What to do on the weekend? Sightseeing spots for autumn foliage near Shenyang

As the Maple Leaf Capital of China, Benxi has its unique seasonal landscape of autumn maple leaves. There are many places in Benxi where you can enjoy the maple leaves, and the most famous ones are Guanmenshan, Laogou Gou, and Dashihu. They are all good places for autumn sightseeing with mountains and water. Every year, Benxi holds a Maple Leaf Festival, which is much larger in scale compared to Beijing's Fragrant Hills. In recent years, Liaoning has developed many good places to enjoy maple trees, such as the Wujiao Maple Forest in Tundan Tala Forest Farm in Tonghua and the ancient maple forest in Shengji Mountain, Faku.

Longdao Valley

The reservoir outside the Longdao Valley hiking trail also has very beautiful maple leaves, so there's no need to climb the mountain to see them. The scenery is even more splendid with the contrast of mountains and water. Sun Valley is a newly developed area this year, located on a hillside at the entrance of Longdao Valley. Currently, there is no dedicated parking lot, but you can drive halfway up the mountain and park in an open space.

Dashihu Lake + Laobiangou

Dashihu Lake is adjacent to Laobiangou Scenic Area, offering picturesque scenery, especially as they blend into one. Compared to Laobiangou, Dashihu Lake is the source of the Taizi River, with its most famous feature being the Five Dragons Waterfall, which cascades down five deep pools continuously, creating a spectacular and thunderous scene. Laobiangou, on the other hand, was developed later and thus remains more primitive. The two areas are connected by hiking trails, and it takes a whole day to visit both. Spring is ideal for flower viewing, while autumn is perfect for enjoying the red leaves and exploring the mountains and waters.
Guanmenshan is one of the most famous scenic spots in Benxi. It was rated as a national 4A-level scenic spot in 2001 and is one of the 50 famous attractions in Liaoning. This area connects to the Guanmenshan Scenic Area, and the banquet with large fish and meat from the reservoir is also a local delicacy. Guanmenshan is home to many ancient trees, lush vegetation, and beautiful landscapes. The park covers a total area of 3,517 hectares, with a forest coverage rate of up to 95%. Guanmenshan attracts many visitors to admire the red leaves throughout the year, and it is not recommended to travel on weekends.

Yemotai Shengji Mountain Ancient Maple Forest

Located 3.5 kilometers west of Yemotai Town in Faku, the Shengji Mountain Ancient Maple Forest is a national-level cultural relic protection unit and a Liao Dynasty tomb group protection area. Covering an area of over 200 acres, it has more than 1,000 trees, mainly Yuanbao maples. Emperor Jingzong of Liao often came here to worship due to his respect for the great achievements of Emperor Taizu, hence the name Shengji Mountain. Later, the tombs of the Xiao family, who were prime ministers during the Liao Dynasty, were also located here to bless their descendants with prosperity. To this day, it remains the burial site of the Hou family from Xitou Taizi Village. The Hou family has always cherished and planted these maple trees, making it the largest and oldest maple forest in Liaoning Province. The king of trees in the garden is over a thousand years old.

Wujiaofeng Ecological Scenic Area

Wudantala Wujiaofeng Park is located 55 kilometers southeast of Ganqika Town, Horqin Left Rear Banner, with a total area of 105,000 mu, including 93,000 mu of forested area. The park is mainly populated with Wujiaofeng trees, which are 50 to 500 years old. Wujiaofeng is a precious tree species named for its uniquely five-lobed leaves, distinctly different from the tall maple trees in Liaoning. The park is free to enter, and the winding mountain roads are lined with Wujiaofeng trees on both sides, creating a picturesque scene.