01Pingshan District is l…
Pingshan District is located in the central part of Benxi City, Liaoning Province, serving as the central urban area and the political, economic, and cultural center of Benxi. The district covers a total area of approximately 177 square kilometers and has a permanent population of about 350,000 (2023 data). Pingshan District has a long history, with settlements formed as early as the Han Dynasty, and flourished in modern times due to the development of coal and iron resources, making it an important representative of the old industrial base in Northeast China. The district is home to famous attractions such as Benxi Water Cave and Pingdingshan Forest Park, blending natural wonders with industrial heritage to create unique tourism resources. Pingshan District is also a multi-ethnic area where Han, Manchu, Hui, and other ethnic cultures blend, resulting in rich local customs. As the administrative core of Benxi City, Pingshan District plays a pivotal role in regional development, possessing both the vitality of a modern city and profound historical heritage, making it an important window to understand the central Liaoning urban agglomeration.
I. Core Attractions
1. **Benxi Water Cave** (National 5A Tourist Attraction) - Location: Eastern Pingshan District, about 20 km from city center - Opening Hours: 8:00-17:00 (peak season Apr-Oct), 9:00-16:00 (off-season) - Ticket: Peak season 110 yuan, off-season 70 yuan (including boat ride) - Features: The world's longest underground river navigable by boat, 3,000 meters long, with stunning stalactite formations, constant temperature of 12°C year-round. Suggested visit time: 2-3 hours.
2. **Pingdingshan Forest Park** - Location: Southern end of urban area, about 3 km from city government - Opening Hours: 6:00-20:00 (summer), 7:00-18:00 (winter) - Ticket: Free - Features: City's green lung, main peak at 661 meters, offering panoramic views of Benxi from the summit. Preserves Ming Dynasty beacon tower ruins. Hiking trail about 5 km, suitable for hiking enthusiasts.
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3. **Benxi Museum** - Location: No. 12 Renmin Road, Pingshan District - Opening Hours: 9:00-17:00 (closed on Mondays) - Ticket: Free (ID card required) - Features: Exhibits artifacts from the Paleolithic to modern times in the Benxi area, focusing on Goguryeo culture, Manchu folk customs, and coal-iron industrial history.
4. **Benxi Lake Industrial Heritage Group** (National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit) - Location: Xihu Road, Pingshan District - Opening Hours: Open all day (some factory interiors require reservation) - Ticket: Free - Features: Cradle of modern Chinese iron and steel industry, preserving No. 1 blast furnace built in 1915, Japanese colonial-era mine shafts, etc., offering a sense of industrial civilization's vicissitudes.
II. Local Cuisine
1. **Benxi Mutton Soup**: Made with local goats, white broth and tender meat, served with baked flatbread. Recommended restaurant: "Time-honored Benxi Mutton Soup" on Jiefang Road, Pingshan District, about 30 yuan per person. 2. **Changkuan Pig Trotters**: Benxi time-honored brand, stewed until soft and tender, rich soy sauce flavor. Old shop on Zhanqian Street, Pingshan District, available in vacuum packaging for takeaway. 3. **Manchu Sticky Bean Buns**: Made from yellow rice flour, filled with red bean paste, dipped in sugar. Common street food in winter, especially authentic at Dongming Morning Market in Pingshan District.
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III. Transportation Guide
1. **External Transportation**: - High-speed rail: Benxi Station (high-speed rail) is located in Pingshan District, about 40 minutes by car from Shenyang. Multiple daily trains from Shenyang, Dalian, etc. - Long-distance bus: Benxi Bus Station is on Jiefang Road, Pingshan District, with services to cities and counties within the province. - Self-driving: Take Danfu Expressway (G11) to Benxi exit, then follow Jiefang Road into the city.
2. **Internal Transportation**: - Bus: Over 30 bus routes in the urban area, fare 1-2 yuan, covering major attractions. - Taxi: Starting fare 6 yuan for 3 km, then 1.8 yuan per km. - Shared bikes: Meituan and Hellobike bikes available in the city, suitable for short trips.
IV. Practical Tips - Best time to visit: May to October; bring a jacket inside the water cave. - Accommodation recommendation: Hotels concentrated around Zhanqian Street and Jiefang Road in Pingshan District, such as Benxi Fuhong International Hotel (four-star, average 400 yuan/night). - Shopping: Benxi Liaoyan (famous Chinese inkstone), Huanren mountain ginseng, and other specialties available at Yongfeng Commercial Street in Pingshan District.