Stand on the walkway at Benxi Lake in the Xihu district and you are looking at a sheet of water smaller than a courtyard, fed by a flow that keeps it moving all day. It is the feature the city is named for, and it sits right in the urban area, so it makes an easy first stop before you head east into the mountains.
Benxi suits travellers who are in the region for landscape rather than nightlife: caves, forested valleys, a mountain with Goguryeo remains, and a temple built beside natural hot springs. Most of the strongest sights lie east of the city, in Benxi Manchu Autonomous County and Huanren Manchu Autonomous County, so plan on transport rather than on walking between them.
This guide covers the landmarks, caves, lakes and parks that are documented for the city and its counties, with the practical detail you need to string them into a day or a longer stay.
Top things to do in Benxi
1. Benxi Water Caves
This is a water-filled cave with an underground river, stalactites and stalagmites, and the visit is made by boat through part of the flooded passage. It is the best-known attraction in Benxi and is rated as a national AAAAA tourist attraction, which is why it earns the first slot on this list.
It sits in Xiejiawaizi Village, Xiaoshi Town, in Benxi Manchu Autonomous County. The cave stays cool all year, so bring a light jacket even in summer. Tickets run around ¥150 for an adult, though prices vary by season and ticket type.
2. Guanmenshan National Forest Park
A large forest park in Benxi Manchu Autonomous County, known for mountains, streams, waterfalls and hiking trails, with scenic areas including Xiaohuangshan and Longmen Gorge. It is the place to come for autumn colour: the maple leaves along the valley are the reason many visitors time their trip to fall.
It lies in Chenying Village, Xiaoshi Town. Entry is ¥60, opening is 08:00–16:30 with last entry at 16:00. You can reach it by an hour's bus ride from Benxi Long Distance Bus Station, or by taxi for around ¥100 one way.
3. Wunu Mountain
Steep cliffs, forest and views over Huanlong Lake, plus the remains of an early Goguryeo mountain city on the summit area. The site forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom, so you are hiking through both scenery and archaeology.
It is at 33 Taishan Road, Huanren Town, in Huanren Manchu Autonomous County. Opening is 08:00–17:00 with ticket sales ending at 16:00, and entry is ¥70. Allow time to walk the historical remains as well as the viewpoints.
4. Wangtian Cave
A limestone cave known for unusual formations, large underground chambers and a three-level maze of interconnected passages. Its name means "Cave Looking toward the Sky", taken from the skylight-like opening at the entrance. Nearly 10 km of passages have been explored, with about 2.1 km developed for visitors.
It is in Wanwanchuan Village, Yahe Township, Huanren Manchu Autonomous County. Take a bus from Benxi Railway Station to Huanren and then a taxi. Opening is 08:30–16:00 and ticket sales end at 16:00. The cave stays cool even in summer, so a light jacket is worth carrying.
5. Dishui Cave
A mountain stream drops over a cliff more than 30 m high, forming a waterfall in front of several natural caves, with forest and rocky slopes around it. It is a popular spot for hiking and scenery, and the waterfall is at its most impressive after periods of rain.
It is at 136 Nantianmen Road, Mingshan District. Hours are 07:30–18:00 from April 21 to October 10, and 08:00–17:30 from January 1 to April 20 and October 11 to December 31. Tickets are ¥40, with a reduction to ¥20 proposed, so check the current price before you go.
6. Nantian Gate
A mountain scenic area whose name comes from a large natural opening in the rocky ridge that looks like a gateway. The area takes in steep cliffs, forested valleys, streams, the historic Nanfen mountain road and geological formations, and it was once an important mountain route between Benxi and Dandong. It is also known as a filming location for the classic Chinese war film Heroic Sons and Daughters.
It is in Baiyu Village, Xiamatang Subdistrict, Nanfen District, along National Highway G304 between Xiamatang and Nanfen. Pair it with Dishui Cave, which is on Nantianmen Road in the same part of the city.
7. Spa Temple
A historic attraction that combines a Buddhist temple with natural hot springs. According to historical records it was founded in the late Ming dynasty by the monks Guanghui and Guangzhi, and because a natural hot spring sat beside the temple with a mountain ridge behind it, it was once known as Tangshan Temple. It was renamed Wenquan Temple in the early Qing dynasty and renovated and expanded several times afterwards.
It is about 150 m northwest of Benxi Tianzhu Bus Station on Bentong Road, and opens 09:00–17:00. Its position near a bus station makes it a straightforward stop at the start or end of a day.
8. Benxi Lake
A lake in the urban area of Xihu district, after which the city was named in the Qing dynasty, and described as the smallest lake in the world. It covers less than 15 sq. metres while taking a daily rate of flow of approximately 20,000 tons, which is the oddity worth seeing for yourself.
Because it sits in the city rather than out in the mountains, it fits neatly into a morning before you travel east, or into the last hour of a day once you are back in town.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Benxi Lake in the Xihu district, then take the bus or a taxi east to the Benxi Water Caves in Xiaoshi Town and ride the boat through the underground river. Bring a light jacket for the cave.
Afternoon: Continue to Guanmenshan National Forest Park in Chenying Village, Xiaoshi Town, and walk one of the trails through the valley. Aim to arrive well before last entry at 16:00, and in autumn give the maple leaves most of your remaining daylight.
Evening: Return to the city and finish at Spa Temple on Bentong Road, near Benxi Tianzhu Bus Station, which is open until 17:00. If you are staying longer, move Wunu Mountain and Wangtian Cave in Huanren Manchu Autonomous County to a second day, since both sit further east.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see autumn leaves around Benxi?
Guanmenshan National Forest Park is one of the best-known places around Benxi for fall foliage, when the maple trees lining the valley turn bright red. Plan your visit around that season if autumn colour is your priority.
Do I need to bring warm clothing for the caves?
Yes. Both the Benxi Water Caves and Wangtian Cave stay cool throughout the year, and a light jacket is recommended even in summer.
How do I get to the sights outside the city?
Guanmenshan National Forest Park is about an hour by bus from Benxi Long Distance Bus Station, or around ¥100 one way by taxi. For Wangtian Cave, take a bus from Benxi Railway Station to Huanren and then a taxi.
Which sights are in Huanren Manchu Autonomous County?
Wunu Mountain, at 33 Taishan Road in Huanren Town, and Wangtian Cave, in Wanwanchuan Village, Yahe Township. Both are best treated as a separate day from the caves and parks closer to Benxi city.
Decide whether your trip is built around the caves or the autumn valleys, check the current ticket prices and hours before you travel, and start laying out your days from there.