Benxi National Geopark of Liaoning

Benxi National Geopark of Liaoning

Benxi National Geopark of Liaoning is a national geopark and a science education base.

On September 19, 2005, Benxi City in Liaoning Province was officially approved by the Ministry of Land and Resources as the “Benxi National Geopark of Liaoning.” The park is located in the mountainous region of eastern Liaoning Province, between longitude 123°41′45″ to 125°25′19″ and latitude 40°59′27″ to 41°22′45″, with a planned area of 102.9 square kilometers. It is divided into three zones—Benxi Water Cave, Pingdingshan, and Wunu Mountain—and twenty-four scenic areas. The park was officially inaugurated on June 30, 2007. Benxi National Geopark of Liaoning features diverse, typical, scientific, rare, and visually stunning geological relics as its main attractions. It serves as a national geopark that integrates scientific research, education, sightseeing, and leisure vacation.

The park boasts highly developed karst landform landscapes, which is particularly rare in the relatively arid northern region. Among them, the Benxi Water Cave and Wangtian Cave scenic areas hold the greatest aesthetic and scientific research value. Benxi Water Cave is the longest water-filled cave for tourism in the world. The explored cave system extends 3,650 meters in total, with 2,800 meters open to visitors. The underground river flows year-round, remaining crystal clear and meandering through twists and turns, featuring sections known as the “Three Gorges” and “Nine Bends,” hence its name “Nine-Bend Galaxy.”

Known as the “No. 1 Cave of the North” and “a labyrinth unmatched in the world,” Wangtian Cave is a large karst cave characteristic of northern latitudes with distinctive karst features. Its maze-like passages twist and turn in all directions, truly embodying the idea of “caves within caves, all interconnected,” offering uniquely spectacular scenery.

Benxi National Geopark not only features remarkable geological relics but also boasts abundant biological resources. Located in a temperate zone, Benxi City has a forest coverage rate of 72% and is home to over 1,500 species of wildlife. Its long geological history has created beautiful natural landscapes such as mountains, springs, lakes, and canyons. Renowned peaks like Wunu Mountain, Tieshachang Mountain, Guanmen Mountain, and Lao Tudeng showcase graceful scenery and picturesque views. Hot springs such as those at Wenquan Temple and Tanggou are famed both domestically and internationally for their therapeutic effects. Pristine lakes like Huanlong Lake, Guanyinge, and Guanmen Mountain feature rippling blue waters and vast misty surfaces. Canyons such as Nanfen, Dashihu, Dabingou, and Wolong Town are characterized by rugged cliffs and serene, secluded atmospheres.

Benxi has a long and profound heritage of ethnic and historical culture. Ancient human sites at Miaohoushan, Goguryeo ruins at Wunu Mountain, and Jiuding Tieshachang Mountain are all imbued with a rich historical and cultural atmosphere.

Focusing on various geological landforms and relics, Benxi National Geopark of Liaoning systematically preserves karst landscape, paleontological landscapes, standard stratigraphic section landscapes, and natural-cultural landscapes. It comprehensively promotes the popularization of geological science knowledge, enhances the park’s scientific and cultural significance, and greatly boosts the development of the tourism industry. The park is gradually being developed into a national geopark with a rational spatial structure, comprehensive functional systems, and notable social, economic, and environmental benefits.