Liaoning Benxi | May-June Off-Season is Truly Amazing with Fewer Crowds and Beautiful Scenery

Hey everyone 🌸, who says you can only visit Benxi for maple leaves in autumn? May-June in Benxi is actually a hidden treasure! The mountains and forests glow with vibrant green 🌿, the waterfalls are refreshingly cool, and best of all - fewer crowds, beautiful scenery, and affordable prices! Save this comprehensive guide to unlock unique early summer experiences~ 💦 🔹About Benxi 🌿Benxi, Liaoning's "Green Wonderland," has over 76% forest coverage, making it a natural oxygen bar! Known as "China's Maple Leaf Capital" 🍁, Benxi is even more spectacular in summer—with canyon waterfalls, moss-covered landscapes, sea of clouds at sunrise, and historical anti-Japanese war sites... The average temperature in May-June is around 20℃+, perfect for cooling off, photography, and hiking! ✨ 🎯Must-Visit Attractions in Early Summer (Highlights👇) ❶【Green Stone Valley Forest Park】🎍💦 📍Recommendation level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🌟Highlights: A true "Green Wonderland"! Stones covered with emerald moss, waterfalls hanging like silk ribbons between mountains. In May-June, you might encounter blooming Magnolia denudata, creating a magical atmosphere! 🕒Opening hours: 8:00-17:00 💰Admission: 60 yuan ✨Activities: ✅ Hike the moss-covered stone steps and experience the poetic "green moss climbing the stairs" (wear non-slip shoes!) ✅ Visit the "Maple Fairy" tree, shaded by green leaves in summer and transformed into a red leaf centerpiece in autumn ✅ Take slow-shutter waterfall photos - even your phone can capture amazing shots 📸 ✅ Try wild vegetable dumplings, highly recommended by locals! 🥟 ❷【Guanmen Mountain National Forest Park】⛰🌳 📍Recommendation level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🌟Highlights: A less crowded version of "Northeast China's Yellow Mountain"! In May, tender green colors wash over the valleys, with crystal-clear cool streams. The 9km boardwalk hike is incredibly therapeutic~ 🕒Opening hours: 7:30-17:00 💰Admission: 90 yuan (including shuttle bus) ✨Activities: ✅ Take the shuttle to the mountaintop and hike down for an easier experience ✅ Find the "Five Beauties" - beautiful mountains, trees, water, flowers, and clouds, especially stunning after rain ☁️ ✅ Bring a light jacket, as it's about 5℃ cooler than downtown! ❸【Benxi Water Cave】🕳️🚤 📍Recommendation level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🌟Highlights: The world's longest underground river! Boat through a 3,000-meter karst cave with stalactites that look magical under colored lights. The cave maintains a cool 12℃ year-round~ 🕒Opening hours: 8:30-16:30 💰Admission: 110 yuan (including boat ride) ✨Tips: ✅ Bring a jacket if you get cold easily, and wear non-slip shoes (it's humid inside) ✅ Combine with a visit to Wenquan Temple and enjoy a relaxing sulfur hot spring soak ♨️ ❹【Laobiangou + Dashihu】🏞️💧 📍Recommendation level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🌟Highlights: Sister scenic areas! From late May to early June, thousands of Magnolia denudata bloom, creating a breathtaking scene of white flowers against green valleys! Laobiangou is gentle and perfect for kids, while Dashihu offers more exciting mountain climbing and five connected waterfalls~ 🕒Opening hours: 8:00-17:00 💰Admission: Laobiangou 78 yuan, Dashihu 60 yuan ✨Activities: ✅ Take slow-shutter stream photos at Laobiangou, let kids catch small fish ✅ Climb Dashihu to see "Five Lakes and Four Waterfalls," and if you're physically fit, challenge yourself to reach the "Dragon's Head" viewing platform Benxi 2-Day 1-Night Itinerary D1 🌿Benxi Water Cave → Green Stone Valley → Stay at Tanggou Hot Spring Hotel 🚗 Morning: Explore the water cave + learn at the Geological Museum 🎍 Afternoon: Photograph moss and waterfalls at Green Stone Valley, enjoy hot springs and Xiaoshi mutton soup at night ♨️ D2 ⛰Guanmen Mountain → Laobiangou/Dashihu 🌄 Morning: Hike Guanmen Mountain for fresh air, possibly spotting forest deer 🦌 💦 Afternoon: Wade in water and enjoy flowers at Laobiangou; in June, you can even pick wild mountain vegetables! 🍜Benxi Must-Try Foods ✅ Xiaoshi Mutton Soup: Milky white broth + unlimited mutton offal, perfect with beef tongue pancakes! ✅ Sour Tang Zi: Sour corn noodles, a perfect summer appetizer 🍜 ✅ Xiagua Tofu: "Tofu soup" made with freshwater shrimp, incredibly delicious! ✅ Grilled Bean Skin: Bean skin skewers with secret sauce, a night market must-try 🍢 🏡Accommodation Recommendations ✅ Tanggou Hot Spring Hotel: Soak in hot springs under the stars, around 200+ yuan per person ♨️ ✅ Xiaoshi Yizhuang: Manchu-style homestay with evening bonfires 🔥 ✅ Downtown chain hotels: 100+ yuan/night, convenient for night market visits~ 🚗Transportation Guide ✈️ By air: Fly to Shenyang Taoxian Airport, then take a 2-hour airport bus to Benxi 🚄 By high-speed rail: Shenyang → Benxi Station (25 minutes), then rent a car or hire a driver 🚗 Self-driving: 1.5 hours from Shenyang, but mountain roads are best for experienced drivers