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, and Tianqiaogou.
A mountain route designed specifically for autumn foliage, staying near the scenic areas each night to save travel time. Follow the Ben-Huan Highway to visit Guanmenshan, Laobiangou, and Fenglingu, followed by Wunü Mountain and Qingshangou, before crossing over to Tianqiaogou and ending in Dandong. This is a one-way route with slow mountain driving and simple accommodations, perfect for photography enthusiasts and hikers.
The Benxi section peaks in early to mid-October, while Tianqiaogou is usually slightly later. Expect crowds during the National Day holiday.
Day by day
Day 1 · Water Cave & Mutton Soup into the Mountains
Benxi Water Cave & Guanmen Mountain（Benxi Water Caves、Xiaoshi Lamb Soup、Guanshan Lake）
Drive from Shenyang to Benxi Water Cave (approx. 1.5 hours), then continue via Xiaoshi to the foot of Guanmenshan (approx. 30 minutes).
Stay: Guanmen Mountain
Day 2 · Guanmenshan to Laobiangou
Benxi Water Cave & Guanmen Mountain（Guanmenshan National Forest Park、Laobian Valley）
Visit Guanmenshan in the morning. Drive along the Maple Avenue to Laobiangou in the afternoon (approx. 1 hour). Drive slowly on mountain roads.
Queues at the entrance can take 1 to 2 hours during the National Day holiday; arriving before 7:00 AM is best.
Stay: Laobiangou · Dashi Lake
Day 3 · Dashihu to Fenglingu
Benxi Water Cave & Guanmen Mountain（Dashi Lake） → Huanren（Maple Forest Valley (Huanren)）
Drive from Laobiangou to Dashihu (approx. 15 minutes), then to Fenglingu (approx. 1 hour), and on to the county seat (approx. 30 minutes).
The trails in Fenglingu are long; wear non-slip shoes and enter the park early in the afternoon.
Stay: Huanren County Town
Day 4 · Wunü Mountain to Qingshan Lake
Huanren（Wunü Mountain City） → Kuandian（Feipujian, Qingshangou Scenic Area、Qingshan Lake）
Drive from the county seat to Wunü Mountain (approx. 20 minutes). Head south to Qingshangou in the afternoon (approx. 1.5 hours).
Stay: Qingshangou Scenic Area
Day 5 · Over the Mountains to Tianqiaogou
Kuandian（Tianqiaogou National Forest Park）
Drive west from Qingshangou to Tianqiaogou (approx. 1.5 hours). You can use the park shuttle inside and hike for half a day.
Lodging on the mountain is limited; book early during the foliage season. Temperatures drop significantly in the morning and evening.
Stay: Tianqiaogou Scenic Area
Day 6 · Out of the Mountains to Dandong
Dandong City Area（Hushan Great Wall、Yalu River Broken Bridge）
Drive from Tianqiaogou to Dandong (approx. 2 hours), passing the Hushan Great Wall to reach the city. Depart by high-speed rail in the evening.
Confirm one-way car rental details in advance. Driving back to Shenyang via the Shen-Dan Highway takes about 2.5 hours.