Anshan sits on the boundary between the mountains of eastern Liaoning and the plains of the west. The area of Anshan has been inhabited since prehistoric times.
In the Tang dynasty, the emperor of China lived in and around Anshan for a period of two years during the wars between China and the Goguryeo.
Ansi city, in the south east of modern Anshan, was the scene of a large battle during those wars. During this time, many significant sites were established including the Hot Springs at Tangangzi and many temples in Qianshan.
This fort, and an nearby lookout tower are still visible today. The city however remained small and of little importance until the twentieth century. Japan had gained influence in Liaoning and was industrialising the region. After the Japanese occupied the northeast of China in , the company was turned into a Japanese owned monopoly. Anshan was occupied by the Japanese and was part of the Japanese puppet state of Manchuco.
The Japanese founded a steel mill alongside the existing iron works in Anshan. The city grew in size around this new industrial site. The defeat of the Japanese in saw Anshan returned to China. However, peace had not yet arrived. The city of Anshan was the scene of one of the battles of this war.
