Benxi Water Cave

The Benxi Water Cave was formed in limestone over several hundred thousand years and holds an underground river that has been surveyed for around five and a half kilometres, of which close to three are open to visitors by boat, making it among the longest navigable underground rivers open to the public anywhere. Flat-bottomed boats carry passengers along the channel between walls hung with stalactites and columns lit in changing colours, with the roof low in places and the water a constant ten degrees. A separate dry cave section is walked. The lighting is theatrical rather than natural, in the Chinese show cave tradition, which visitors either enjoy or find garish.

The landscape

• The boat journey - nearly three kilometres along an underground river.
• The formations - stalactites, columns and flowstone along the channel.
• The coloured lighting - the theatrical illumination of the passages.
• The dry cave - a walked section separate from the water route.

When to go

May to October for comfortable surface weather; the cave is a constant ten degrees year-round and jackets are provided or hired. Weekends and holidays bring queues for boats. The site is a common day trip from Shenyang.

Practical notes

The cave is cold on the water and the boats are open; warm clothing matters even in summer. Queues at peak times can be long. The coloured lighting is heavy-handed by international show cave standards.

Nearby

Benxi lies west; Shenyang is about two hours away.