Benxi Lake

Benxi Lake

Benxi Lake is located beneath the cliffs of Dawubaiyun Mountain in the northern part of Benxi city proper, forming a small lake inside a cave.

A pool of water is confined within a limestone cave, with a surface area of less than 15 square meters and a daily flow rate of nearly 20,000 tons. Surrounded by peaks on all sides, the cave mouth is wide and faces southeast: in front of the cave, the lake flows gently, blending mountain scenery with lake views—quiet, quaint, and petite. The shape of the lake is wider on the outside and narrower on the inside, closely resembling a wine cup made from a rhinoceros horn, hence the name "Cuprhino Lake." There are also other names such as "Bei Xihu" and "Bai Xi Lake." In the 12th year of the Yongzheng reign during the Qing Dynasty (1734), because the name "Cuprhino Lake" was considered too elegant and difficult to write or recognize, it was changed to the homophonous "Benxi Lake." In the 8th year of the Tongzhi reign (1780), the Liaodong scholar Gao Shengyao inscribed the five characters "Liaodong Benxi Lake" which were carved above the cave entrance. Since then, the name Benxi Lake has gained widespread recognition.

Scenic Gem of Eastern Liaoning, One of the Ten Views of Guandong Though the lake is small, it enjoys fame far and wide and was once listed among the Ten Views of Guandong. The lake water lies dormant in winter and revives in spring, with crystal-clear quality suitable for both drinking and bathing. Every May, surface water flows through rock crevices into the bottom of the cave, causing the lake to swell; in winter, the water gradually recedes, allowing visitors to venture two or three li into the cave by candlelight. Outside the cave stands the Cihang Temple, built during the Ming Dynasty, which houses statues and murals. Inside the cave, clear springs gush out, continuously feeding into an artificial lake constructed after the liberation. This man-made lake covers an area of 2,000 square meters. Weeping willows sway along the lakeside, while the lake features arched bridges, a central pavilion, and various types of pleasure boats. In 1984, new additions such as stone steps for hiking, pavilions, and a cultural relics exhibition hall further enhanced the charm of Benxi Lake. About half a kilometer south of the park, halfway up the mountainside, there is a limestone karst cave commonly known as the Strange Stone Cave, stretching over 200 meters in length. Inside the cave, clusters of stalactites take on diverse forms—some resembling the Buddha preaching, others like the Eighteen Arhats gathered together, hence it is also called the Arhat Cave.

Benxi Lake was ultimately approved to apply for the Guinness World Record as the "World’s Smallest Lake."