5 Days in Benxi

The 2,800-metre boat passage holds a steady 10 degrees Celsius year-round — bring a layer even in August; the 2015 HSR from Shenyang takes about 40 minutes.

1. benxi water cave

East to the national forest park for reservoir shores and maple ridges; the leaf window runs from late September to mid-October, peaking in the first ten days of October.

1. benxi guanmenshan forest park

A second forest day in the valley of falls and pools next to Dashi Lake — the painters' favourite gorge, at its reddest in the first half of October.

1. benxi laobianguo valley

North-east about two hours to the UNESCO-listed hill town — inscribed in 2004 as part of the Koguryo capital cities and tombs, founded in 37 BC on the 800-metre peak above Huanren Lake.

1. benxi wunu mountain
2. benxi huanren lake

The pocket lake that gave the city its name — claimed as the world's smallest at around 15 square metres — and its riverside park, then the HSR back to Shenyang.

1. benxi benxi lake