Huanren

Home to Wunü Mountain City, the first capital of Goguryeo, where Huanlong Lake, Hugu Gorge and the autumn colours of Maple Valley make a scenic mix. Also known as China's ice wine country.

Huanren Manchu Autonomous County lies in Benxi, eastern Liaoning, with the Hun River running through the town and a high proportion of forest cover. It is the birthplace of the Goguryeo kingdom. Wunü Mountain City, northeast of the county seat, was Goguryeo's first royal capital and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004 as part of the "Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom". Nearby remains such as the General's Tomb at Micang Gully and the Xiagucheng site complement it. The natural attractions centre on mountains, water and autumn colour. Huanlong Lake (Huanren Reservoir) has winding bays and can be toured by boat. Hugu Gorge is entered by boat. Maple Valley and Laotudingzi (Liaoning's highest peak, 1,367 m) are famous autumn-leaf destinations in Northeast China. Wangtian Cave is a large karst cave, and rafting on the Daya River is a popular summer activity. The shores of Huanlong Lake are one of China's major ice grape regions, and you can visit ice wine wineries. The best seasons are summer for escaping the heat and rafting, and from late Sep to mid-Oct for the autumn leaves. Weekend accommodation is tight in leaf season, so book ahead. In winter you can see frozen lakes and the ice wine harvest. Getting there: buses run directly to the county seat from Shenyang and Benxi, the Dandong–Tonghua and Hegang–Dalian expressways pass nearby, and Huanren also has a high-speed rail station (Wunüshan Station). Attractions in the county are spread out, so a self-drive or chartered car is recommended. Plan 2–3 days: one day for Wunü Mountain and Huanlong Lake, one for Maple Valley or Laotudingzi, and one for Hugu Gorge, Wangtian Cave or rafting.

Top sights

• Wunü Mountain City – A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the site of Hesheng'gu, the first capital of the Goguryeo kingdom, with a mountaintop plateau overlooking…
• Maple Forest Valley (Huanren) – A long, narrow forest park in Huanren, with a boardwalk through maple groves, waterfalls, and pools. Autumn colors are spectacular.
• Wangtian Cave – A large limestone cave in Yahe Township, Huanren, with over 5,000 meters of surveyed passages. A skylight in the roof lets you gaze up at t…
• Dayahe River Rafting – River rafting through the mountains of Huanren, with steep drops and tight bends. It is one of Liaoning's most popular summer rafting trips.
• Huanlong Lake (Huanren Reservoir) – The Huanren Reservoir on the Hun River, covering about 23 square kilometers. Take a boat trip to see wooded islands and autumn colors refle…
• Hugu Gorge – A canyon scenic area on Huilong Lake, reached by boat. Its cliffs, pines, and lakeside islands have earned it the nickname 'Peach Blossom P…
• Laotudingzi Mountain – Known as the 'Roof of Liaoning,' this 1,367-meter peak sits in a national nature reserve with primeval forest and mountaintop cloud seas.
• Changyu Golden Icewine Valley Chateau – An icewine estate on the shores of Huanlong Lake, with icewine grape vineyards at latitude 41°N. Visitors can tour the cellars and taste ic…
• Micanggou General's Tomb – A large Goguryeo-era earthen-mound tomb with a stone chamber and murals, listed as a National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit. It sheds…

Itineraries

• Liaoning Autumn Foliage Grand Self-Drive Loop – A self-drive loop from Shenyang covering Benxi's maple forests, the Yalu River, Dalian's coast, the Red Beach, and west…
• Eastern Liaoning Maple Avenue In-Depth Self-Drive – Drive from Benxi to Huanren, Kuandian, and Dandong, staying overnight in the mountains to visit Guanmenshan, Laobiangou…
• Self-Drive from Shenyang to Changbai Mountain via Ji'an – From early Qing Dynasty historical sites to the Goguryeo capital, drive along the Yalu River to Changbai Mountain, and…