The boat ride
On an underground river.
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A cave system some five million years old with a river running through it, where visitors ride boats between stalactites and stalagmites lit in colour; it has been a national park since 1994 and is rated 5A. The cave runs 5,800 metres, up to 70 metres wide with a ceiling up to 38 metres high, and holds an underground river three kilometres long and on average a metre and a half deep, of which 2,800 metres are open to visitors. The route starts from a dock inside the cave with room for forty boats, then the boats glide quietly among the limestone formations. Inside it stays about 12 degrees all year, so bring a jacket even in summer. The combined ticket costs CNY 140 and covers the dry cave, the water cave, the boat ride and the geological museum, half price for students and seniors; the cave is open from 8 am to 5 pm from April to October and 8.30 am to 4 pm in winter, and life jackets are compulsory on the boats, per visitor guides.
On an underground river.
Lit in colour.
Under the cliff.
About 26 km east of central Benxi, Liaoning
Benxi has a few restaurants run by Hui Muslims under the halal sign and nearby Shenyang has more, while north-eastern cooking uses a lot of pork.