In history, Shenyang's earliest written subway planning can be traced back to 1940 during the Manchurian period.

The construction on Line 2 started on November 18, 2006, with 19 stations and 19.3 km (12.0 mi) and became operational on January 9, 2012.

[12] Construction in of the metro started in 1965 but was stopped shortly after due to the turmoil from the Cultural Revolution.

In 1978 government personnel from Harbin, Tianjin and Shanghai visited Shenyang to learn about the subway construction experience.

The approximately 3 km (1.9 mi) long half completed tunnel was abandoned and filled with water.

[13] While the Shanghai Metro was put into service in 1995, the economic decline of Shenyang during the 1980s-1990s meant that there was no capital available for subway construction and the program was continually postponed.

A light rail system was designed in the early 1990s as a cheaper alternative, however this plan was also abandoned after a national suspension of subway projects was declared due to worries of high cost and financial debt.

[14] Shenyang's economy revived in 2000, and with it growing traffic congestion and pollution caused by the expanding urban population.

Line 2 extended three times in 2013 , 2018 and 2023, currently has 33 stations, connecting the downtown Shenyang and Taoxian Airport.