Complete Guide to Viewing Maple Leaves at Guanmenshan: Autumn is Here, Go Enjoy the Fall with Big Orange

Guanmenshan National Forest Park is a famous tourist attraction in Benxi. Here is a detailed travel guide:

Overview of the Scenic Area
Guanmenshan National Forest Park is located in Xiaoshi Town, Benxi Manchu Autonomous County. Known as the "Little Huangshan of Northeast China," it is a renowned spot for maple viewing and photography in the region. The park is divided into several smaller scenic areas including Little Huangshan, Jialaizi, Longmen Gorge, Yuetaizi, Mingcui Valley, and Guanshan Lake. Exploring each area fully takes about 3-4 hours.

Tickets and Opening Hours
- Tickets: Adult tickets cost 90 RMB. Children aged 6 and under (inclusive) or under 1.3 meters in height, and seniors aged 70 and above (inclusive) are free of charge; minors aged over 6 (exclusive) to 18 (inclusive), seniors aged 60 (inclusive) to 69 (inclusive), and full-time university students with undergraduate or lower education receive half-price tickets.
- Opening Hours: Open year-round from 08:00 to 16:00.

Transportation Guide
- Public Transport: Take a train or bus to Benxi Xiaoshi Bus Station, then transfer to a bus or charter a car to the park, with charter cars costing about 20 RMB per vehicle. Alternatively, from Shenyang, take a direct bus departing every 15 minutes, with tickets around 15 RMB.
- Self-driving: Navigate directly to Guanmenshan National Forest Park. There is a parking lot inside the park with a parking fee of about 10 RMB.

Recommended Routes
- Little Huangshan Highlight Route: Little Huangshan Entrance - Mulan Valley - Colorful Lake - Sea of Maples - Hero Slope - Dragon Ridge - Tongtian Gate - Little Huangshan Exit. The entire route involves walking and hiking for about 4 hours.
- Longmen Gorge Hiking Route: Take a sightseeing bus to Longmen Gorge, then start walking from there. The route includes Couple Trees - Crystal Curtain Waterfall - Longmen Gorge Entrance - Turn Heart Lake - Red Pine Forest - Sea of Maples - Hero Slope - Dragon Ridge - Tongtian Gate - Guest Welcoming Peak - Little Huangshan Exit - Mulan Valley - Colorful Lake. Take a bus from Colorful Lake to exit the mountain. The whole trip takes about 5 hours.

Food Recommendations
- Xiaoshi Lamb Soup: A specialty of Benxi, with rich broth and fresh lamb meat. You can try it at Huafu Lamb Soup Restaurant in Xiaoshi Town.
- Rainbow Trout: Available in various preparations such as pan-fried or grilled, commonly offered in restaurants near the park.
- Wild Vegetables: Such as thorny tender shoots and monkey leg vegetables, which are tender and nutritious, can be tasted in farmhouse banquets within the park.

Accommodation Recommendations
- Benxi Maple Valley Hot Spring Hotel: Located 2 kilometers outside the park, it features indoor and outdoor hot springs and a children's water playground, perfect for relaxing after a day of sightseeing.
- Huaxi Mu Hot Spring Hotel: Situated in Hubao Village, Caohezhuang Town, Benxi County, with a beautiful environment and private hot spring rooms where you can soak while enjoying natural scenery.
- Guanmenshan Hongjingyuan Homestay: Offers a good environment and fresh air, allowing guests to fully enjoy the breath of nature.