there's a 24-hour telecom service inside.

Trains Trains to southern destinations usually leave from the South station and to northern destinations from the North station. The North station has an upstairs ticket booth, while the booking office for the South station is in a large hall to the left as you face the station. Tickets for trains leaving from the North station can be bought from the South station, and vice versa. Make sure you check which station your train leaves from when you buy a ticket.

Travel agents The CITS office at 113 Nan Huanghe Lu (tel 024/86809383, fax 86808772), in the same compound as the Phoenix Hotel, is the central branch for Liaoning Province, however, they now offer only speciality tours of the northeast to large groups (twenty or more people). The travel service in the Heping Hotel is friendlier and more accommodating.