Benxi Water Cave – A Magical Underground River Journey

摘要:Benxi Water Cave in Liaoning is the world's longest navigable underground water-filled karst cave, offering a unique 30‑minute boat ride through a 2,800‑meter‑long subterranean river. The cave maintains a constant 12°C temperature year‑round, making it a cool summer retreat with stunning stalactite formations illuminated by colorful lights, creating a fairy‑tale atmosphere

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The Benxi Water Cave is located on the eastern outskirts of Benxi City, Liaoning Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction and currently the longest navigable underground water-filled karst cave in the world. Known as the "Treasure of Northern China" and a "Marvel of the World," it is one of the most famous natural geological wonders in Northeast China.


What Visitors Love About It

Visitors often describe the cave as a "masterpiece of nature." Boating along the underground river feels like "entering a fairyland." The cave maintains a constant temperature of 12°C year-round, making it an especially refreshing escape in summer — "It's over 30°C outside, but inside you're shivering from the cold." The stalactites, illuminated by colorful lights, look "too beautiful to be real." Highlights like the "Jade Elephant Playing in Water" leave a strong impression on visitors. Since the site was upgraded to 5A level, the facilities and overall environment have improved significantly.


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Underground Galaxy: The water cave stretches about 5,800 meters in total, with around 2,800 meters currently developed for visitors. The underground river winds through the cave, its water clear enough to see the bottom. A boat ride takes you through this stunning subterranean world, with stalactites of all shapes and sizes glowing under colorful lights on both sides — it feels like drifting through a mythical dragon palace. The round-trip boat ride takes about 30 minutes.


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Quick Tips

The cave stays at a constant 12°C all year — even in summer, bring a jacket or rent a coat (provided free at the site). Wear non-slip shoes, as the boat floor may get wet. It's best to buy tickets in advance through the official platform — if you want to buy a ticket for the water cave only, you'll need to do so at the on-site ticket window. The boat ride lasts about 30 minutes with no guided commentary, so it's a good idea to look up photos of the stalactites beforehand — otherwise, you might miss the best details as you glide by.