Benxi Manchu Autonomous County 本溪满族自治县

Setting and landscape

The county sits on a southeastern spur of the Changbai Mountains (长白山脉), with more than 240 hills and ridges. The land is highest in the southeast, where the Qianshan range (千山山脉) crosses from east to west, and lowest in the northwest. Through the middle runs the great fault zone of the Taizi River (太子河), whose valley holds a small sedimentary plain averaging under 300 metres. The highest summit, Chubulaigou Ding (出不来沟顶), reaches 1,310 metres; the lowest point, 120 metres, is where the Taizi River leaves the county. Its rivers drain partly to the Yellow Sea and partly to the Bohai, and they freeze for about five months a year.

History

In 1467 the Ming built the ten forts of Liaodong, three of them here: Qinghe (清河堡), Jianchang (碱厂堡) and Caohe (草河堡). A year later a border wall linked the forts, running for more than 100 li through the county. The Qing court created Benxi County in October 1906 from border land of Liaoyang (辽阳), Xingjing (兴京) and Fenghuang (凤凰厅), and many Manchu people moved in. The county was merged into Benxi city in 1952, restored in 1956 and made a Manchu autonomous county in September 1989.

What to see

Guanmenshan National Forest Park (关门山国家森林公园), 53 kilometres southeast of Benxi city, covers 3,517 hectares between 310 and 1,234 metres. Its four scenic areas hold 108 named spots, among them a lion-shaped cliff and the three-step Jinglian waterfall (晶帘瀑布). The county government calls it a nationally known place to see autumn maples; it also has Siebold's magnolia, Benxi's city flower, and mandarin ducks on its waters.

Benxi Water Cave (本溪水洞) lies on the Taizi River 26 kilometres from Benxi city and opened to visitors in 1983. Boats follow an underground river past more than 100 sights, in air that stays at 12°C. Neolithic stone tools and bones about 10,000 years old have been found at its mouth.

Laobiangou (老边沟) forms part of the Dashihu scenic area (大石湖) in Dongyingfang township (东营坊乡). Its Jushichuan valley (巨石川) is choked with boulders and holds sites of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army, while Wanxiang Valley (万象谷) takes in the Laomaiduo area (老麦垛), whose peak marks the boundary with Kuandian (宽甸).

Food

Xiaoshi mutton soup (小市羊汤) is made from local cashmere goats. The whole butchered goat goes into a wood-fired pot and simmers for several hours over alternating high and low heat, a method adapted from Manchu mutton soup.

Highlights

• Guanmenshan National Forest Park 关门山国家森林公园: Forest park of 3,517 hectares known for its autumn maples, 53 kilometres southeast of Benxi city.
• Benxi Water Cave 本溪水洞: Karst cave toured by boat on an underground river, first opened to visitors in 1983.
• Laobiangou 老边沟: Boulder-filled valleys in the Dashihu scenic area, with sites of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army.
• Xiaoshi mutton soup 小市羊汤: Goat simmered whole for hours in a wood-fired pot.